When does a player need a Release, and when do they not?

Question

Accepted Answer

A player moving from one team to another within the Member must first be Released from the HCR roster of the MHA or team they are registered with. A Release is effective when the team or MHA releases the player from the HCR roster. Releases are unconditional, although Members can set conditions or criteria for releases within their Geographic Subdivision. Even with a Release, the Member Executive Director can refuse a transfer to another team in the same Member.

A suspended player can only be Released at the discretion of the Member and Hockey Canada, and only if they will serve the suspension with the new team, MHA, Member or Federation. A player may appeal to obtain a Release after exhausting appeals within their Member.

A player does not need a Release when, among the exceptions in Regulation G.9:

they were not a Registered Participant of any team or MHA in Hockey Canada or another Federation the previous season;
they are Junior age or under and their Parent moves and the player continues to live with the Parent;
they are Minor Hockey age and register with a Hockey Canada Accredited School team or a Hockey Canada School With Residence (unless already registered with a team for the same season under Member regulations);
they are in the permanent military forces or the R.C.M.P. and their residence changes;
there is no team in their age Division in their Geographic Subdivision, or they become over-age through League self-imposed age restrictions;
their team disbanded on or before January 10;
their previous season's team does not operate this season.

If an Inter-Member Transfer is needed for an exempt player, the incoming Member's registrar must ensure, by statement or otherwise, that the player meets the exception.

Source: Hockey Canada By-laws and Regulations 2026-27, Regulation G.1 to G.9.