Good morning SHL!

Over the past couple of weeks, Head Office and the SMJHL Commissioner (that’s @ACapitalChicago) have been discussing some changes/additions to the SHL rulebook to provide additional clarity for SHL GMs regarding appropriate procedures when dealing with their send-down players. There are rules in place in the SMJHL rulebook regarding those procedures that do not appear in the SHL rulebook, and we realize that can be confusing to SHL GMs who may not know to look in a different rulebook for guidelines on how to call up their players.

First, the following rule is currently in place in the SMJHL rulebook and the SHL rulebook:
SMJHL rulebook wording:

Quote:SHL teams may not send players down after the SMJHL Trade Deadline has passed. They may call their send-downs up at any time.

SHL rulebook wording:

Quote:A player who is called up to their SHL team during the SHL regular season and is still eligible for SMJHL play may not be sent back down following the SMJHL Trade Deadline. SMJHL Players may be called up to their SHL team at any time.

We believe the first portion of this rule serves no purpose. The actual work done for a call-up/send-down situation takes place when the player is first called up and must be added to the SHL file, so we see no reason to disallow a player to be sent down after the SMJHL trade deadline. Thus, that portion of the rule is being struck from both rulebooks.


Secondly, the following rule is currently in place in the SMJHL rulebook but not the SHL rulebook:

Quote:SHL GM's must give advance notice of a call-up to the management team of the respective SMJHL team their send Down is on, at least 24 hours in advance of a call-up. This will be done via PMs AND the Call-Up Thread. In the thread, SHL GM's must clarify for what sims they will be calling up players and tag the respective SMJHL GM’s. Failure to do so will result in the player not being called-up for that day's sim and they may play on the roster of the SMJHL team.

We are making a slight tweak to the wording of this rule, as well as adding it to the SHL rulebook. The new wording is:

Quote:SMJHL players may be called up to their SHL team at any time prior to their SHL team’s elimination from the playoffs. SHL GMs must give advance notice of a call-up to the management team of the SMJHL team their send down is on, at least 24 hours in advance of the next SMJHL sim. This must be done via direct message (Discord or on site) AND the Call-Up Thread. In the thread, SHL GMs must specify for what sims they will be calling up the player, and tag the respective SMJHL GMs. Call-ups within 24 hours of the next SMJHL sim may be allowed solely with the consent of the SMJHL GM. Failure to provide 24 hours notice OR obtain approval from the SMJHL GM will result in the player not being called up for that day's sim and they may play on the roster of the SMJHL team.

This change is being made to both the SHL and SMJHL rulebooks, effective immediately.


Thanks everyone, and have a terrific day!
On behalf of SHL (and SMJHL today) Head Office,
-Jess


P.S. Thank you very much to ACap for the super productive rulebook discussions and letting me do my favorite thing, nitpicking documentation.