Tournament Rules
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.
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.
5-Goal Mercy Rule will be in effect.
All games will have a 3-goal cap per player (excluding overtime).
General Policies
Tournament Format: The tournament will consist of a 3-game preliminary round-robin, then a semi-final and championship 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 one week 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.
Electronic game sheets will be used for all games. Completed and correct game sheets are the responsibility of the head coach and must be filled out at the tournament office or tournament table prior to the start of each game.
Affiliated Players (AP): AP players must be on your submitted roster to be allowed to participate (including AP Goalies). 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. Neck guards are required by all teams per OHF, ALLIANCE, 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
Length of Games:
Preliminary Rounds: 10-10-12 minute periods / no time outs / no overtime
Semi-Final and Championship Rounds: 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
Curfew: Curfews may arise during preliminary round-robin games.
Tie Breaker: Upon completion of the preliminary round, if two or more teams are tied in points, standings will be determined as follows:
1. Total 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. Lowest Goals Against. If still tied, the team with the least goals scored against them will be awarded the higher position.
4. 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 as 10 minutes.
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.
Mercy Rule: If the goal differential is more than five (5) goals at any time in the 3rd 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 and tournament standings will not show or record 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.
Flooding of the ice surface will occur at the end of each game.
Time Outs: Time-outs will not be allowed during the preliminary round robin. One (1) 30-second time-out per team is allowed in each semi-final and championship game.
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.
Division Breakdown
8 Team Division: Teams are split into 2 Pools, 4 teams in each. After the round robin is complete, the top 2 teams in each division will advance to the semi finals. #1 in Pool A vs #2 in Pool B and #2 in Pool A vs #1 in Pool B. The winners of the semi-final rounds will advance to the championship game.
10 Team Division: Teams are split into 2 Pools, 3 teams in each. After the round robin is complete, the top team in each division will advance to the semi finals. #1 in Pool A vs #2 in Pool B and #2 in Pool A vs #1 in Pool B. The winners of the semi-final rounds will advance to the championship game.
12 Team Division: Teams are split into 3 Pools, 4 teams in each. After the round robin is complete, the top team in each division will advance to the semi finals. The fourth team will be selected as a wildcard out of all 3 divisions, based on points. Tiebreak rules (including least penalties) will apply to help choose the wildcard team. 1st overall vs wildcard, and 2nd overall vs 3rd overall. The winners of the semi-final rounds will advance to the championship game.
Overtime
Overtime will occur in the semi-final and championship games only. Teams will not change ends.
Penalties will carry over from the end of regulation into overtime.
If at the end of regulation play the game is tied, the following overtime format will occur:
5 minute 3 on 3: There will be a 5-minute, 3-on-3, stop-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. Penalties will be called.
Shootout: If the game is still tied at the end of the 3-on-3, teams will move a shootout. Each team will have 3 shooters. The shooters must be listed in the electronic game sheet prior to the game. Goaltenders cannot be changed during the shootout except due to injury. The team with the best out of the 3 shots will win the game. Shootouts will take place simultaneously.
If, after 3 shooters the game is still tied, it moves to a sudden death shootout; meaning the next goal wins. Coaches will choose from the remaining players on their list. All players on the bench must have the opportunity to participate in the shootout before the first shooter can go again; and then it must follow the same player order through the list until a winner is declared.
Players who have reached their three-goal cap during regular play are free to score during overtime.
Any player serving a penalty at the end of the 3-on-3 may NOT participate in the shootout.
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. Additional 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.
At no time will any coaches, players, parents, or spectators be allowed in or near the referee room(s). NO EXCEPTIONS. Only the timekeepers or tournament convenor(s) are allowed to meet with the on-ice officials.
Any damage done to the facilities by a player or team official will involve their immediate removal 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. There is ZERO tolerance for any offensive language, or antagonistic gestures towards a referee, tournament official, team official, timekeeper, player, or coach. R-Zone and Hockey Canada Maltreatment rules will be in effect.
THREE (3) MINOR PENALTIES IN A GAME WILL RESULT IN BEING EJECTED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE GAME.
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 or players ejected in the last 10 minutes of the 3rd period will be automatically suspended for the next game.
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. 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.
The on-ice referee's decisions are final and cannot be protested or appealed.
CYO Minor Hockey has a ZERO tolerance policy towards abuse of on-ice officials. Any abuse towards an on-ice official by any player or coach, at any time, before, during, or after the game, will not be tolerated and will result in the individual facing immediate removal from the tournament and a possible maltreatment filing.
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 Director and/or Committee are final.