Senior League players must register individually online before the season begins if they wish to play. Please see below for important league information.

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You will need a CIHA online account to register. If you don't have one, please see the Registration Guide to create one.

Click to  REGISTER FOR PREMIERS 

Click to  REGISTER FOR G2 

Click to  REGISTER FOR G3 

Click to  REGISTER FOR G4 ​

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Season Information

 

G2-G4 season info is below. Click here for Premier Division information.

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Expected G2-G4 Format

• Expected number of games and nights of play (mid-October to late March or early April):

  • G2: 18 games on Sundays plus 1 practice (sessions starting Oct 13)

  • G3: 18 games on Mondays plus 1 practice (sessions starting Oct 14)

  • G4: 18 games mostly on Tuesdays plus 1 practice (sessions starting Oct 22)

• Leagues may have a sessions on nights other than what is shown above (e.g., some G4 games on Monday nights). Most practices are expected to be on Tuesdays, possibly some on Wednesdays or Thursdays.

• Final game days/times and full schedule are TBA and subject to change.

• 13 full season skaters per team, plus one goalie and up to 4 casuals (age 18+ as at March 31, 2025)

• Casuals must be invited onto a team and teams do not have to have casuals.

• Fees are displayed during online registration to help players budget for the season.

• Early registration gives a discount off the total registration cost. 

• Full prepayment for the season also gives a discount off the total cost. Players can instead choose a periodic instalment payment plan, but will not receive the prepayment discount.

• Players must be full CIHA and NZIHF members. Memberships will be automatically added during online registration, if needed.

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Full Season Skaters and Goalies

Players invited to a team must register by the Team Preference Deadline of September 29 or their spot may be allocated to a Free Agent. Players are to select a team during registration only if invited by a team manager. If not invited, a player may register as a Free Agent. CIHA will attempt to place all Free Agents on a team, but is not guaranteed and CIHA may cancel and refund Free Agent registrations.

 

Goalies receive a discount on registration fees and are expected to play for their assigned team on a regular basis. Whereas skaters are allowed to play only for their assigned team, goalies may substitute for each other to cover absences.

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Casual Skaters

A player must be invited by a team manager to register as a Casual Skater. Unless invited, a Casual registrant will be refunded and not placed on a team. Casuals are to register before the registration deadline and will pay a one-time fee that enables them to act as a Casual for a team, but does not guarantee or pay for any games. Casuals can only play a game when invited by the team manager, typically when a Full Season player will be absent. The team manager may collect a game fee from the Casual to be used for the benefit of the team. Casuals are eligible to play in playoff games.

 

Key Dates (Subject to Change)

• Early Registration ends and Regular Registration begins: September 22   

• Team Preference Deadline: September 29

• Player Registration Deadline for Initial Rostering: October 6

• Leagues expected to run from mid-October through late March or early April

 

Team Assignments

• Team managers must submit a team list to CIHA’s Senior League Director and inform their players they must register online by the Team Preference Deadline. Players not registered by the Team Preference Deadline will forfeit their preferred spot, which may be assigned to a Free Agent if the team is not full. 

• Free Agents may be placed on a team at any time after the Team Preference Deadline unless the team is fully rostered. CIHA will generally work with managers to assign Free Agents but CIHA has final discretion on all assignments.

• Players who wish to join a league after the deadline for initial rostering may be assigned to a team that is not fully rostered at CIHA’s discretion.

 

Manager Responsibility

Managers have responsibility for the smooth operation of their teams, including sorting jerseys for their players and ensuring all team members register by the Team Preference Deadline. Teams with too few players at the close of registration may be dissolved and players reassigned to other teams. 

 

Casual Policy: managers who invite Casuals onto their team are responsible for arranging Casual player substitutions for absent Full Season players. The manager should rotate Casuals to provide equal playing opportunities and collect a standard playing fee for the game for the benefit of the team. Managers are not to benefit from collected funds more than any other player on their team. The team's Casual payment policy should be clearly communicated by the manager to the team at the start of the season, and an accounting of how the funds were used at the end of the season.

 

Managers must ensure only players assigned to their team play in their games (goalies of the same grade level are allowed to substitute, however). If a team plays a disallowed player, the team will forfeit the game and no statistics will be recorded for the team that game. CIHA reserves the right to make exceptions to this rule when deemed in the best interests of the game (such as filling a goalie position if needed), and in consultation with the team managers.

 

League Adjustments

The final number of teams per league depends on the number of registrations received, with the target of 14 players per team (13 skaters plus a goalie) plus casuals. Teams cannot choose to have fewer players. Teams may carry more Full Season players, but the price is not reduced. CIHA will work with team managers to understand roster preferences, and CIHA reserves the right to make final decisions on player assignments, including Free Agents. 

 

Depending on player registrations and other circumstances, adjustments may be required to the league and game format in any given grade. In such cases the CIHA and Senior League Director will generally work with the Senior League Grade Representative and the team managers to determine the best course of action for the league. CIHA has final authority on all league matters, including these rules, which may change.

 

FAQ

          

I’m new… / Which Grade should I register in… / Who can play in which Grade?

Players should register in the appropriate grade level for their skill (email seniorleague@ciha.org.nz if you are unsure of your grade, or are new to CIHA and need to be graded). Players may register to “play up” a grade, but not down. Players “playing up” can register for a specific team only if invited by the team manager. Players are discouraged from registering to “play up”, and especially as Free Agents: Free Agent placement it is not guaranteed and the registration may be cancelled and fees refunded. Players wishing to play as Free Agents should do so at their appropriate skill level.

 

I can’t commit to a full season. Can I play casually on a team?

Yes, if you are invited to play as a Casual by a team manager. Registering as a Casual requires a season fee which does not pay for or guarantee any games. A Casual can only play in a game if requested by the team manager, typically when a Full Season player on the team is unavailable. The team manager may collect a game fee from the Casual for the benefit of the team. 

 

What if I want to play casually but have not been invited to be a Casual on a team?

You must be invited by a team manager to play as a casual on that team. CIHA will continue to offer drop-in style games like Masters, and also expects to offer occasional additional scrimmages, training sessions, and other opportunities for players in this situation.

 

How do I pay my season registration fees? I used to pay my team manager.

Managers are no longer financially responsible for collecting season playing fees from players and paying team fees to the CIHA. You must register online before the season begins and make initial payment in order to be placed on a team and play. If you have not paid your yearly CIHA and NZIHF memberships fees, these will be added to your online cart automatically during registration. 

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Why do I have to pay CIHA and NZIHF membership fees?

CIHA is a non-profit organisation with considerable expenses related to organising and offering ice hockey in Canterbury and therefore requires charging a membership fee in order to function. Some of the expenses include accounting systems, auditors, website, equipment such as nets, score bench and clock, representation at NZIHF meetings, and more. NZIHF fees go toward similar expenses incurred in the organisation and management of ice hockey at the national level, and the NZIHF, in turn, also supports regional initiatives. This is not new: CIHA members have been required to pay CIHA and NZIHF membership fees for decades.