The Department of Player Safety is pleased to provide an updated rules and procedures document for the upcoming 2024/25 season.

As a part of the update, there is a change to how a suspension is managed for any player currently serving a ban.

In previous seasons, if a player icing in multiple leagues received a suspension, this had to be sit at the level at which it was obtained. This could mean a long suspension where leagues may have a longer season with fewer games due to ice availability.

DOPS sees the frustration that this has caused, and a new solution has been proposed and agreed upon by the necessary stakeholders within the association.

The new solution allows for suspensions to continue to be seen as a deterrent while allowing for continued development and allowing players to play the sport that they love.

For the upcoming season, any player who plays at multiple levels will sit the suspension at each level they play. Where leagues have varying schedules, this should allow a player to return to play at one level, whilst waiting for the suspension to be served at another.

Appendix K in the rules and procedures provides further clarity.

With this in mind, the DOPS general managers have agreed that any junior player currently serving a suspension can serve the remainder of their suspension as per the new guidelines, to allow a swift return to action this season.

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