Rules

LHSHL RULE CHANGES FOR THE 2023-24 SEASON & BEYOND

Please see below for the Rule Changes approved by the Lightning High School Hockey League Board of Directors for the 2023-2024 season & beyond:

Elimination of pool players and pool team:

Pool players and teams will no longer participate in the LHSHL. To ensure all players have a place to play, the LHSHL has expanded catchments to include all public schools in; Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Manatee and Polk.

Elimination of 2-way players: 

All athletes will be designated either Varsity, Junior Varsity, or Development following the completion of tryouts.

Minimum Games Played to be eligible for LHSHL Playoffs: 

All players must play in Five (5) Lightning High School Hockey League regular season games to participate in the LHSHL playoffs.

Minimum Number of Players to Create a  New Team:

The LHSHL has changed the minimum number of players necessary to form a team in the league to 20 players, including goalies.

Pure Teams:

The LHSHL has changed the maximum amount of players necessary to mandate team purity to 46 zoned from the previous season including the USA Hockey number registrations show two future seasons that said school will have a minimum of 46 players.

Elimination of the Goalie Draft: 

Due to the continued growth of hockey in the Tampa area, all teams in the LHSHL are now well equipped with goaltenders within their organization.

Creation of 3rd tier - Development League:

Finally, we are excited to announce the creation of a new development league specifically designed for beginners. This league will provide a nurturing and supportive environment for players who are new to hockey. We believe this initiative will foster growth, skill development, and a love for the game. More details about this league will be provided in the coming weeks, so please stay tuned!