The Niagara Spring Hockey Tournament Rules
1. Teams or management must register 60 minutes prior to their teams first game. Registration will take place at the St. Catharines Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre. If your first game is not at this arena, you must complete your registration prior to your second game. (All teams will play at least one of their first two games at this arena). Keep in mind your roster sheet from game one must list ALL eligible players for the tournament.
2. Birth Certificates or photocopies must be available for presentation if requested.
3. Each team will be guaranteed 4 games.
4. No protests will be allowed. Tournament officials will consider any logical grievance or suggestion when presented in a professional manner. Protests regarding officiating will not be heard.
5. All players must play in at least one round robin game to be eligible to participate in the playoff round. All players must be listed on your first game sheet.
6. A player may not play for more than one team in the same age group.
7. Teams must be ready to go on the ice 15 minutes prior to their scheduled game time. All games will be 12-12-15 minute periods. There will be no overtime in round robin games. There will be a curfew in effect for all round robin games.
8. Running time will commence if a 5 goal differential exists. To revert back to stop time, the goal differential must be reduced to 3.
9. Non contact for the 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 age groups. All other divisions will be body contact.
10. Two points will be awarded for a win, 1 for a tie and 0 for a loss.
11. At the end of round robin play the teams will be seeded according to the total number of points obtained. The following tie breaking formulas will be utilized should teams be tied:
*1) head to head (if applicable)
*2) goal percentage - add goals for and goals allowed and divide the total into the goals for
*3) fewest goals allowed
*4) most goals scored
*5) fewest penalty minutes
*6) coin flip
12. Playoff round ties will be broken with a 5 minute 4 on 4 sudden death overtime. If still tied there will be a 5 player shootout. If still tied, sudden death shootout. In the case of a sudden death shootout, the original 5 players may be used again, but no player may shoot for a second time in the sudden death shootout until each player has been used once.
13. Wild Card teams will be determined with the most points in the round robin play which is not a division winner. If still tied, the tie breaking formula above (rule # 11) will be used in order.
14. No time outs allowed with the exception of one 30 second time out in the Semi-Final and Championship.
15. Any player receiving a major penalty or game suspension shall be suspended for the remainder of that game and shall be subject to further suspension pending review by the game officials and tournament committee.
16. Tournament and equipment governed by Hockey Canada rules.