Tournament Rules
All rules and regulations for the tournament will follow those of the Ontario Hockey Federation and Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario.
The tournament is open to rostered MD divisional teams (B/BB).
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.
Maltreatment and RZone policies are fully in effect.
General Policies
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.
All teams must submit approved rosters approved by their sanctioning body (Alliance, GTHL, OMHA, etc.). 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 thirty (30 minutes) before their game for registration. For teams in the semi-finals or championship games, the first 3 designated overtime shooters must be declared before the game.
Teams may have no more than five (5) rostered 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.
Mandatory Equipment: All teams are required to wear equipment as mandated by their sanctioning body, including neck guard/throat protectors. Neck guards are required by all teams per OHF and OMHA regulations.
Games may start up to 15 minutes early.
Games will start as early as 8am. By registering for the tournament, teams agree that they will play their assigned ice times.
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
Game Length:
Preliminary Rounds: 10-10-12 minute periods / no time outs / no overtime
Quarter Finals: 10-10-12 minute periods / no time outs / with overtime (see below)
Semi-Finals: 10-10-12 minute periods / no time outs / with overtime (see below)
Championship Finals: 10-10-12 minute periods / 1 x 30 second timeout per team / with overtime (see below)
Points will be awarded as follows:
Two (2) points for a win
One (1) point for a tie
Zero (0) points for a loss
Curfews may arise during preliminary round-robin games. Curfews can only be imposed by the Tournament Convenor.
After completion of the preliminary round, if two or more teams are tied in points, standings will be determined as follows:
1. Most Wins
2. Head to Head
3. Lowest Goal Differential ** clarification added as lowest goals "against" as tracked on the points board
4. Least Amount of Penalties
5. Coin Toss by the Tournament Committee.
In divisions with a wild-card spot (3 pools), the #1 top ranking team in each division will move onto the semi finals. The next team overall with the highest points or ranking (based on the tie-breaker rules laid out above) will move forward into the wildcard position.
Should a team default its scheduled game(s), its opponent(s) will be awarded a 1-0 win, and 2 points.
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 (3) minute warm up.
Flooding of the ice surface will occur at the end of each game.
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 final championship game.
If opposing teams have the same or similar jersey colour, the team listed as visitors will be required to change jerseys or wear pinnies (supplied by the tournament office).
Overtime
There will be no overtime in the round robin games.
There will be a 5-minute, 3-on-3, sudden death overtime in the semi-finals and championship games. Goalies will not change ends.
Teams must start with 3 skaters and 1 goaltender. Teams may change on the fly. Teams may pull their goaltender once play begins.
Penalties will carry over from the end of regulation into overtime.
If there is no declared winner after overtime, teams will participate in a consecutive shootout (shooting at the same time). Coaches must have declared their top 3 shooters before the start of the game. Any player serving a penalty at the end of the overtime period may not participate in the shootout.
Discipline
There is no body checking allowed in any division.
There is ZERO tolerance for hitting from behind.
Maltreatment and RZone policies are in effect.
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.
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.
Abusive language toward players, officials, administrators, 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.
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 timekeeper’s 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 participant caught smoking or vaping within the facility (including change rooms or bathrooms) will be ejected.
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.
The Tournament Convenor 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. Decisions by the Tournament Convenor and/or committee are final.