Greater Boston Upper Level Draft League

Registration is done individually, although you may request to be grouped together with one friend for the purposes of a rideshare. Each team will have up to 11 skaters and 1 goalie to result in enough players for a competitive game weekly.

New players must participate in an on-ice evaluation and are then drafted by established captains to create the best parity between teams. Existing players that captains are familiar with are not required to participate in an evaluation unless requested to do so.

All games are expected to take place primarily at Veterans Memorial Rink in Somerville, Simoni Rink in Cambridge, MA, and O’Neil Rink in Charlestown. Some games may take place at Cronin Rink in Revere

Games are expected to take place on Thursdays with start times between 9PM and  10:30PM through March, then 7:30PM and 10:30PM. The schedule for the season will be posted after the draft.

Although game times changes are sometimes necessary, we will never change the days or times of your games outside the scope of what was expected without your consent.

Player and team stats are maintained by the league.

Only players who were drafted on a team are eligible to participate in any game. Each team will have up to 11 skaters and 1 goalie to result in enough players for a competitive game weekly. In the event that your goalie must miss a game, StinkySocks Hockey will place a goalie who is appropriate for the level as a fill-in.

All games have three periods of 15 minutes of running time. The last minute of the game is stopped time if the score is within one goal. No team timeouts are permitted. All minor penalties are 2 minutes in length. Major penalties result in ejection and offending players are subject to the conduct (aka “No Jerks”) policy of StinkySocks Hockey.

All practice and game pucks are provided by the league.

You should expect two StinkySocks Hockey on-ice officials and one scorekeeper for each game.

A staff that’s invested leads to the best experience on ice. All officials and scorekeepers and managed directly with StinkySocks Hockey. Our staff members are more than just a set of stripes out on the ice. Each staff member is there because they meet our high standards for performance and proper game management, in accordance with our rules and policies.

All new players will be issued a StinkySocks Hockey reversible jersey in their first season, or they may upgrade to a pair of single-sided jerseys for the difference in cost. Be sure to have a look at the size chart for our jerseys and indicate your preference when you register.

Any player who already has a StinkySocks Hockey reversible jersey can instead opt to receive (2) vouchers, each of which can be redeemed for a free No Commitment Hockey game during the draft league season.

Please review the rules and policies that apply to this draft league. Most importantly, please familiarize yourself with our conduct (aka “No Jerks”) policy, which helps maintain an enjoyable playing environment.

RIGHT AND AGREEMENT TO PARTICIPATE

By registering for a StinkySocks Hockey Draft League, you are purchasing the non-transferable right to participate in the games that are stated to be a part of that league, and are on the schedule provided for the team on which you are “drafted” (assigned to) at the beginning of the season, provided that you meet the qualifications for eligibility. You agree to be bound by these terms and conditions and the rules and policies of the league. At any time during the season you, as an individual player, may be moved to any team in the same draft league for any reason that the league determines is necessary, including team parity within that league.

BEST EFFORT SERVICE PROMISES

We want every game to be perfect and our promise to you is that we’ll make every effort for that to happen. However, there are many variables involved in producing a game, some of which may be out of our direct control at times. As such, our Draft League games are offered as a “best effort” service. Experiences that are imperfect in the following areas are ineligible for compensation:

GOALIES – Although StinkySocks Hockey cannot guarantee two goalies for any game, we do everything in our power to ensure that there are two goalies scheduled. As a result of our goalie backfilling process, it is rare that there is a game that goes forward without two scheduled goalies. However, on occasion, we may not be able to replace a goalie who has called out or there may be a scheduled goalie who does not appear (no call/no show).

LEVELING – We make every effort to ensure that teams in our draft leagues are even and will make changes throughout the season to that end.

SERVICE GUARANTEES

GAME TIME – We guarantee that the scheduled ice block will be available for your Standard Game at or about the time scheduled. In the case that the facility is running behind, game start times may be delayed. In the case that a game is delayed more than 30 minutes or where a game is cannot be played (onsite cancelation), compensation in the form of a $10 promotional offer that can be used within 30 days towards an available Standard Game booked through No Commitment Hockey. This guarantee does not apply to any game that has been canceled in advance or if there is a circumstance beyond our control that prevents ice availability or safe operation of a game at the facility.

REFEREE (NOT VALID FROM 9/2021 UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DUE TO KNOW STAFFING SHORTAGES) – We have two referees scheduled for every draft league game. In the case that the scheduled referee does not appear, compensation in the form of a $5 promotional offer will be issued before the season end, to be used within 30 days of issue towards an available Standard Game booked through No Commitment Hockey.

CANCELLATION OF DRAFT LEAGUE REGISTRATIONS

The purchase of a draft league can be canceled at any time up until 2 weeks prior to the date that the first game is scheduled for a full refund to the original form of payment. Draft league registrations are not otherwise refundable in part or whole for any reason, including injury or relocation.

MILITARY DEPLOYMENT BENEFIT – If you are an active military member and are deployed outside of the area during your season, you may cancel your season pass and receive a gift certificate in the full amount of the value of the remaining games when providing signed deployment orders. This is a regular gift certificate that does not have an expiration.

GAME TIME CHANGES

Your schedule may change at any time but will always be within the context of the days and times that are expected. In the event of a schedule change within seven days of the game, players will be notified at the email address on their original registration.

GAME CANCELLATIONS BY STINKYSOCKS HOCKEY

In rare cases, it is required for StinkySocks Hockey to cancel a scheduled game. In the event of a cancelation, we will make every attempt to contact players. To facilitate that, it is important to have current contact information on your original season pass order. Players are notified by text message, phone, and/or email. If you would like to be notified by text message (usually the quickest way to get out the message), please be sure that your primary phone number on your order is a number capable of receiving text messages.

Canceled games will be rescheduled and noted on your schedule.

WEATHER-RELATED CANCELLATIONS – Some games may be canceled in the event of weather. All weather-related decisions are deferred host facility as the entity in the best position to make a responsible decision based on the conditions in their area. Facilities may also deem it necessary to cancel a game if they are unable to provide a safe or otherwise usable playing surface.