Rules:

All applicable Hockey Canada and NSSAF rules apply during the tournament.

Game time:       

Each game shall be composed of three 15-minute stop time periods.

Players:

A maximum of 19 players may dress for each game.

Points system:

A win is worth 3 points, a shootout win is worth 2 points, a shootout loss is worth 1 point, and a loss is worth no points. If teams are still tied in their group after this, it shall go to the following priority:

o        Winner of the game between the two tied teams

o        Most regulation wins

o        Most total wins

o        Goals against

o        Goals for divided by goals against (to a maximum of 6 more goals for than the opponent in a game- therefore if a game was won 13-2 it would only be counted as an 8-2 score)

o        Goals for (to a maximum of 6 more goals for than the opponent in a game- therefore if a game was won 13-2 it would only be counted as an 8-2 score)

o        Fewest goals allowed in one tournament game

o        Coin toss

Ties:

In the round robin, all tied games shall be immediately followed by shootout in which each team uses 3 shooters. If still tied after the 3 shooters, it shall go to sudden death rounds of 1 shooter each until a winner is determined.

o        Note 1: No shooter may be used twice until every skater on the team has shot

o        Note 2: Any player serving any type of penalty shall be deemed ineligible to participate in the shootout.

o        Note 3: Regardless of the number of goals scored in a shootout, the final score will be recorded as the winning team’s score at the end of regulation/overtime + one goal (i.e. if it was 2-2 going into the shootout, the final score would be recorded as 3-2).

In the elimination round, all tied games shall be immediately followed by a 5-minute, stop time, 3 on 3 (plus goaltenders) sudden death period. In this period, if a penalty is assessed the player will be taken to the box. The non-offending team would then put a fourth player on the ice, and it would be 4 on 3 for the duration of the penalty. When the penalty ends the player would come out of the box and the teams would play 4 on 4 until the next stoppage when it would return to 3 on 3. If no winner is determined by this sudden death overtime period the same shootout rules as for the round robin would then be implemented.
 

Goal differential:

Any spread of 5 goals or more at any point in the game shall result in the clock being run straight time (regardless of whatever period it is in). If the goal differential moves below 5 goals the clock will revert back to stop time ONE TIME during the game.

Ice cleaning:

The ice shall be cleaned every two periods (please note that overtime does not count as a period).

Warm-ups:

Each game shall be preceded by a warm up. If the game is beginning in a situation where the ice is cleaned before the game, once the machine has left the ice and the doors have been closed 4 minutes will go on the clock, and it will begin regardless of whether the teams are ready to begin or not. If the game is beginning in a situation where the ice will be cleaned after the first period, 5 minutes will go on the clock as soon as the last player has left the ice. This is to give the teams a minute to get notified and on the ice, and 4 for a warm up.
 

Preparation:

Teams must be ready to begin their game at least 30 minutes early.  If it is within a half hour of scheduled time and a team is not ready after the warm up time expires, the opposing team will be granted a 2 goal lead, and 10 minutes will be put on the clock to run straight time. If the team still does not show after those 10 minutes have expired the game shall be forfeited by a score of 5-0.
 

Playoff home team:

For games 13-15 the team with highest seeding in their original pool would be designated the home team. If both teams held the same seeding, the tiebreaker order from the previous rule would then be implemented.

Suspensions:

A player incurring any of the following penalties shall be immediately ineligible for the remainder of that game as well as the next game: 5+gm for anything except for Fighting or CFB, or 2+gm Checking from Behind. However, if any of those penalties are assessed in the last 10 minutes an extra game would be added on as well.

A player incurring any of the following penalties shall be immediately ineligible for the remainder of the tournament: Gross Misconduct, Match (intent to injure), 5+gm Fighting, 5+gm Checking from Behind.
 

Awards (game):

There will be a presentation of players of the game made after each game. The selection of these awards will be done by the Tournament Committee.

Awards (skills comp.):

The following awards will be presented following the skills competition: Fastest skater, Hardest shot, Shooting accuracy, and Shootout winner.

Awards (tourney):

The following awards will be made following the championship game: First & second place awards, Player of the Tournament &Tournament All Star team awards (selected by the Tournament Committee), and Scholar Athlete Award (pre-chosen by winning team).

Time outs:

One 30 second time out is permitted per game in the elimination round. There are no time outs permitted in round robin play.

Protests:

There shall be no protests permitted for the tournament.

Substances:

There are no controlled substances permitted in the arena. Any player or group of players caught with drugs or alcohol will be immediately ineligible for the remainder of the tournament.

Schedule:

The Tournament Committee reserves the right to change the schedule at any point (even during the tournament) if emergency conditions arise (teams cannot attend, serious impending weather, etc.).