What about for "pure" teams? Are there rules governing that/who oversees it? I know I've heard through the rumor mill about 2 players can play down to a minor team, but would love to see the concrete rules this is all based on.
In the AHF if you are short players to make a pure 9/11/13/15AA pure team you may put 3 10/12/14/16 yr olds on the team to fill the roster.
If you are caught by the AAHA or USA Hockey putting a 12 year old on a checking 13U team you risk losing your Tier 1 or Tier 2 sanctioning. No exceptions to this rule. It does not matter what the AHF or THF says. If rule is violated and the team is caught, there are consequences. Remember, THF or AHF are both USA Hockey sanctioned leagues. The AAHA sanctions Tier 1 teams so if you are not on the AAHA Tier 1 list you can't market yourself as a Tier 1 team no matter what THF says. Even though BB hates the AAHA, the AAHA holds all the power. Organizations have to be careful not to violate this rule. They can be banned from nationals! At the PW & SW levels, they used to allow a minor team to roster 2 major kids. However the new rules do not have this in them, so I believe this is not allowed anymore. Her is the 12U/Banatam rule:
(7) Pursuant to USA Hockey Nationals, Districts and State Championships
requirements, players 12 years-old and younger shall be prohibited
from being rostered on any Youth Classification teams older than 12U
Classification, with the following exceptions;
(a) 12U players playing in a non-check classification
(b) A team operating in a non-check middle school, or a scholastic
program or league, operating under a 14U roster.
(c) A 12-year-old goaltender may be rostered at the 14U level on a
team from the same Association in which the player played in the
previous season, and such team is not eligible to compete in the
USA Hockey National Tournament or games leading the USA
Hockey National Tournament, (e.g. 14A, 14B). The 12U Goaltender
Waiver Form shall be completed and submitted by the Association
Coaching Director (available online) and shall be subject to the
approval of the AAHA Player Development staff.
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i. The proposed player must have been rostered and
played on a travel team from the immediate prior season
with the same Association requesting the waiver.
ii. The waiver can only be submitted for an existing member
of your Association. New players are not eligible.
iii. If granted, the waiver is for the player at your Association.
It is not transferable to another Association should the
player choose to contract to play with a different
Association.