Tournament Rules
This is a no body checking tournament for all divisions.
Games may start up to 15 minutes early.
All games, including semis and finals will have:
5-Goal Mercy. The clock will run in the 3rd period if there is a 5 goal gap or greater. If the team catches up to less than a 5 goal lead, stop-time will resume. The clock will stop in case of injury. The score clock and tournament standings will not show or record any score above a 5-goal difference. This rule applies to all divisions, U9 to U21.
5-Goal Spread. Games where teams run up the score by more than 5 goals will not be recorded past 5 goals on the game clock, the website, or in the standings.
3-minor-penalties and you are expelled from the game. Upon receiving the 3rd minor penalty in the same game, the player will be sent to the change room for the duration of that game (does not carry over). This rule applies to all divisions, U9 to U21.
Team officials or players ejected in the last 10 minutes of the 3rd period will be automatically suspended for the next game. This does not apply to the above mentioned 3-and-out rule. The 3 and out is for that game only. This rule applies to all divisions, U9 to U21.
SPECTATORS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE BENCH AREA, TIMEKEEPER BOOTH, OR REFEREE ROOMS. ANY SPECTATOR WHO ENTERS THE TIMEKEEPER BOOTH WILL CAUSE AN IMMEDIATE STOPPAGE IN PLAY AND THE SPECTATOR WILL BE EJECTED FROM THE FACILITY.
GENERAL POLICIES
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 for recreational house league and local league teams only.
Electronic game sheets will be used for all games using iPads and the GameSheet App. Coaches will be required to confirm their rosters and jersey numbers prior to the first game.
Affiliated Players (AP) players must be on your submitted roster to be allowed to participate (e.g. 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.
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.
Players are not allowed onto the ice until after the Zamboni doors are shut and the referees have taken the ice.
DIVISION BREAKDOWN
U9 - 2 pools of 3. Teams will play their 3 game round-robin across the other pool (not within their own pool). The top 2 teams in each pool will advance to the semi finals. 1st in Pool A vs 2nd in Pool B, and 2nd in Pool A vs 1st in Pool B. Winners of the semi-final rounds will advance to the championship game.
U11 - 4 pools of 5. Teams will play a 3 game round-robin, with some teams playing across to the next division. The top 2 teams in each pool will advance to the quarter finals, seeded 1st to 8th based on their standings and any tie-breaker rules. Winners of the quarter finals will advance to the semi finals and be seeded 1st to 4th. The 2 winners of the semi-finals will advance to the championship game.
U13 - 4 pools of 4. Teams will play a 3 game round-robin. The top 2 teams in each pool division will advance to the semi finals, seeded 1st to 8th, based on their standings and any tie-breaker rules. Winners of the quarter finals will advance to the semi finals and be seeded 1st to 4th. The 2 winners of the semi-finals will advance to the championship game.
U15 - 3 pools of 4. Teams will play a 3 game round-robin. The top 2 teams in each pool division will advance to the semi finals, seeded 1st to 6th, based on their standings and any tie-breaker rules. Winners of the quarter finals will be seeded 1st to 3rd. 1st will advance to the championship, and play the winner of the semi final between 2nd place and 3rd place.
U16 - 2 pools of 3. Teams will play their 3 game round-robin across the other pool (not within their own pool). First place in each pool will advance, with the remaining teams seeded to find 1 wildcard team. 1st overall will advance to the championship, and play the winner of the semi final between 2nd place and the wildcard.
U18 - 2 pools of 3 and 2 pools of 4. Teams will play a 3 game round robin. 3 team pools will play their round robins across the other pool (not within their own pool). 4 team pools will play the round robin within their pool. After the round robin, the top team from each division will advance, and the remaining teams will be seeded to find 2 additional wildcard teams, for a total of 6 teams advancing. Teams will be seeded 1st to 6th for the quarter finals. Winners of the quarter finals will be seeded 1st to 3rd. 1st overall will advance to the championship, and play the winner of the semi final between 2nd place and 3rd place.
U21 - 1 Pool. Teams will play a 4 game round robin. After the round robin the top 4 teams will advance to the semi-finals. Winners of the semi-final rounds will advance to the championship game.
GAME FORMAT
U9 is full ice, change on the fly.
All games are 10-10-12.
Preliminary Rounds: no time outs / no overtime
Semi-Final and Championship Rounds: 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.
Flooding of the ice surface will occur at the end of each game.
Handshakes will be before the game.
Team Colours: If opposing teams have the same colour jerseys, the visitors will be asked to change jerseys. If the visitors only have 1 colour set (not all teams have two sets) the home team shall accommodate by changing their jerseys.
TIE BREAKERS
The following will be used to determine rankings:
» Points,
» then Head to Head,
» then Most Wins,
» then Least Penalties,
» then a Coin Toss.
Should a team default its scheduled game(s), its opponent(s) will be awarded a 1-0 win.
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.
Any player serving a penalty at the end of the 3-on-3 may NOT participate in the shootout. This applies to all divisions.
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.
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 at a minimum invoice of $1,000 plus repairs, parts, and labour.
DISCIPLINE
There is no body checking allowed in any division, U9 to U21.
Municipal Zero Tolerance and R-Zone Policies will be fully enforced.
Hockey Canada Maltreatment rules will be fully enforced. There is ZERO tolerance for any 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 BEING EJECTED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE GAME FOR ALL DIVISIONS.
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.
Ejected players and/or ejected officials must remain in the change room or leave the playing area completely. They are not allowed to stay in the bench 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 no-body-checking 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.