Section One: Commissioner's Office
1.1: Commissioner's Role
The Commissioner holds final executive authority over the league's operation, rule enforcement, and long-term direction. All staff, owners, management, and players operate under the Commissioner's oversight.
1.1.1: Hearing of Constitutional Amendment
The Commissioner presides over any proposed amendment to this Constitution. Amendments may be proposed by the Board of Governors, League Directors, or Owners, but require the Commissioner's review and a Board of Governors vote (see 2.3) before taking effect.
1.1.2: Letter of Understanding
Any new rule, policy change, or precedent-setting ruling not yet formalized in this Constitution must be issued as a Letter of Understanding, distributed to all Owners and Staff, until it is formally incorporated at the next Constitutional review.
1.1.3: Official Announcements
All league-wide announcements (schedule changes, rule clarifications, disciplinary actions of league-wide relevance) are issued through the Commissioner's Office or the Media/Communications Officer on the Commissioner's authority.
1.1.4: Executive Orders
The Commissioner may issue Executive Orders to address urgent situations not explicitly covered by this Constitution. Executive Orders remain in effect until reviewed by the Board of Governors, at which point they are ratified, amended, or repealed.
1.1.5: Staff Training
The Commissioner is responsible for ensuring all league staff are onboarded and trained on their role's responsibilities, this Constitution, and league systems (transactions, discipline, stats).
1.2: Deputy Commissioners — League Directors
1.2.1: Management Assistance
Deputy Commissioners assist Owners and Management with day-to-day operational questions, rule clarifications, and transaction guidance.
1.2.2: Procedural Enforcement
Deputy Commissioners enforce league procedure (scheduling deadlines, transaction windows, lineup locks) on behalf of the Commissioner's Office.
1.2.3: Management Training
Deputy Commissioners onboard new Owners/Management into league systems and expectations.
1.2.4: Role of the Deputy Commissioner
Deputy Commissioners act with the Commissioner's authority in daily operations but defer to the Commissioner on any ruling involving suspension, franchise status, or Constitutional interpretation.
1.3: League Directors
1.3.1: League Management
League Directors oversee the operation of a level within the APHL (the NHL level and, once it opens, the AHL level), ensuring league rules and scheduling are followed within their level.
1.4: Judicial Appeal Process and Player Representation
Any party subject to a disciplinary ruling has the right to appeal (see Section Six, 6.7 and prior disciplinary procedures). Players may request representation from their Captain, GM, or a Board of Governors member during a formal hearing.
1.5: Conduct
Commissioner's Office staff are held to the highest standard of neutrality. Any staff member found favoring a team or individual for personal reasons is subject to immediate review and possible removal by the Commissioner.
Section Two: Board of Governors
2.1: Role
The Board of Governors is a representative body (drawn from Owners and/or senior staff) that reviews Constitutional amendments, ratifies Executive Orders, and serves as the final appeal body for league-wide disputes.
2.2: Suspensions
The Board of Governors reviews any suspension appeal escalated beyond the Discipline Officer and Commissioner's Office (see Section Six). Board rulings on suspension appeals are final for the season.
2.3: Board of Governors Vote
Constitutional amendments and Executive Order ratifications require a majority vote of the Board of Governors. Ties are broken by the Commissioner.
2.4: Board of Governors Selections
Board members are selected by a combination of Owner vote and Commissioner appointment, serving fixed terms (recommended: one season, renewable).
2.5: Conduct
Board members must recuse themselves from any vote or appeal directly involving their own team or close affiliates.
Section Three: Development Committee
3.1: Committee Leader
The Development Committee is led by a Committee Leader appointed by the Commissioner, responsible for player growth initiatives, onboarding, and league feedback loops.
3.2: Player Education
The Development Committee produces onboarding materials, rule explainers, and gameplay guides to help new and existing players understand league systems (lineups, fatigue, salary cap basics as it applies to them).
3.3: Polling the Players for Their Vote
The Development Committee runs periodic player polls/surveys on league satisfaction, rule proposals, and gameplay balance, reporting results to the Commissioner's Office and Board of Governors.
3.4: Conduct
Development Committee members act as a neutral resource for players and must not use their position to advocate for a specific team's competitive interest.
Section Four: Owners
4.1: Role
Owners hold franchise rights to a team within the APHL and are responsible for that team's overall direction, compliance, and management structure.
4.2: Roster Transactions
Owners (or their designated Management/GM) are responsible for all roster transactions: trades, waivers, call-ups, and draft activity, in compliance with salary cap and roster limit rules.
4.3: Compliance
Owners must ensure their franchise complies with all league rules, deadlines, and Constitutional requirements, including those delegated to their Management staff.
4.4: Accountability
Owners are accountable for the conduct of their Management and players. Repeated violations by a franchise's staff or roster may result in Owner-level review.
4.5: Management
Owners may appoint Management (GM, Assistant GM, Coaching staff) to handle day-to-day team operations, as defined in Section Five.
4.6: Management Office
Each franchise must maintain an active Management Office (at minimum, one designated point of contact) reachable by league staff within the standard SLA.
4.7: Filing Management Appeals
Owners may file an appeal on behalf of their franchise regarding any ruling affecting their team, following the same escalation process outlined in Section One (1.4).
4.8: Owner's Vote
Owners hold voting rights on league-wide matters brought to a franchise vote (e.g., rule proposals, Board of Governors selection), one vote per franchise.
4.9: Owner Selections
New Owners are selected/approved by the Commissioner's Office, with consideration of league fit, commitment level, and community standing.
4.10: Owner Commitment
Owners are expected to remain active in league operations for the duration of their tenure. Extended inactivity without notice may result in franchise reassignment.
4.11: Conduct
Owners are held to the league's general conduct standards and are expected to model professionalism for their franchise's staff and players.
Section Five: Management
5.1: Management Role
Management (GMs, Assistant GMs, Coaching staff) handle the daily operational responsibilities of a franchise on behalf of the Owner: scheduling, lineups, roster management, and team leadership (captaincy appointments).
5.2: Management Contracts
5.2.1 NHL Management
Management at the NHL level is held to the highest activity and performance standards, given the level's weight in league standings.
5.2.2 AHL Management
Management at the AHL level, once it opens (7.1), is expected to prioritize player development and roster rotation, preparing players for call-up to the NHL level.
5.3: League Promotion
The APHL has no promotion or relegation. Franchises hold a fixed place at the NHL or AHL level (Section Seven).
5.4: League Intervention
The league may intervene in a franchise's management (temporary league-appointed oversight) in cases of extended Owner/Management inactivity, repeated non-compliance, or franchise instability threatening league operations.
5.5: Management Removal
Management may be removed by the Owner at their discretion, or by the Commissioner's Office in cases of serious misconduct or repeated non-compliance, following the standard review process.
5.6: Management Criteria
Management appointees should demonstrate reliability, communication skills, and familiarity with league systems. Owners are encouraged to document their Management structure with the Commissioner's Office.
5.7: Conduct
Management is held to the same conduct standards as Owners and league staff, including neutrality in disputes and professionalism toward players and opposing franchises.
Section Six: Players
6.1: Role
Players are rostered members of a franchise expected to participate in scheduled games, follow league and game rules, and represent their team professionally.
6.2: Availability
Players must submit weekly availability by the league deadline. Inaccurate availability (marking available and no-showing) is treated as an unexcused absence, not a scheduling issue.
6.3: In-Game Requirements
Players must be present and ready at scheduled game times, follow assigned lineups/lines, and adhere to in-game conduct rules (no exploiting bugs, no targeting, no chat abuse).
6.4: Disconnection Process
In the event of a mid-game disconnection, players must attempt immediate reconnection and notify their Captain/GM and the opposing team. Repeated or unresolved disconnection issues should be reported to Technical Admin for review; games affected by verified connection issues may be subject to replay or stat adjustment at Commissioner discretion.
Updated: what happens to the game after a disconnection, and who gets stats, is set out in Article IV, Section Eight.
6.5: Participation and Quitting Policy
Players who intend to leave the league mid-season must notify their GM as early as possible. Unannounced departures leaving a roster short-handed may affect the player's standing for future league participation.
6.6: Ban Buy-outs
A player serving a suspension or ban may petition for a buy-out (reduced suspension length in exchange for a defined penalty, e.g., forfeited roster spot priority or a probationary period) at the Discipline Officer's discretion, subject to Commissioner approval for season-length or permanent bans.
6.7: General Conduct
Players are expected to follow all league and game rules, respect Captains/GMs/staff rulings, and pursue disputes through the proper escalation channel (Captain → GM → Discipline Officer → Commissioner → Board of Governors) rather than public conflict.
Section Seven: League Levels and Franchises
7.1: The NHL and AHL Levels
The APHL is a fixed, organized professional-league structure. Every franchise plays at the NHL level. The AHL level is the lower league. It opens when the NHL level grows past 32 teams. Until the AHL opens, all franchises play in the NHL and the AHL sections of this Constitution are not in effect.
7.2: No Promotion or Relegation
Franchises hold a permanent spot at the NHL or AHL level. A franchise's level reflects its place in the league's structure, not a standings-based ranking to climb or drop from. Movement between the NHL and the AHL happens at the player level, through the call-up and send-down system (7.3), the same way a real NHL organization moves players between its NHL and AHL affiliate.
7.3: Player Call-Up & Send-Down (AHL ↔ NHL)
This section takes effect when the AHL opens.
- Players may be called up from the AHL to the NHL roster per the call-up rules in Article III, subject to salary cap and roster limit compliance at the NHL level
- Players sent down from the NHL to the AHL keep their contract terms unless renegotiated
- Call-ups and send-downs must be processed by the Trade/Waiver Analyst and confirmed before the next scheduled game to count toward that game's roster
7.4: Placing the AHL Teams
When the AHL opens, each AHL team is set up as the affiliate of an NHL franchise. The Commissioner's Office announces the AHL teams, their affiliates and their schedule before the season they start in.
7.5: Expansion & Contraction
New APHL franchises are placed directly at the NHL level, or at the AHL level once it is open. Franchise contraction (removal from the league) follows the process outlined in Article I, 5.4–5.5 and requires Board of Governors ratification.
7.6: Franchise Status Is Not Appealable by Standings
Because the APHL has no promotion or relegation, there is no standings-based appeal of a franchise's level. Disciplinary rulings follow the appeal process in Article I, Section Six.
Section Eight: Staff Roles and Team Leadership
8.1: Staff Roles
League staff share the Commissioner's workload. Each role has its own job and reports up the chain:
- Assistant Commissioner: runs daily operations when the Commissioner is away, approves routine transactions within set limits, and escalates anything involving a conflict of interest or an unclear rule.
- Discipline Officer: reviews incident reports, issues rulings under the suspension tiers, and keeps the public disciplinary log. Recuses from any case involving their own team.
- Stats Commissioner: checks submitted stats against the EA data and screenshots before they are final and corrects problems before standings update.
- Scheduling Coordinator: publishes the weekly slate, handles reschedule requests and tracks makeup games.
- Trade/Waiver Analyst: checks salary cap compliance on every trade, clears waivers on schedule and flags roster limit problems.
- Media/Communications Officer: posts recaps and announcements and keeps the public roster record, including captains.
- Moderator: enforces conduct in Discord and the forum and passes serious cases to the Discipline Officer.
- Technical Admin: keeps the site, bot and stat systems running and triages bug reports.
8.2: Staff Conduct and Appointment
Staff must step aside from any ruling that involves their own team or close affiliates. Official actions are logged. Staff may not use their position for a competitive advantage, such as inside information on trades or waivers. Staff are appointed by the Commissioner, serve at will, and can be removed by the Commissioner.
8.3: Response Times
Staff aim to meet these turnaround times:
- GM messages and disputes: 24 hours
- Trade approval or denial: 24 hours
- Waivers: processed daily at a fixed time
- Incident report review: 48 hours
- Technical bug triage: 48 hours
8.4: Captain and Assistant Captain
Every team has one Captain and at least one Assistant Captain. The Captain relays lineup and strategy from the GM to the roster, is the first stop for in-game disputes before they reach staff, and helps new and call-up players settle in. The Assistant Captain steps in when the Captain is away. The GM may change the Captain at any time but must tell the league, because captains appear on the public roster. A team with no Captain or Assistant Captain on file gets a warning, then a league-appointed interim captain.
8.5: Playing Time and Rotation
GMs are expected to rotate the full active roster over the season. A healthy, available player who goes several games in a row without a lineup spot may file a playing-time grievance with the Discipline Officer. A grievance that is upheld gets a warning and review first, then a required rotation plan, then a review of the GM's standing. GMs should also manage two-line rotations with the fatigue system in mind rather than overplaying the top lines.
8.6: GM Scheduling and Lineup Duties
GMs confirm game times with the opposing GM at least 48 hours ahead, submit reschedule requests with 24 hours notice, and make sure enough players are confirmed for each game. Lines must be in before the weekly lock and must reflect players who can actually play. A missed scheduling deadline is a warning, then loss of reschedule privileges for one cycle, then a Board of Governors review. A late lineup is a warning, then an automatic lineup applied by staff, then a review of the GM's standing.