📋 LEAGUE RULES
All Platform Hockey League · Season 1 Official Rulebook
Last Updated: May 26, 2026 · Questions? Post in the forums or contact an admin.
1
⚙️ General Rules
1.1 — League Authority
The APHL is administered by the Commissioner and designated admins. All decisions made by league staff are final unless successfully appealed through the official appeal process outlined in Rule 11.
1.2 — Rule Amendments
Rules may be amended at any time by the Commissioner. Changes will be announced in the forums with a minimum 48-hour notice period before taking effect, except in emergency situations.
1.3 — Forum Account Required
All players, GMs, and staff must maintain an active account on the APL Forums. Forum bans may result in league suspension depending on the reason for the ban.
1.4 — Platform
The APHL is a cross-platform league. Players on Xbox, PlayStation, and cross-play enabled platforms are all eligible. Your platform must be accurately listed in your player profile.
ℹ️ When in doubt about any rule, contact an admin before taking action — not after.
2
✅ Eligibility
2.1 — Age Requirement
All participants must be 16 years of age or older. Players under 18 must have parental awareness of their participation.
2.2 — One Account Per Player
Each player is permitted one APHL account and one forum account. Operating multiple accounts is a bannable offense. If you are found to have multiple accounts, both accounts will be permanently banned.
2.3 — Active Game Requirement
Players must own and have access to the current EA Sports NHL title. Players who cannot play due to not owning the game will be removed from the league until they can demonstrate access.
2.4 — Banned Player Ineligibility
Players serving an active ban from the APHL, any affiliated APL league, or any other major EA NHL simulation league may be deemed ineligible at the Commissioner's discretion.
2.5 — GM Eligibility
General Managers must be approved by league admin. GMs are held to a higher standard of conduct. A GM who is suspended or banned may have their GM rights revoked permanently.
3
👥 Roster Rules
3.1 — Roster Limits
Each team is limited to a maximum of 23 players and must maintain a minimum of 12 players at all times during the active season. Teams below the minimum at game time must forfeit.
3.2 — Position Requirements
Rosters must include at least 1 player at each of the following positions: C, LW, RW, LD, RD. If the goalie setting is enabled, at least 1 goalie (G) must also be rostered.
3.3 — Captain & Assistant Captain
Each team may designate 1 Captain (C) and up to 2 Assistant Captains (A). These must be submitted to admin through the Org System. Captain designations carry no in-game mechanical effect but are recognized on player profiles and team pages.
3.4 — Player Release & Waivers
Any rostered player who is released is placed on 72-hour waivers before becoming a free agent. All teams have equal right to claim waiver players. If multiple teams claim the same player, the team with the worst record has priority (reverse standings order).
3.5 — Minor League System
APHL franchises may maintain affiliated teams in the AHL, ECHL, or other admin-approved minor leagues. Players assigned to the minors remain under the franchise's rights. Callups count against the APHL roster limit. Senddowns do not.
3.6 — Trade Deadline
No trades may be processed after the league-announced trade deadline. The trade deadline is set by admin before the start of each season and published in the forums.
4
📄 Contracts & Salary Cap
4.1 — Salary Cap
All teams are subject to the league salary cap, which is set by admin at the start of each season. The current cap is displayed on the GM Panel. Teams over the cap must rectify the situation within 72 hours or face league-imposed penalties.
4.2 — Contract Minimum & Maximum
No player may be signed for less than the league minimum salary or more than the league maximum salary per year. These values are set by admin and visible in the GM Panel before each signing.
4.3 — Contract Length
Contracts may be offered for a minimum of 1 season and a maximum of 8 seasons. Players do not have to accept the first offer received.
4.4 — UFA / RFA Status
Restricted Free Agents (RFA) — Players with fewer than 7 seasons of APHL service time. Their current team retains matching rights on any contract offer.
Unrestricted Free Agents (UFA) — Players with 7 or more seasons of APHL service time. They may sign with any team — their former team has no matching rights even if they match the exact offer.
Unrestricted Free Agents (UFA) — Players with 7 or more seasons of APHL service time. They may sign with any team — their former team has no matching rights even if they match the exact offer.
4.5 — Offer Expiry
Contract offers expire after 72 hours if not accepted or rejected. Expired offers return cap space to the offering team. A new offer may then be submitted.
⚠️ GMs are responsible for monitoring their own cap compliance. "I didn't know" is not a valid excuse for being over the cap.
5
📝 Lineup Submission
5.1 — Submission Deadline
GMs must submit weekly lineups by the published deadline each week. The deadline is set by the Commissioner and will be the same each week (e.g., every Sunday by 11:59 PM ET). Late submissions may result in the previous week's lineup being used, or an admin-assigned lineup.
5.2 — Required Lines
Each submitted lineup must include: 4 forward lines (C, LW, RW per line), 3 defensive pairs (LD, RD per pair), and if goalies are enabled, a starting goalie and a backup.
5.3 — PP & PK Units
Power play (PP1, PP2) and penalty kill (PK1, PK2) units are optional but recommended. If not submitted, the admin will assign default units based on position.
5.4 — Rostered Players Only
Only players currently on your active roster may appear in your lineup. Submitting a lineup containing a suspended, injured, or released player will result in an automatic lineup correction.
5.5 — Forfeit Rule
A team that fails to submit any lineup for a scheduled game week, or cannot field the minimum required players, will receive a forfeit loss (0-3 for stats purposes).
6
🎮 Gameplay Rules
6.1 — Game Settings
All APHL games are played on the official league game settings. Settings will be posted in the forums and updated by admin as needed. Using non-standard settings is grounds for a game replay or forfeit.
6.2 — Game Reporting
After each game, the winning team's GM must submit the final score through the stat upload system within 24 hours. OCR screenshots of the game summary are required. Failure to report results may result in a forfeit.
6.3 — Disputed Results
If there is a dispute about a game result, both GMs must contact an admin within 4 hours of the game ending. Screenshots and evidence must be submitted. Admin rulings on disputed results are final.
6.4 — Disconnections
If a game ends due to a disconnection, the current score at the time of disconnect stands if more than 50% of the game has been played. If less than 50% has been played, the game is replayed in full. This is determined by period and time remaining.
6.5 — Exploits & Glitches
Using known gameplay exploits, glitches, or bugs is prohibited. First offense: warning and possible replay. Second offense: game forfeit. Third offense: suspension. Admin determines what constitutes an exploit on a case-by-case basis.
7
🔄 Trades
7.1 — Trade Submission
All trades must be submitted through the GM Panel trade system. Trades agreed to through Discord, forums, or any other channel still require official submission through the panel before they are official.
7.2 — Admin Approval
All trades require admin approval before players are officially moved. Admin may veto a trade if it is deemed grossly unfair, cap-circumventing, or collusive. Vetoed trades will include an explanation.
7.3 — Trade Deadline
No trades may be submitted after the official trade deadline. Draft picks for future seasons may still be traded after the deadline.
7.4 — Collusion
Trading players for non-player considerations (real money, favors, other game items) is strictly prohibited. Collusion between GMs to manipulate standings or playoffs is prohibited. Penalties include trade reversal and potential permanent ban for both GMs involved.
7.5 — Draft Pick Trades
Draft picks may be traded up to 2 seasons in advance. No team may trade away their 1st round pick in two consecutive seasons without special admin approval.
🚫 Any GM found guilty of collusion will be permanently removed from their GM position and may face a player ban as well.
8
🔓 Waivers
8.1 — Waiver Period
All released players are placed on waivers for 72 hours before becoming free agents. During this period, any team may submit a waiver claim through the GM Panel.
8.2 — Claim Priority
If multiple teams claim the same player, priority is awarded in reverse standings order (team with the fewest points gets priority). In the event of a tie, the team that filed their claim first wins.
8.3 — Waiver Exempt Players
Players who have been in the league for fewer than 30 days and have not yet played in a game may be released without clearing waivers at admin discretion.
8.4 — Cap Compliance on Claims
A team may only claim a waiver player if doing so keeps them at or below the salary cap. Teams over the cap may not submit waiver claims.
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🚫 Discipline & Suspensions
9.1 — Disciplinary Authority
The Commissioner and designated admins have the authority to issue suspensions, fines, and bans. All disciplinary decisions are published publicly on the Suspensions page for full transparency.
9.2 — Infraction Severity Scale
| Infraction | First Offense | Repeat Offense |
|---|---|---|
| Late game report | Warning | 1 game |
| Gameplay exploit (minor) | Warning + possible replay | 1–2 games |
| Unsportsmanlike conduct | 1–3 games | 3–10 games |
| Slew foot / Dirty play | 2–5 games | 5–15 games |
| Abuse of officials | 3–5 games | 10+ games |
| Harassment of player/GM | 5–10 games | Permanent ban |
| Collusion | GM removal + ban | Permanent ban |
| Multi-accounting | Permanent ban | Permanent ban |
9.3 — Suspended Player Eligibility
Suspended players may not appear in any lineup or game during their suspension period. Attempting to play a suspended player results in an additional 2-game suspension for the GM responsible.
9.4 — Suspension Tracking
Games remaining on a suspension count down per APHL game played — not per calendar week. Suspensions carry over between seasons if not fully served.
10
🏆 Playoffs
10.1 — Playoff Format
The top 16 teams qualify for the playoffs — the top 3 from each division (6 per conference) plus 2 wild card teams per conference. Seeding follows NHL convention: division winners are seeded 1–3, wild cards as 4th seed in each conference bracket.
10.2 — Series Format
All playoff rounds are Best of 3 series. Teams must complete each game within the agreed-upon schedule window. Admin may schedule a game if teams cannot agree on a time within 48 hours.
10.3 — Home Ice Advantage
The higher seed hosts Games 1 and 2 (and Game 3 if necessary). Home ice has no in-game mechanical effect but determines who sets the lobby.
10.4 — Roster Freeze
Rosters are frozen at the start of the playoffs. No signings, trades, or releases may occur during the playoff period. Waiver claims are also suspended.
10.5 — Championship
The Conference Finals winners meet in the APHL Championship series (Best of 5). The champion receives the APHL Cup, and the winning team and MVP are enshrined in the Season History record.
11
⚖️ Appeals Process
11.1 — Appeal Eligibility
Any player serving an active suspension may submit one appeal per suspension through the League Center. Appeals must be submitted within 48 hours of the suspension being issued.
11.2 — Appeal Grounds
Valid appeal grounds include: new evidence that was not available at the time of the ruling, procedural error in the disciplinary process, or demonstrated disproportionality of the sentence relative to the infraction.
11.3 — Appeal Process
① Submit appeal via League Center with full written explanation
② Admin reviews within 72 hours
③ Ruling is posted publicly on the website and in the forums
④ Appeal ruling is final — no further appeals permitted on the same suspension
② Admin reviews within 72 hours
③ Ruling is posted publicly on the website and in the forums
④ Appeal ruling is final — no further appeals permitted on the same suspension
11.4 — Appeal Outcomes
Approved — Suspension is immediately lifted. If games have already been served, no compensation is given.
Denied — Original suspension stands. The denial ruling and reasoning are posted publicly.
Denied — Original suspension stands. The denial ruling and reasoning are posted publicly.
ℹ️ Frivolous appeals submitted in bad faith may result in an additional penalty at admin discretion.
12
🤝 Code of Conduct
12.1 — Respect
All members of the APHL community — players, GMs, admins, and spectators — are expected to treat each other with basic respect. Harassment, hate speech, bullying, or discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated and may result in an immediate permanent ban.
12.2 — Forums & Discord
The same code of conduct applies in the forums, Discord server, and all official APL community spaces. Behavior in these spaces may be taken into account when issuing league discipline.
12.3 — GMs as Representatives
GMs represent their franchise and the league as a whole. GMs are held to a higher standard of conduct. Misconduct by a GM reflects on the franchise and may result in GM removal in addition to player penalties.
12.4 — Social Media
Publicly disparaging the APHL, its staff, or its members on social media in a manner intended to cause harm to the league or individuals is subject to disciplinary action.
12.5 — Reporting Violations
To report a rule violation, contact any admin directly or post in the designated report channel on Discord. Include as much detail and evidence as possible. Reports are handled confidentially.
🏒 THE APHL SPIRIT
The APHL exists because of the community. These rules exist to protect that community, not to punish it.
If you're ever unsure whether something is allowed — ask first. We'd much rather answer a question than issue a suspension.
Play hard, play fair, and make it a league worth being part of. 🏆