Tournament Rules - Alliance Sanction # 26-038
Quick Reference
- No body checking/non-contact; this is a recreational level tournament in all divisions.
- No fighting; fighting will result in expulsion from the tournament.
- Games will run 10-10-12 and may start up to 15 minutes early.
- 3-minute warmup then handshakes / no timeouts or overtime until the quarter finals.
- 5-goal mercy in the 3rd; tournament standings will not record scores over a 5-goal gap as goal % will not apply.
- Players who incur 3 minor penalties in the same game will be sent off for the remainder of the game (does not carry over).
- Electronic game-sheets will be used; coaches must sign-in before all games.
- All OHF, OMHA, and Alliance rules and policies will apply. Neck guards are mandatory.
- There will be ZERO tolerance for maltreatment or abuse of any sort. LiveBarn will be in use across the facility.
SPECTATORS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE BENCH AREA, TIMEKEEPER BOOTH, OR REFEREE ROOMS. ANY SPECTATOR OR NON TOURNAMENT OFFICIAL WHO ENTERS THE TIMEKEEPER BOOTH WILL CAUSE AN IMMEDIATE STOPPAGE IN PLAY AND THE SPECTATOR WILL BE EJECTED FROM THE FACILITY. TIMEKEEPERS ARE CONSIDERED TOURNAMENT OFFICIALS. ANY MALTREATMENT OR ABUSE OF TIMEKEEPERS WILL RESULT IN EXPULSION FROM THE TOURNAMENT AND EJECTION FROM THE FACILITY AT MINIMUM.
General Policies
3-and-Out Rule: Any player who receives 3 minor penalties in the same game will be sent to the change room for the remainder of the game. This removal does not carry over to the next game. The rule applies to all divisions.
5-Goal Mercy Rule: The clock will run in the last 5 minutes of the 3rd period if there is a 5-goal gap or greater. The clock will stop in the event of an injury. Tournament standings will not show anything more than a 5-goal spread. Goal percentage does not count towards standings.
Neck guards are mandatory. Mouth guards and other equipment rules are based on your governing body (e.g. OMHA, Alliance).
Teams may have no more than five (5) officials on the bench. One must be designated on your roster as the trainer. Only the trainer is allowed on the ice in the case of an injured player.
Only rostered players may participate. Players must play in one of the preliminary games in order to participate in the quarters, semis, or finals. Any team found using an ineligible participant during the tournament shall be automatically disqualified.
Game Format
Preliminary Rounds: 10-10-12 / no timeout / no overtime
Quarter, Semi, Finals: 10-10-12 / 1 x 30 second timeout per team / with overtime (see below)
Points Awarded:
» Two (2) for a win
» One (1) for a tie
» Zero (0) for a loss
Game Curfews: Curfews may arise during preliminary round-robin games. Only the tournament convenor(s) can approve a curfew.
Referees must take the ice before the players can warm-up. Players are not allowed on the ice until after the zamboni doors are closed and the referees are on the ice.
Jersey Colours: All coaches are asked to check with the other team on jersey colour prior to their game. Do not assume the other team has 2 jersey options. If there is no conflict (e.g. yellow vs red) both teams can wear their primary jerseys. If there is a conflict (e.g. black vs navy) then teams are asked to work together.
» Both teams have 2 sets: Home wears dark, visitors wear light.
» Team with 2 sets vs Team with 1: The team with 2 sets will change to accommodate the team that has only one option.
Tie Breakers
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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 (does not apply if more than two teams are tied).
- Most Wins. The team with the most WINS between the tied teams will be awarded the higher position.
- Least Goals Against. If still tied, the team with the least goals scored against them will be awarded the higher position.
- 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 counted as 10 minutes.
- First Goal Scored in the First Preliminary Game. If still tied, the team who has the earliest recorded goal time on the electronic game sheet from their very first preliminary game will be awarded the higher position.
- Coin Toss. If still tied after the application of the above, the Tournament Committee will decide the final standings by a coin toss. Due to the timely nature of the schedule, the coin-toss will be recorded as proof and teams notified.
Division Breakdown
» U11 - 18 teams. 2 pools of 4, 2 pools of 5. Teams will play a 3 game round robin. Top 2 teams in each pool will advance to the quarter finals. A visual representation of the elimination brackets is located on the division schedule page on the website.
» U13 - 22 teams. 3 pools of 4, 2 pools of 5. Teams will play a 3 game round robin. Top 2 teams in each pool will advance to the quarter finals. A visual representation of the elimination brackets is located on the division schedule page on the website.
» U15 - 13 teams. 2 pools of 4, 1 pool of 5. Teams in the 4 pool brackets will play a 3 game round robin. Top 2 teams in each will advance to the quarter finals, seeded 1-4. Teams in the 5 pool division will play 2 games then seed for their 3rd game. 1st place in C after 2 rounds will automatically advance to the quarter finals. A visual representation of the elimination brackets is located on the division schedule page on the website.
» U16 - 6 teams. 1 pool of 6. Teams will play a 3 game round robin against the teams in the other pool. Top 3 will advance. A visual representation of the elimination bracket is located on the division schedule page on the website.
» U18 - 16 teams. 4 pools of 4. Teams will play a 3 game round robin. Top 2 teams in each pool will advance to the quarter finals. A visual representation of the elimination brackets is located on the division schedule page on the website.
» U21 - 14 teams. 2 pools of 4, 1 pool of 6. Teams will play a 3 game round robin. Top 2 teams in the 4 team pools will advance. Top 4 teams in the 6 pool division will advance. A visual representation of the elimination brackets is located on the division schedule page on the website.
Overtime
Overtime may occur in the quarter finals, semi finals, and championship game. Teams will not change ends.
Penalties will carry over from the end of regulation into overtime.
5-minute 3-on-3, sudden death. 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.
3 Player 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.
Sudden Death Shootout: If 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 $750 plus repairs, parts, and labour.
Discipline
There is no body-checking allowed in any division and ZERO tolerance for fighting.
City of St. Catharines Zero Tolerance and R-Zone Policy will be enforced. Hockey Canada Maltreatment rules will be enforced. There will be 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.
LiveBarn will be in use across all our facilities.
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.
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.
No refund shall be given if a team withdraws after the schedule has been released, unless a full replacement team is found. If a full replacement team is found, all but a $100 administrative fee will be returned. No refund shall be given if a team withdraws within 10 days of the start of the tournament (on or after January 20th) 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 Risk Director and/or Tournament Convenor 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 Risk Director and/or Tournament Convenor are final.