Game Structure
General Structure Regular Season - U11 to U18
- No game may begin without two (2) Officials on the ice.
Timekeeper should put period time plus three (3) minutes on the clock during the start of the game flood for the warm-up time. Clock starts immediately upon closing of the Zamboni doors. Clock stops when the three (3) minutes have counted down, and the buzzer is pressed to advise the teams the warm-up is over.
- Teams line up to shake hands at center ice (before the game).
- Curfew will be based on the arena clock. At the time of curfew, any game past the halfway point will be considered complete, and any game under the halfway point will be considered incomplete.
- Game times will be 10-10-12. (2 x 10 minute stop time periods, 1 x 12 minute stop time period.)
- Players change on the fly.
- There is no overtime period during the regular season or any games prior to Championship Weekend.
- After the game, visiting team returns to the bench and the home team goes immediately to the dressing room before the visiting team leaves the ice. Head coaches who fail to hold their team after completion of the game may be subject to discipline.
- All teams must be ready to start ten minutes prior to the scheduled time should the ice, timekeepers and referees be available. This may be required in order to ensure that all games scheduled for a given day be completed on time. viii. At the timekeeper’s discretion, if the time remaining to complete the game will not be sufficient to finish the game in the allocated hour, the timekeeper may switch the clock to running time to attempt to get the game completed. Once the running time is started it must be maintained until the end of the game. This will apply to all divisions.
- If a game starts late, the timekeeper shall note the time of day on the game sheet to verify the late start.
- There is a three-goal cap per player per game (U9 to U21). When a player scores more than his/her maximum goals, the goal will be disallowed, and the face-off will be held in the neutral zone.
- In the event of an on-ice injury where the player cannot be moved, the timekeeper will not run the clock until the player is removed from the ice. The timekeeper will determine how much time is left on the hour and adjust the clock accordingly.
General Structure Regular Season - U9
All Rules for the Novice division are to follow the Hockey Canada Novice Program playing guidelines for U9 half-ice modified.
- No game may begin without Officials on the ice.
- All games and practice structures will follow the Hockey Canada Pathways Program.
- Teams will consist of up to 18 players (16 skaters and two goaltenders) divided into two units of nine players. Each team unit of nine players will have one goaltender and eight skaters. Smaller numbers will allow for players to double shift to ensure there are always four players on the ice. Coaches must make sure all players take turns double shifting.
- Game play:
» 4 vs. 4 format – plus each team with a goaltender
» Two (2) x 25-minute halves
» Two (2) face-offs: the first will start the game, the second will start the second half
» There is no centre-ice (red) line, and therefore no icing.
» There are no blue-lines in play, therefore there are no offsides.
» No score is kept, and no game sheets are necessary.
- Shift length is one (1) minute in duration with an automatic buzzer or whistle sounding to indicate players change. The clock continues to run throughout the 25-minute half. If there are fewer than four (4) players on the bench, the active player designated to stay out for the following shift must tag up at the bench prior to continuing play.
- On the buzzer/whistle sounds, players must relinquish control of the puck immediately and vacate the ice. The new players enter the ice immediately.
- Failure to immediately relinquish control of the puck or new players entering the ice surface prematurely may result in a penalty (see below) for the offending team.
- When play is stopped due to the goaltender freezing the puck or a goal being scored, the referee will signal the attacking players to back off three metres. Once the attackers have moved back, the players may resume play as soon as the possession team has control of the puck. In the event a puck goes out of play, the referee will provide a new puck to the non-offending team and the offending team will be required to provide a three-metre cushion.
- If the puck is shot out of play, the offending team backs off and the official gives the non-offending team a new puck.
- Minor penalties are noted with the official briefly raising their arm to indicate a penalty will be assessed. At the conclusion of the shift, the official notifies the coach of the infraction and the number of the offending player.
If the offending team controls the puck after the infraction, the official blows the whistle and calls for a change of possession; the non-offending team is given room to play the puck (three-metre cushion).
The offending player will sit out the next shift, but the team will play even strength.
Should an infraction occur that would normally require a player to be ejected from the game (game misconduct, match penalty, or gross misconduct), the player will be removed from the remainder of that game. Teams will not play shorthanded and no game incident report will be required.
Postponed Game Rescheduling
The President or Director of Operations may order a postponed game to be played on 48-hour notice.
Game Standings
The League shall maintain standings on the basis of wins, ties and losses which will be posted on the CYO website.
There will be no overtime to settle ties during the regular season.
The procedure to resolve ties in the regular season final standings shall be as follows:
1. Team with most wins
2. Result of head to head play (Best Record win/loss)
3. Team with fewest goals against
4. Coin toss