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 sanctioned 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.
Maltreatment and RZone policies are fully in effect.
GENERAL POLICIES
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, using the electronic gamesheet.
Teams may have no more than five (5) rostered officials on the bench. One must be a certified rostered 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.
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
4 Team Divisions: 1 pool of 4 teams with a 3 game round robin. Top 3 teams advance, with 1st getting a bye to the final. The 2nd and 3rd ranked teams will play 1 semi-final game to see who advances to play against 1st place in the final.
6 Team Divisions: 1 pool of 6 teams with a 3 game round robin. Not all teams will play each other in the round robin. After the round robin, teams will be reseeded 1st to 6th overall using tiebreak rules. 1st and 2nd will get a bye to the semi-finals. 6th will play 3rd and 4th will play 5th in a quarter-final with the winners advancing to the semis against 1st and 2nd place overall. Winners of the two semi-finals will advance to the finals.
8 Team Divisions: 2 pools of 4 teams each with a 3 game round robin. Top 2 teams in each pool advance, with 1st in A playing 2nd in B, and 2nd in A playing 1st in B. Winners of these two semi-finals will advance to the final game.
12 Team Divisions: 3 pools of 4 teams each with a 3 game round robin. Top 2 teams in each pool advance. All 6 teams will be reseeded 1st to 6th overall using tiebreak rules. 1st and 2nd will get a bye to the semi-finals. 6th will play 3rd and 4th will play 5th in a quarter-final with the winners advancing to the semis against 1st and 2nd place overall. Winners of the two semi-finals will advance to the finals.
Game Length
Preliminary Rounds: 10-10-12 minute periods / no time outs / no overtime
Quarter/Semi Finals: 10-10-12 minute periods / 1 x 30 second timeout per team / with overtime (see below)
Championship Game: 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. Wins (team with the most wins will move on (1 win advances over 2 ties)
4. Differential
5. Least Penalties
6. Coin Toss
Should a team default its scheduled game(s), the opponent 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.
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 quarter/semi and championship games. Goalies will not change ends for 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 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.
ZERO tolerance for hitting from behind.
Maltreatment and RZone policies are in effect.
** TOURNAMENT RULE: Three (3) minor penalties in a game will result in the player 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.
Any player or 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.
Any player or team official 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.
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.
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.
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ANY DAMAGE DONE TO CHANGE ROOMS OR ANY OTHER LOCATION WITHIN THE FACILITY
BY ANY TEAM OR TOURNAMENT PARTICIPANT WILL RESULT IN
AN AUTOMATIC $1,000 FINE PLUS REPAIRS AND DAMAGES
WHICH WILL BE SENT TO YOUR ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNING BODY
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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.