OVSS 2027 - 2026 ICE TIME POLICY

Silver Seven Ice Time Policy Amendments
Start of 2026 - 2027 Season
Category 1
U9, U10, U11 AA & A programs Under Hockey Canada Pathway Programs

Phase 1 - Start of Regular play to Regular Seasons end

• All Players play on a “next man up” rotation for entire season.
• Coaches are expected to follow Hockey Canada’s Pathway Programs.
• Game/Practice Ratio
• Rotation of Positions
• General Development Program
• All Players will play in all specialty team assignments throughout season.
• Coaches are given last 2 minutes to adjust line up as they see fit.
• Total variance in player ice time should only be 5% or lower.
• Goaltenders rotate on a game-by-game basis. Goaltenders can be pulled or rotation can be broken provided there is no more than a 5% variance over the course of the entire season.

Category 2
U12, U13 AA Programs
Phase 1 - Start of Regular play to Regular Seasons end

• All Players play on a “next man up” rotation for Phase one.
• All Players will play in all specialty team assignments throughout season.
• Coaches are given last 2 minutes to adjust line up as they see fit.
• Total variance in player ice time should only be 5% or lower.
• Goaltenders rotate on a game-by-game basis. Goaltenders can be pulled or rotation can be broken provided there is no more than a 5% variance over the course of the entire season

Phase 2 - Playoffs (Should be for Catagory 1 and 2)

• Same as Phase 1 with the following exceptions
• Coaches are given the last 3 minutes to adjust line up as they see fit
• Goaltenders are each given 1 start per playoff series then coach can adjust as he sees fit. Both Goaltenders get at least one start in round robin playoff format.
• Total player ice time variance cannot exceed 10% (by Position)
• THESE CHANGES CAN ONLY BE MADE WITH HOCKEY OPS APPROVAL prior to the commencement of playoff games

Category 3
U14, U15, U16, U18 Programs
Phase 1 - Start of Regular Play to January 1^st

• All Players play on a “next man up” rotation for entire Phase One.
• All Players will play in all specialty team assignments throughout season.
• Coaches are given last 2 minutes to adjust line up as they see fit.
• Total variance in player ice time should only be 5% or lower.
• Goaltenders rotate on a game-by-game basis. Goaltenders can be pulled or rotation can be broken provided there is no more than a 5% variance over the course of the entire season

Phase 2 – January 1^st to Seasons End

• Same as Phase 1 with following exceptions
• Coaches can establish specialty teams PROVIDED ALL PLAYERS have a role on either or both teams. Coaches NEED to consider how many shifts it takes to get back to a normal rotation if specialty teams are drawn from different lines or Defensive pairings.
• Coaches are given the last 3 minutes to adjust line up as they see fit
• Goaltenders are each given 1 start per playoff series then coach can adjust as he sees fit.  Both Goaltenders get at least one start in round robin playoff format.
• Total player ice time variance cannot exceed 10% (by Position)
• THESE CHANGES CAN ONLY BE MADE WITH Hockey OPS APPROVAL prior to February 1^st

Allowed Variances
Coaches could exceed allowable variances in Phase 1 & 2 due to:

• Benching for Player Accountability
• Players disregarding the coaching staff instructions
  • Examples, lengthy ice shifts, undisciplined penalties, selfish behaviour, lack of passing, etc…
• Injuries
• Equipment issues
• Penalties
• Suspensions
• Under no circumstances are players to be benched if they are deemed a liability, teams are selected at tryouts