Rules x Gameplay

Barn Mice Beer League  League Gameplay and Draft Rules

Land Acknowledgement

Barn Mice Beer League is located in the area of the Lenape people, and specific bands like the Canarsie, Matinecock, and Munsee Lenape are recognized for their stewardship of the land in what is currently known as Queens County and the greater Long Island region. 

BMBL Hockey Values

Barn Mice Beer League was created for the love of the game of hockey. We created this league to facilitate this love, as well as promote positive competitive culture, inclusive community, respect, and safety. 

All players who register are encouraged to maintain this level and behave in a way that upholds these values.

The following actions will not be tolerated in BMBL both on and off the ice:

• Physical assault: intentional stick infractions, body checking, fighting

• Verbal abuse: degrading, discriminatory, racist or sexist language

• Sexual harassment: comments, actions or gestures of a sexual nature

• Substance abuse: alcohol or drug consumption in a manner that puts others at risk

BMBL players who play or behave in a dangerous or disrespectful manner will be subject to game ejection, and/or may be subject to additional discipline including suspension or expulsion from the league, based on review by BMBL rules committee. 

Draft Rules X Gameplay 

Season Logistics

Teams - For the 2025-26 Spring Season, the BMBL will consist of six teams.

Preseason Scrimmage - All players will have one pre-season scrimmage before the

regular season. These scrimmages will not necessarily take place within regular season

teams. Scrimmages will serve to allow players to get into game shape, meet other

players and for league organizers to assess new players and form balanced teams.

Team Draft - The draft will occur before each season. Players will be divided into six color categories based on their skill level. We will conduct an at random selection order of each team that is decided before each draft. Captains will choose players based on color coordinated skill levels. Each team will have the same amount of color “spots” per team. Each team will have 16 players. No team shall have more than others of any color category. Draft selections will happen in 16 rounds. On the chance that a player is required to be with another *romantic relationship, family member, or carpooler, etc. the team can combine picks as long as categories are not abused. The team who chose two players will lose their selection in the next round.

Captains will be selected by The Commissioner before each season based on a particular requirement that will promote fairness and leadership skills. 

Each year, new teams will be drafted to promote league parity and develop league community values. 

Captains - Captains will be pre-selected by the Commissioner based upon who shows an interest in taking on that role. Captains will pick players during the draft. Captains will help make sure players show up every week and be points of contact for referees and players. Captains are team managers of their teams. Responsibilities include: 1) selecting players in the draft; and 2) ensuring attendance at every game; and 3) submitting player lists for every game. Captains should be the point of contact for the Commissioner as well as referees during the game. Teams will have a minimum of 2 captains and no more than 4. On occasion there can be a goalie captain. 

Goalies - Goalies will be assigned to teams in a pair based on the number of goalies that have registered. Will create a fair balance. Goalies will come up with their own schedule on which games they will and won’t attend. For the 2026 season, each team will have 2 goalies.

Team Names - Teams will decide upon their own team name for the season unless there is a sponsor, who will have final say on the name.

Puro Clean 

Murphys Bar 

Daily Harvest

Joyce Hedgefund

Bae Dental 

Green Top Farms

Jerseys - All Barn Mice Players have home (dark) and away (light) jerseys. BMBL teams all wear the same jerseys to enhance the league community and to enable players moving between teams from year to year. Jerseys can be purchased on BarnMiceHockey.com. 

Regular Season - Each team will play 1 preseason game and 8 regular season games. and one finals game.

Playoffs - Based on the records of each team. Wins, Losses, Goals For, and Goals Against. The final will be played between the 1 and 2 seeds and consolation final will be played between 3 and 4 and 5 and 6. 

Captains/Team Managers

Trades - If due to unforeseen circumstances (injury or severe illness), teams become very imbalanced, a trade might be made from one team to another, after consultation with team reps and affected players. Players can only be traded once per season unless agreed upon by player and captains. Players have until week 8 to be traded; goalies and captains cannot be traded. Captains/Team Managers can stay with teams if they choose, or if they do not, they can relinquish their captaincy but cannot captain another team for at least two seasons. Trades can occur as soon as the draft is over. Trades must be approved by 50% of team managers. 

Substitute Players - Teams with less than 10 skaters and 1 goalie are permitted to add a substitute player to their game roster to bring their roster to 10 skaters and 1 goalie. Substitute players should not be added to significantly increase the skill level of the team, but should match the skill level of the absent player. Substitute players should be selected from our BM sub list and or members, as far in advance as possible. The BM sub list players are members of our community and aware of league values. This sub process is to ensure parity among teams and players and to uphold the values of our league.

Game and Season Format:

Game Time - Each 60 minute ice time will consist of a 3 minute warmup followed by

3 12-minute stop-time periods with 1 minute intermissions. 

Running Time - If the game is running late, or if the goal differential is 5 or greater, the game clock will run. Referee will make a decision. 

Overtime - If the game is tied after regulation, one 5 minute running time 3 on 3 over

time period will take place. 

Point System - 2 points per win, 1 point per tie

Tie Break - Ties in the standings will be broken as follows:

a) Least penalty minutes

b) Most penalty-free games

c) Head to Head score between the tied teams

d) Most wins

e) Least Goals Against

f) Most Goals For

g) Coin Toss

Rules

Officials will enforce typical USA Hockey rules of play, as can be found here. 

Some highlights or exceptions to these rules can be found below:

Penalties

Major/Misconducts and 5 minute infractions:

Intent to Injure - Any infraction that is intended to injure (intentional stick infraction,

body checking, fighting), will result in a 5 minute major penalty and game misconduct

Roughing and Unsportsmanlike Conduct - Will result in a minimum 4 minute double

minor penalty and could result in 5 minute major penalties or 10 minute misconducts

Stick Infractions - High sticking, cross checking and slashing will result in a minimum 4 minute double minor penalty

Body Checking - Incidental or accidental body checking will result in a minimum 4 minute double minor penalty

2 minute penalties are chaser penalty shots (penalties are still recorded) - learn more

Tripping and Hooking - 

Too Many Players or Delay of Game - 

Penalty Limits - 3 penalties per player - if exceed, player will be awarded 1 game misconduct and a disciplinary hearing 

Offsetting Penalties - Results in two two minute penalties, players go in the box.

Suspensions - Any player ejected from a game will be reviewed to decide whether

a suspension or expulsion is necessary by the rules committee. BMBL reserves the right to expel anyone for any intolerable act or increase suspensions when warranted.

a) If a player receives a major penalty in the last 5 minutes of a game s/he is

automatically suspended for his/her next game. Or 3 minor penalties during the duration of the game. 

b) After a player has received two game ejections, they are automatically suspended

for a minimum of two games.

Game Play Logistics:

Playing Equipment - Players must wear full equipment to play, and all equipment must

be in safe and adequate condition. Players must wear skates, shin pads, protective

pants, elbow pads, shoulder pads, hockey gloves and a USA approved helmet with full visor or cage. The League also recommends the use of neck guards, mouth guards, and jocks. A player losing their helmet during play must either immediately skate to the

bench or stop and put the helmet back on.

Team Roster - Team reps must submit a game sheet roster with a maximum of 16

players to the scorekeeper before warmup begins. Only players on this roster are

eligible to play in the game.

Minimum Roster - A game will not begin unless both teams have at least 5 skaters and

1 goalie eligible to play. If officials are ready to begin the game and a team cannot

comply with this rule, the clock will run and continue to run until 15 minutes has expired

and the game will end in a forfeit or; if the offending team is in compliance 7:30 into the

game time one minor penalty will be assessed, or between 7:30 and 15:00, a double

minor penalty will be assessed.

Goalie Injury - In the event a goalie is injured during the game; the team may be given

15 minutes to dress a substitute. They may also play with 6 skaters. In the event the

goalie is ejected from the game, there is no time given to dress a substitute.

Timeouts - Each team may take one 30-second timeout per game. No timeouts are

permitted in overtime.

Two-line passes are permitted

Automatic Icing - Is called when the puck is iced from behind the defensive zone blue line.

High Stick - When the puck is contacted with a stick above the shoulders, the play is

immediately whistled, and the ensuing faceoff is in the offending teams zone. 

Goalie Helmet - The play will automatically be blown dead when the goalie gets hit in

the helmet/mask.

Crease Infraction – If a player remains in goalie crease for three seconds, the play will

be stopped and face-off will occur outside the zone.

Rules are subject to change after review from the Rules Committee and Commissioner. 

Rules committee is made up of 6 captains from each team and the Comissioner.