Draft Procedure

The NWHL Draft Procedure will ensure that all teams in an organization at a given level are equally balanced in order to ensure fair competition in League play.

All member associations to the Northwest Hockey League (NWHL), when having more than one team in any age classification, must use the NWHL draft procedure as outlined herein:

• Evaluations
• A minimum of two (2) one (1) hour on ice sessions should be used for all participants in each division. 
• Each player must attend a minimum of one (1) evaluation session.
• All players will be assigned a number to be worn on the back of their jersey for the both evaluations.
• Coaches from each level and an evaluation director will rate participants. 
• The person holding the position of evaluation director cannot be a coach in the program at the same level.
• All participants will receive an average rating based on the scores given by the evaluators. 
• The evaluation director will make the final decision as to the rating each skater receives and is responsible for all final scores assessed to players. 
• No fractional ratings will be allowed.
•  The ratings of the evaluators are final and may not be altered after the evaluation sessions.

The rating will be based on the following point system.

5 = Impact Player

4 = Above Average

3 = Average

2 = Below Average

1 = Beginner

• Goalies will be evaluated and rated in the same pool with all skaters.
• Rating sheets are to be collected by the evaluation director.
• Drafting
• Each coach will receive, prior to the start of the draft, a list of players by name, evaluation number and overall rating.
• The head coach, assistant coach or team manager will be able to draft/protect his/her own child, maximum two players per team. The drafting of these players will be done in the first round of that level. If the coach’s son is rated a “4” the coach must take his son or daughter as his first choice in that round.
• All players from each level must be picked before going to the next round, i.e., all players rated a “2” must be picked before going to the final round. The coach next in line to pick a player must pick from that pool and cannot skip to a lower level or pass.
• The draft will be held with a reverse order selection. Example: If there are three teams: First Round - Team 1 selects, Team 2 selects, Team 3 selects; Second round - Team 3 selects, Team 2 selects, Team 1 Selects; Third Round begins again with Team 1 again. This continues until all players are selected.
• Once all “5” and “4” level players are drafted, point totals will be tallied for each team. The team with the lowest score will be able to pick first in the “3” round. The team with the second lowest score will pick second, etc. The new draft order will continue for the balance of the draft.
• Goalies will be put into the draft and picked the same as all other players.
• Drafting players based on a car-pooling request is not allowed with the exception of siblings.
• No team may be made up of more than 50% returning players who played on the same team in the previous fall season. In the event that a team does surpass the 50% rule because of organization size only, the organization must present that fact in writing to the Draft Committee immediately following the draft.
• Coaches may not swap or trade players, even players of equal rating, after they have been drafted. Once teams are drafted, and the evaluation director determines they are fair and equal, no player may be moved to another team.
• All teams must be balanced in numbers as well as strength, i.e., one team cannot consist of 15 players and another have only 12.
• The NWHL Draft Form must be filled out by the evaluation director and signed by the coaches and the evaluation director at the time of the draft, verifying that the draft was done fairly and that they agree with the team assignments. Next to each players name must accompany the evaluation score given to the player along with the points totaled for each team. In addition, the prior year’s participation by a player must be listed on the form including club, level and team (Example: Franklin Park, Bantam, #2). 
• Any Tier 2, high school or higher players playing in NWHL must be evenly distributed among all teams at that playing level. 
• Any club found falsifying information on the draft forms will be fined a minimum of $100 per occurrence and will be brought before Rules and Conduct for further disciplinary action.
• Draft forms will be due by October 1, prior to any games being played. The clubs teams will not be allowed to participate in any NHWL games until the forms have been turned in and approved by the Draft Committee, and the club will be fined $500 for each game forfeited.
• Players joining a club after the draft or who miss evaluations will be evaluated and assigned to the team by the evaluation director.
• The NWHL discourages the recruitment of teams or players from one organization to another. When there is a group of players transferring from one club to another no more than 5 players can stay together on one team. If there are 6 or more players from one club they will have to be divided evenly among teams at that level, i.e. if 6 squirts transfer to a new club which has two squirt teams, 3 players will be placed on each team. When a club has only one team at a level a maximum of 5 players from another club will be allowed on the team. Extenuating circumstances are subject to board approval.

The League will enforce the NWHL Draft Procedures.

All violations will be turned over to the NWHL Rules and Conduct Committee and suffer disciplinary action.