*Posted January 26, 2024

A Disciplinary Hearing (“Hearing”) can involve players, team officials, parents or any member of District 4. Hearings are held to review infractions that are a part of an official game record and incidents that are not part of an official game record as off-ice conduct in the locker room, hallway or in the spectator area of an arena. 
Hearings  

Panel Disciplinary Hearings (“Panel Hearings”) that review conduct contrary to the District Code of conduct will be convened in a timely manner and be chaired by the Director – Risk and Safety.  Panel Hearings will be adjudicated by a panel of a minimum of 3 voting members of the District 4 Board (the “Adjudicating Panel”).  Adjudicating Panels will always contain an odd number of individuals. Game infractions which require a District hearing as directed by HEO policy 6.49.1 HEO Code of Discipline Chart for Minor Hockey which are not at the HEO level are chaired by the District 4 District Chair and Adjudicating Panel (a minimum of 3 voting members of the District Executive). A District hearing would fall under the “Hearing” type and not considered a separate type of hearing. 

Hearings generally happen for four reasons, although these are not the only reasons and Hearings may be held at the discretion of the District Chair: 

1. A member of District 4 has established a pattern of negative behaviour that has resulted in the need for a Hearing;  
2. An incident(s) has occurred at the team level that could not be resolved to the satisfaction of the parties involved and has therefore been escalated;  
3. A complaint has been received and found to have merit regarding the behaviour of a player, team officials, parent or other member of District 4 that is in violation of the District 4 Code of Conduct;  
4. An infraction occurred during a game under HEO Policy 6.49.1 HEO Code of Discipline Chart for Minor Hockey that requires a Hearing; and 
5. Any behaviour or deed that would bring your association or the sport of hockey into disrepute, always avoiding offensive and disrespectful conduct. 

A Panel Hearing process will generally proceed in this manner:   

1. Attendance for those requesting to be present at the Panel Hearing will be at the sole discretion of the Chair (either the Director – Risk and Safety or the District Chair).   
2. All comments, questions and responses will be addressed through the Chair.   
3. The Chair will describe the event(s) that led to the hearing.  
4. The player, team official or other member of the District & its member associations will be allowed to state their case without interruption.  
5. If the Panel Hearing relates to the conduct of a player, parents, team officials, other members of the District & its member associations and others in attendance will be allowed to make statements and provide evidence to substantiate the statements being made.  
6. Panel members may ask clarifying or supplementary questions at the conclusion of an individual’s statement.  

At the conclusion of all statements and questions, all those who are not members of the Adjudicating Panel shall be excused so that the Adjudicating Panel members may deliberate.

The Adjudicating Panel members will deliberate until reaching a decision to either:

1. determine no disciplinary action is warranted
2. impose sanctions in accordance with the District 4 Code of Conduct (iii)
3. uphold the minimum suspension as described in the HEO Code of Discipline, or
4. increase the suspension (as per reference 15.8.1 of 6.49 HEO Hockey Policy (Minor) above the minimum suspension described in the HEO Code of Discipline.

The Chair of the Hearing will not have a vote on the decision made by the Adjudicating Panel.  

The Disciplinary Hearing chair will notify the player, team official, other member of the District or the party involved and their respective Association President of the decision of the Adjudicating Panel within 24 hours.  

• HEO Code of Discipline Chart for Minor Hockey
• HEO POLICY ON THE SERVING OF SUSPENSIONS

Appeals

If you would like to appeal a decision made by District you must follow the HEO Appeal process and complete an HEO Appeal Application
By-laws & Policies | Hockey Eastern Ontario