NVMHA Ownership of Ice

All ice allocated to teams remains the property of NVMHA.

Although teams are provided with a schedule for the season, their assigned ice may occasionally need to be reallocated to accommodate a higher-priority scheduling requirement, including league obligations or conflict game resolution.

When this is necessary, affected teams will be given notice whenever possible.

Teams should not consider their regularly scheduled ice permanently attached to their team.

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Conflict Games & Rescheduling

From time to time, league games may be scheduled in a way that creates a conflict.

Resolving league game conflicts is a priority within NVMHA’s ice allocation process. However, managers and coaches are expected to begin the resolution process promptly once a conflict is identified.

Step 1: Identify the Conflict

As soon as a manager or coach becomes aware of a conflict, they should begin working to resolve it.

Please do not wait until the scheduled game date is approaching.

Step 2: Contact the Opposing Team

The team manager is responsible for contacting the opposing team’s manager and advising them that the game needs to be rescheduled.

You do not need to agree on one specific replacement date before contacting the Ice Coordinator.

Instead, determine several dates, days of the week or timeframes that could work for both teams.

Step 3: Submit a Conflict Ice Request Form

Please provide:

• Your team
• Opposing team
• Original game date and time
• Game number, if available
• Reason for the conflict
• Dates or time frames the opposing team is available

Form Link

Step 4: Replacement Ice Options

The Ice Coordinator will review available NVMHA ice and determine whether suitable replacement options are available.

Conflict games receive priority when available ice is being allocated.

In some circumstances, resolving a conflict may require the use of ice currently allocated to another NVMHA team.

Every effort will be made to minimize disruptions, but NVMHA may reallocate team ice when necessary to meet league scheduling obligations.

 

Step 5: Confirm With Your Opponent

Once replacement ice options are provided, the manager is responsible for confirming the proposed date and time with the opposing team.

Please respond promptly so the ice can either be confirmed or released for another use.

Replacement ice is not confirmed until you receive confirmation from the NVMHA Ice Coordinator.

 

Step 6: Return Ice No Longer Required

If resolving the conflict results in another NVMHA ice time no longer being required, that ice must be released immediately using the Ice Return Form.

IMPORTANT

Managers and coaches may not independently move games onto another NVMHA team’s ice or confirm the use of NVMHA ice without approval from the Ice Coordinator.

Once a new game time has been agreed upon and confirmed by both teams, you must email your League Manager to have the game officially rescheduled.

Please involve the Ice Coordinator early. The more notice provided, the more options we are likely to have available.

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Requesting Additional Ice

Teams requiring ice outside their regular allocation must submit an Ice Request Form.

This includes requests for:

• Exhibition games
• Additional practices
• Tournament-related scheduling needs
• Other team ice requirements

Submitting an Ice Request Form does not guarantee that ice will be available.

Requests will be reviewed based on availability and NVMHA’s ice allocation priorities.

The ice is not considered allocated until confirmation has been received from the Ice Coordinator.

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Available & Returned Ice

Throughout the season, additional ice may become available due to cancellations, returned team ice, schedule changes or additional allocations received by NVMHA.

When additional or returned ice becomes available, it will be communicated to coaches and managers by email.

Teams interested in the available ice should submit the Ice Request Form.

Submitting a request does not automatically reserve the ice.

If multiple teams request the same ice, allocation will be determined based on scheduling priorities and overall team needs rather than solely on who submitted the request first.

Ice is only confirmed once you receive confirmation from the Ice Coordinator.

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Returning Ice

If your team cannot use an allocated ice time, it must be returned to NVMHA as soon as possible.

Complete the Ice Return Form immediately once you know the ice will not be used.

Do not assume another team will take your ice simply because you have mentioned its availability to another coach or manager.

The release must be reported through the proper process so the ice can be tracked and formally reassigned.

Providing as much notice as possible gives NVMHA the best opportunity to reallocate the ice and prevents valuable ice from going unused.

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Unused Ice & Two-Strike Policy

Unused and unreported ice is a significant cost to NVMHA and limits opportunities for other teams.

Teams are expected to return any ice they will not be using.

NVMHA operates a two-strike policy for ice that goes unused without being reported.

After two instances of unused and unreported ice, the team will be charged $100 for each subsequent ice time that goes unused and was not properly returned.

The purpose of this policy is not to penalize teams for legitimate scheduling changes. It is intended to ensure that ice is returned with enough notice to give another NVMHA team an opportunity to use it.

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Ice Trades Between Teams

Teams may occasionally wish to trade allocated ice times with another NVMHA team.

Managers may communicate with one another to identify a potential trade; however, all trades must be reported to and confirmed by the Ice Coordinator.

A trade is not considered official until it has been confirmed by the Ice Coordinator.

This ensures the master schedule remains accurate and prevents scheduling conflicts.

If a trade affects a scheduled league game or other association programming, additional approval may be required.

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Schedule Changes & Cancellations

Managers and coaches are responsible for notifying the Ice Coordinator as soon as they become aware of anything that affects their team’s ice requirements.

This includes:

• Tournaments
• Team travel
• Game schedule changes
• Cancelled games
• Rescheduled games
• Practices that will not be used
• Other circumstances that leave allocated ice unused

Please do not wait until the week of the affected ice time if the conflict is already known.

Early notice gives NVMHA the best opportunity to reuse the ice.

To keep requests organized and ensure nothing is missed, please use the appropriate form.

Ice Request Form

Use this form when NVMHA has circulated available ice and your team would like to request that specific ice time. 

Form Link

Conflict Ice Request Form

Use this form when your team has a scheduled home game that needs to be rescheduled due to conflict and you require alternate ice options.

Form Link

Please do not consider any requested or claimed ice confirmed until you receive confirmation from the Ice Coordinator.

We have a league game conflict. What do we do?

Contact the opposing team immediately to determine their general availability and then submit an Conflict Ice Request Form.

The Ice Coordinator will review available ice and provide suitable options.
Note: You do need to inform your League Manager with the updated game details once you have that information confirmed between the two teams (i.e., date, time)

 

Do we need to agree on a new date with the opponent before requesting ice?

No.

Determine several dates or timeframes that could work for both teams and include them in your request. This gives the Ice Coordinator more flexibility when searching for replacement ice.

 

Can I offer another team one of our practice times for their conflict game?

Please contact the Ice Coordinator first.

Because conflict games are a priority, your ice may ultimately be used for the game, but the change needs to be coordinated through the master schedule.

 

Can another team’s ice be used to resolve our conflict game?

Yes, when necessary.

All NVMHA ice remains association ice and may be reallocated to meet higher-priority scheduling obligations. The Ice Coordinator will coordinate this process and notify affected teams.

 

If we aren’t using our ice, can we give it directly to another team?

No.

Please submit an Ice Return Form. This allows the Ice Coordinator to track the returned ice and determine its appropriate allocation.

 

If I submit an Ice Request Form first, do I automatically get the ice?

No.

Ice is allocated according to scheduling priorities and team needs. Conflict games and league obligations may take priority over optional additional ice requests.

 

Can teams trade ice?

Yes, teams may arrange potential trades with one another, but the trade must be reported to and confirmed by the Ice Coordinator before it is considered official.

 

We’re attending a tournament. What should we do with our regular ice?

As soon as you know your team will not require an allocated ice time, submit an Ice Return Form.

Please do not wait until the tournament weekend approaches.

 

What happens if we forget to release ice?

NVMHA operates a two-strike policy.

After two instances of ice going unused and unreported, the team will be charged $100 for each subsequent unused and unreported ice time.

 

Is our regular practice ice guaranteed for the entire season?

Your team’s schedule is set for the season unless you have been notified otherwise by the Ice Coordinator; however, all ice remains the property of NVMHA.

On occasion, ice may need to be reallocated to resolve a league conflict or another higher-priority scheduling requirement. Notice will be provided whenever possible.

 

At minimum, how many team officials or certified volunteers do we need to run an ice session? 

A: At least one certified coach must be present. An additional certified volunteer (team manager, HCSP, etc) needs to be present. This is to be compliant with the Hockey Canada rules of "Two-Deep".

 

Who should I contact if I’m unsure what to do?

Contact the NVMHA Ice Coordinator before making changes.

It is always easier to resolve a scheduling issue when the Ice Coordinator is involved early.