KAHL PLANS & POLICIES FOR 2025-26 SEASON
ORGANIZATION & MISSION
• The KAHL 501c3 non-profit is run by a volunteer committee of 15 fellow players.
• The KAHL’s mission is solely to continue an adult rec-league program offering safe, fun, competitive play.
2025-26 SEASON FEES & TIMING
• KAHL fee for the full 2025-26 main winter season of 24 games plus playoffs will be $990
• Fee is payable in full at registration or with a 3-installment payment plan.
• One-third ($330) will be charged at registration; 2nd $330 on October 1; 3rd $330 no later than Feb 1, 2026
• Goalie fees are being kept at last season’s rate of $650, or also payable in three $220 payments on same schedule.
• Registrations at the $990 fee will commence early July and will close August 1.
• Late registrations after 8/1 but before 8/15 will incur a late fee of $50 to encourage early sing-ups.
• Late window registrations may not be guaranteed depending on availability of division-appropriate roster spots.
• CrossBar app through the www.KnoxAHL.com will be used for registration. (No longer the Cool Sports system.)
GAME FORMAT REVISIONS TO REDUCE ICE-TIME COST
• Ice-time “blocks” will be 75-minutes (vs. 85) saving ~$100 per game, translating to ~$100 in player fees for season.
• 3-minute warm-up; prompt puck-drop; 30-second period breaks. “Get on, play and get off” like a tourney.
• No shortening of regulation game time --- three 20-minute periods.
• “Stop-time” in last 2-minutes in one goal differential games.
• Directly to a 3-player (minimum) shoot-out after ties in regulation.
SEASON FORMAT
• KAHL will retain a 24-game regular season, running from Sunday, September 14, 2025, on into May 2026.
• End-of-season playoffs remain as double-elimination (2-game minimum), with an average of 3 games per team.
GAME SCHEDULE
• KAHL is making weekly games a top priority, to address common complaint about long gaps between games.
• Ability to make that happen will depend on the total number of teams and even numbers within divisions.
• Sunday schedule of games will be similar as last year starting at ~5pm starts, giving us some early game-times.
• The weeknight M-F schedule may well be worse than last season and definitely no better. (Ugh)
TEAM/ROSTER POLICIES
• To achieve weekly play with minimal late starts, the KAHL will not be adding any new teams for 2025-26 season.
• All KAHL participants will be registering as full-paying, full-time players. No “Part-Time” option is available.
• All teams are required to have a minimum of 12 full-time skaters, plus a goaltender, on their roster.
• Individuals wishing to register/play in more than one division will require pre-approval.
• ‘Goaltending only” players will be given priority placement over goalies also skating out in another division.
• Players who are new to KAHL/AHL will undergo a skills evaluation before they are officially assigned to a roster.
TEAM VIABILITY ISSUES
• Given the higher fees and M-F game-times some teams are struggling to return a sufficient number of players.
• KAHL Competition Committee is/will be working with captains to fill rosters and with individual players to find teams to join. A KAHL goal will also be to work to achieve good parity within divisions as any reshuffling occurs.
• i.e., we will not accept single teams loading up on top players at the expense of other teams being uncompetitive.
• Placement priority will be given to returning players. Anyone seeking a team should email KAHL@KnoxAHL.com