Kevin Fegan Memorial House League Hockey Tournament

Rules and Guidelines   

All rules and regulations for the tournament will follow those of Hockey Canada, the Ontario Hockey Federation and Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario.

The tournament is open to recreational house league and local league teams only. No Select or MD teams.

Spectators are NOT allowed in the bench area, timekeeper booth, or referee rooms.

This is a NON-CONTACT tournament. There will be ZERO tolerance for any hitting from behind.

All games will have a 3-goal cap per player (excluding overtime).
 

General Policies

Tournament Format: The tournament will consist of a preliminary round-robin round, semi-final rounds (for some divisions, depending on the number of registered teams), and a championship round. Unless otherwise specified, teams will play a minimum of three games each in the preliminary round.

The format will depend on the number of participating teams and will be published prior to the start of the tournament.

Tournament Schedule: The full schedule will be available to all participating teams prior to the start of the tournament.

Registration: All teams must submit approved rosters approved by their sanctioning body (Alliance, GTHL, OMHA, etc.) no later than two weeks prior to the start of the tournament. Only players who are on the officially approved team roster will be allowed on the ice. Only team officials who are on the officially approved team roster will be allowed on the bench.

Team officials must report to the tournament office one hour before their first game for registration and to pick up team packages. For subsequent games, team officials must sign in thirty (30) minutes prior to the star of their scheduled game time.

Electronic game sheets will be used for all games. 

Affiliated players: AP players are not allowed to participate except at the Goaltender position. Affiliated goalies MUST be registered before the first game and may only play for one team in the tournament. No affiliated player may play in the semi-final or championship game unless they have played in at least one game of the round-robin preliminary. Any team found using an ineligible participant during the tournament shall be automatically disqualified.

Mandatory Equipment: All teams are required to wear equipment as mandated by their sanctioning body, including neck guard/throat protectors. If your team is required to wear mouth-guards in league play, they are required to wear mouth guards in the tournament. OMHA and Alliance teams are required to wear mouth guards per regulations. Neck guards are required by all teams per OHF and OMHA regulations. 

Teams may have no more than five (5) officials on the bench. One must be designated (and approved on the submitted roster) as the trainer. Only the trainer is allowed on the ice in the case of an injured player.

Games may start up to 15 minutes early.

No parent, team official, or player is allowed on the ice surface at any point without a CSA approved helmet with the chin strap done up. The only exception to this rule is the certified trainer with the accompaniment of a game official in the case of an injured player, and the period following the final championship game for the medal ceremony. Parents may take photos from the player's bench - not the ice surface.

Game Format

Curfew: Curfews may arise during preliminary round-robin games. Curfews can only be imposed by the Tournament Director.

Tie Breaker: Upon completion of the preliminary round, if two or more teams are tied in points, standings will be determined as follows:

1. Most Wins: If still tied, the team with the most wins will be awarded the higher position.

2. Head to Head: If teams are tied and they played each other in the preliminary round, the team that won the game will be awarded a higher position in the standings.

3. Least Penalties: If still tied, the team with the lowest cumulative penalty minutes will be awarded the higher position. Both minor and major penalties will be counted. A game misconduct will be added in as 10 minutes. 

4. Lowest Goals Against. If still tied, the team with the least goals scored against them will be awarded the higher position.

5. Coin Toss. If still tied after the application of all of the above, the Tournament Committee will decide the final standings by a coin toss.

Default: Should a team default its scheduled game(s), its opponent(s) will be awarded a 1-0 win, and 3 points. 

Mercy Rule: If the goal differential is more than five (5) goals at any time in the 3^rd period of any game the clock will run until the goal differential becomes less than 5 goals; at which time it will revert back to stop time. The only time the clock will stop during play is if an on-ice injury should occur, or in the event of a penalty.

The score clock will not show more than a 5-goal differential.

Game Start: Teams must be ready to start their game fifteen (15) minutes before the scheduled game time. Players are not allowed onto the ice until after the Zamboni doors are shut and the referees have taken the ice.

Handshakes will take place BEFORE the game, after a three minute warm up.

Flooding of the ice surface will occur at the end of each game.

Time Outs: Time-outs will not be allowed during the preliminary rounds, quarter, or semi-final round games. One (1) 30-second time-out per team is allowed in the championship game.

All games (preliminary, quarter, semi-final, and final) will have a three-goal cap per player, per game, excluding overtime.

Team Colours: If opposing teams have the same or similar jersey colour, the visiting team will be required to change jerseys or wear pinnies. The tournament office will have coloured pinnies available.

Home vs Visitor: “Home” and “Visitor” designations will be identified on the tournament schedule. Semi-Final and Championship round “Home” designation will be assigned to the team with the most points in the preliminary round.

If the teams are tied, a coin toss will determine which team is Home.

Divisional Breakdown

4 Team Division
All teams will play a 3 game round robin, with the winners determined by point score (not goal average). Top two teams move on to the finals.

8 Team Division
All teams will play a 3 game round robin, the winner determined by point score. The winner of Pool A moves on with a bye into the semi-finals. The winner of Pool B moves on with a bye into the semi-finals. Both teams will be ranked based on their points from the round robin as to who is 1st overall and 2nd overall. For the quarter finals, the 2nd and 3rd place teams from Pool A and the 2nd and 3rd place teams from Pool B will move on, ranked based on their points from the round robin as to who will be classified as 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, overall. 3rd will play 6th with the winner advancing to the semi-finals against 2nd. 4th will play 5th with the winner advancing to the semi-finals against 1st. The two winners of the semi-final games will advance to the finals.

12 Team Division
All teams will play a 3 game round robin, the winner determined by point score. The top team in each pool moves on. From there, each team will be ranked based on their points from the round robin to determine 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. 1st and 2nd will receive a bye into the semi-finals, 3rd moves to the quarter finals. Using the remaining teams round robin points, the 4th, 5th, and 6th ranked will be awarded the 3 wildcard spots. In the quarter final, 3rd will play 6th with the winner advancing to the semi-finals against 2nd. 4th will play 5th with the winner advancing to the semi-finals against 1st. The two winners of the semi-final games will advance to the finals.

14 Team Division
All teams will play a 3 game round robin, the winner determined by point score. The top team in Pool A moves on. The top team in Pool B moves on. The top two teams in Pool C move on. From there, each team will be ranked based on their points from the round robin to determine 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. 1st and 2nd will receive a bye into the semi-finals, 3rd and 4th move into the quarter finals. Using the remaining teams round robin points, the 5th and 6th ranked will be awarded the 2 wildcard spots. In the quarter final, 3rd will play 6th with the winner advancing to the semi-finals against 2nd. 4th will play 5th with the winner advancing to the semi-finals against 1st. The two winners of the semi-final games will advance to the finals.

Overtime

Overtime will occur in the quarter-final, semi-final and championship games. Overtime will not occur in the round robin.

Overtime will be sudden death; the first team to score, wins.

Teams will not change ends.

Penalties will carry over from the end of regulation into overtime.

All overtime period(s) will be run time and use the following format:

5 minute 3-on-3: There will be a 5-minute, 3-on-3, run-time, sudden death overtime. Teams must start with 3 skaters and 1 goaltender. Teams may change on the fly. Teams may pull their goaltender once play begins.

1-on-1: If the game is still tied at the end of the 3-on-3, teams will move to a 1 minute run-time 1-on-1. Teams must start with 1 skater and 1 goaltender. Face-offs will occur at center ice for the start of each 1 minute segment. Teams may pull their goaltender once play begins. 1-on-1 will continue until someone scores. Players in the 1-on-1 may not repeat play in the 1-on-1 until after every player on the bench has participated in the 1-on-1.

Minor penalties in overtime will result in a penalty shot for the opposing team.

Major penalties in overtime will result in a game ejection and possible further discipline.

Players who have reached their three-goal cap during regular play are free to score during overtime.

Change Rooms and Corridor Access

Teams must vacate their change room within twenty (20) minutes following their game.

Female players will be assigned a separate (girls only) change room.

Special requests for change-room access can be accommodated by contacting the tournament office prior to the start of the tournament.

Spectators are NOT allowed in the bench area corridor, change rooms, or the timekeepers area. The change room corridor is not a public viewing area. Only players, officials, and tournament executives are allowed in this area. Parents or guardians attending to an injured or ill player inside the change room are the only exception.

At no time will any coaches, players, parents, or spectators be allowed in or near the referee room(s). Only tournament directors or the timekeeper will be allowed in this area. NO EXCEPTIONS. Violations of this rule will result in immediate removal from the facility and possible suspension from the tournament.

Any damage done to the facilities by a player or team official will involve their immediate removal from the tournament. Upon review, the team may also be removed from the tournament. Teams will be responsible for payment of any damage done to the facilities by any of their players or team officials. Damage claims from the City of St. Catharines will be forwarded to the responsible association for payment.

Discipline

There is no body checking allowed in any division.

There is ZERO tolerance for hitting from behind.

At the referees’ discretion, a two minute minor may be accessed to any player or coach who uses offensive language, or antagonistic gestures towards a referee, tournament official, team official, timekeeper, player, or coach.

Three (3) minor penalties in a game will result in a game ejection.

Any and all fighting majors, match penalties, and gross misconduct penalties will result in immediate expulsion from the tournament and will be reported to the team’s governing body.

Players receiving a suspension during tournament play must serve the OHF code mandated number of games, starting with their next tournament game or sanctioning body game. Players receiving suspensions during league games prior to entering the tournament are eligible to play in the tournament if their sanctioning body approves in writing to the tournament committee prior to commencement of the tournament.

A team official must accompany an ejected player to the dressing room. The player is to remain in the dressing room until after the game is over and must be supervised at all times—no exceptions! Failure to comply with this rule could result in the player and head coach being ejected from the tournament.

Any team official ejected from a game must immediately leave the bench and vacate the area and corridor behind the bench, either by going to the change room and remaining there, or leaving the rink area. Team officials ejected in the last 10 minutes of the 3rd period will be automatically be suspended for the next game and upon review by the Tournament Committee, may be ejected from the balance of the tournament.

This is a for-fun non-contact house league tournament. Abusive language toward officials, players, or anyone involved in the games or tournament will not be tolerated. 

The on-ice referee's decisions are final and cannot be protested or appealed.

Any abusive or bullying behaviour on or off the ice (physical and/or verbal) conducted by any player, team official, on-ice official, game official, or spectator will not be tolerated, and may result in the individual being ejected for the remainder of the tournament and/or removed from the facility.

Any participant caught smoking or vaping within the facility (including change rooms or bathrooms) will be ejected.


Cancellation/Refund Policy

A refund, minus $100 administrative fee, shall be given if a team withdraws on or before January 10th, 2020. 

No refund shall be given if a team withdraws after January 10th unless a replacement team is found. If a replacement team is found, all but the $100 administrative fee will be returned.

No refund shall be given if a team withdraws within 7 days of the start of the tournament (on or after February 1st, 2020) regardless of whether or not a replacement team is found. When this occurs, it is still the team's obligation to notify the tournament office as soon as possible that the team will not be participating.
 
The Tournament Director and/or committee reserves the right to resolve any issues related to the tournament based on its interpretation of the Tournament Rules, and its determination of what is fair and appropriate under the circumstances. All decisions by the Tournament Committee are final.

Updated January 20th,2020