PAHL GAME OPERATIONS

The rule is spelled out in detail in the PAHL Administrative Policies. A Secondary Goaltender is not the team's backup goaltender. Any goalie standard to the team is always a Primary Goaltender, including any skater already on the roster that is serving as a goaltender in a game. A Secondary Goaltender is coming from a different team's roster (at a lower level), with the primary purpose of potentially having another goaltender available when the team's regular goaltender(s) is truly not available.

Teams are responsible for tracking its use of the SG and staying within usage limitations. The status of the SG will be set, by default, to "Not Playing" in the PAHL scoring app, and when the SG is participating with the team (starting or backup), the status must be updated in the team lineup to "Starting" or "Playing," as applicable.  Teams found in violation of the usage limit will face stern consequences, and teams are warned not to look for loopholes in the rule. If a team is unsure about the application to a situation or has a dilemma with goaltender usage, please provide the full scenario to the League Office.

Any team opting to change its goaltender during a game must explicitly report this change directly to the Official Scorer at the time of the change, including during intermission periods.

Failure to report the change of a goaltender during the game does not guarantee that the change will be recorded on the official scoresheet, and the records and statistics of the game cannot be later modified to reflect the change of goaltenders.

The change of goaltenders shall always be considered to have taken place at the time of the game in which the report was made, even if the change is reported at a subsequent point of the game.

Situations where a team "pulls its goalie" for an extra attacker do not apply to the requirement to report the change. The Official Scorer in the game will monitor these situations and record the change on the scoresheet.

In the event the lone goaltender in uniform for a team is unable to immediately resume participating in a game for any reason, the referee(s) shall apply any of the following options, with additional considerations to implement an Accelerated Protocol for any lengthy delay:

1. Delay the game for a reasonable length to allow an injured goaltender to receive sufficient medical attention
2.  Delay the game for an adequate length to allow the goaltender’s equipment to be transferred to another eligible player on the team
3.  Require the team to play with 6 skaters and no goaltender if no other player chooses to become the team's goaltender
4.  Initiate a Suspended Game due to having no viable option for resolution or lacking cooperation from the Head Coach of the affected team

In the event the lone goaltender in uniform for a team is unable to immediately resume participating in a game for any reason, the referee(s) shall apply any of the following options, with additional considerations to implement an Accelerated Protocol for any lengthy delay:

1. Delay the game for a reasonable length to allow an injured goaltender to receive sufficient medical attention
2. Delay the game for an adequate length to allow the goaltender’s equipment to be transferred to another eligible player on the team
3. Require the team to play with 6 skaters and no goaltender if no other player chooses to become the team's goaltender 
4. Initiate a Suspended Game due to having no viable option for resolution or lacking cooperation from the Head Coach of the affected team

The Medic shall evaluate any player suspected to be injured or ill to determine the condition of the player, provide appropriate treatment, and determine if the player may continue to participate in the game. Only the Medic shall make an official determination regarding the further participation of any player deemed to be injured or ill.

No entity – regardless of affiliation, title, or certification – shall overrule, interfere with, nor unduly influence the Medic in determining any further participation of a player in a game.

The Medic reserves the right to transfer further treatment of a player to any appropriate individual (doctor, nurse, trainer, etc.), but authority on participation does not transfer from the Medic.

If the Medic determines that a player is not capable of safely continuing to participate in the game, the player shall be deemed an ineligible player for the remainder of that game or until that player complies with the treatment prescribed by the Medic, as applicable.

Violation of this policy shall result in a 3-game suspension to the head coach and a 1-game suspension to the ineligible player.

All violations of this policy – substantiated and suspected – shall also be reviewed by the League Office for consideration of further disciplinary action against the offending parties.

In the event the lone goaltender in uniform for a team is unable to immediately resume participating in a game for any reason, the referee(s) shall apply any of the following options, with additional considerations to implement an Accelerated Protocol for any lengthy delay:

1. Delay the game for a reasonable length to allow an injured goaltender to receive sufficient medical attention
2. Delay the game for an adequate length to allow the goaltender’s equipment to be transferred to another eligible player on the team
3. Require the team to play with 6 skaters and no goaltender if no other player chooses to become the team's goaltender
4. Initiate a Suspended Game due to having no viable option for resolution or lacking cooperation from the Head Coach of the affected team

A player with a suspected concussion must be immediately removed from competition so that a medical examination can be conducted by the Medic. The responsibility to identify a player who exhibits signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion is shared equally by all participants, including players, coaches, On-Ice Officials, and the Medic. Medics and On-Ice Officials always reserve the ability to intervene if a player is suspected of having a concussion.

If a possible concussion is suspected via an initial evaluation by the Medic, the player shall be deemed ineligible for participation until, at minimum, the athlete is fully re-evaluated by the Medic after an appropriate rest period.

A player with a suspected concussion shall only return to play if the Medic definitively concludes that no concussion is present and explicitly approves the player to return to the game.

A player who is directed not to return to the game by the Medic after being fully evaluated for a possible concussion shall be withheld from the remainder of the game and must follow the USA Hockey "Return To Play" Protocol prior to participation in any further activies.