Bytown Battle

Rules can be found here!

The tournament will be played under Hockey Canada rules unless otherwise specified by the Tournament Committee. Hockey Canada's rulebook can be viewed online at www.hockeycanada.ca or downloaded via smartphone app.

Due to the nature and weekend format of the tournament, the Tournament Committee reserves the right to adhere to or not adhere to Hockey Canada rules in the best interest of the tournament and its participants. Each situation will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. All rulings from the Tournament Committee are final.

2. Contact

• Full Contact: Age groups 2013 and older.
• Non-Contact: Age groups 2014 and below, and all Female Divisions.

3. Equipment

A. Jerseys

All home teams must wear dark-colored jerseys. If a team lacks dark jerseys, they must notify the Tournament Committee one (1) hour prior to game time to arrange alternatives with the opposing team. It is the home team's responsibility to handle this. Game delays caused by failure to make arrangements will result in a two (2) minute delay-of-game penalty for the home team.

B. Mouth Guards

Highly recommended by the Tournament Committee, but not mandatory.

C. Neck Guards & Facial Protection

• Mandatory for all divisions (no exceptions).
• Neck guards MUST be BNQ certified per Hockey Canada rule 3.6 (F).
• Approved helmets, neck guards, and full-face masks are required for all players. Referees will strictly enforce this rule.

D. Stick Measurement

No stick measurements are allowed.

E. Skate Sharpening

Skate sharpening equipment is strictly prohibited in all dressing rooms.

4. Team & Roster

A. Roster Size

• Maximum roster limit: 20 players (18 skaters + 2 goalies).
• The roster submitted on the first game sheet is the official roster for the duration of the tournament.
• Roster freezes immediately upon the start of the first game—no additions permitted thereafter.
• Affiliate Players: Teams anticipating absences or injuries should include affiliate players on the initial roster and cross them off when they do not play. Absent registered players must still be listed on the first game sheet.

B. Goalies

If a team has only one goalie and that goalie suffers an injury, an additional skater must enter the ice (either as a player or in net) while the replacement changes into goaltending equipment.

C. Overage Players

Requires prior approval from the Tournament Committee via the Overage Player Request (OAP) Form (available on the website under Event Info -> Overage Player (OAP) Request Form). Unapproved overage players are strictly forbidden.

D. Underage Players

Permitted without restriction.

E. Players on Multiple Teams

Players may participate on more than one team provided the teams are in different divisions and not in a lower skill-level division. Each player counts toward the roster limit for both teams. No scheduling accommodations will be made.

F. Ineligible and Illegal Players

• Using an ineligible/illegal player results in immediate forfeiture of all games in which the player participated.
• Offending team points earned in those games are reduced to zero (0).
• Opposing teams earn a 3–0 win and 3 points.
• Head coaches and staff may face suspensions according to the Suspension Guidelines (available under Event Info -> Suspension Guidelines).

5. Team Administration & Management

A. Insurance

Teams must carry $2,000,000 – $5,000,000 in general liability insurance as required by host facilities. Proof of insurance must be uploaded to the team's EventConnect (EC) Dashboard prior to the event.

B. Government-Issued ID

Team managers/coaches must carry copies of government-issued IDs (birth certificates, passports, healthcare cards, status cards; phone copies accepted) for all players. Failure to produce ID upon request will deem the player ineligible/illegal under Section 4(F).

C. Game Sheets

Rosters and starting goalies must be confirmed on the game sheet at the registration table at least 30 minutes before each game. Inactive players must be crossed off.

D. Hotel Accommodations

The Bytown Battle is a "Stay to Play" tournament. Refer to the Stay-to-Play Policy on the tournament website under Event Info.

E. Dressing Rooms

• Rooms must be left clean after each game. Leaving a room dirty results in a 5-minute penalty assessed at the start of the team's next game.
• Teams will be held financially responsible for any damages.
• Players must be supervised by a team official at all times in dressing rooms.

F. Team Conduct

• Coaches/Managers are responsible for player and parent conduct.
• Abuse, racial remarks, or inappropriate behavior toward players, officials, staff, or fans will result in removal from the arena for the remainder of the tournament AND a 5-minute major penalty for the team.
• Teams must be ready to play 10 minutes prior to scheduled game times.

G. Hardest Working Player Award

• Awarded during Round Robin games only.
• Four awards will be provided to each team manager upon check-in on Friday.
• Head coaches select their own team's recipient post-game.
• Team staff must inform the on-site Arena Coordinator of the winner after each Round Robin game.

6. Competition

A. Game Lengths

• Host Arena: Walter Baker
• Age Groups: All Ages
• Period Lengths: 15 - 15 - 15 (stop time)*
• Warmup & Floods: 3-minute warm-up + flood after game

*Sunday consolation and final games may have altered period lengths or flood schedules (refer to schedule game notes).

• Warm-up pucks, 3 on-ice officials, and 1 timekeeper are provided by the tournament.
• All pucks must be returned to the timekeeper immediately following warm-ups.

B. Delayed or Late Games

If a game is running behind schedule, the clock will be dropped to 2 minutes when 5 minutes remain in the allotted ice slot. Buffer time is reserved at the end of days where possible to prevent clock drops.

C. Mercy Rule

• Triggered when a team leads by 7 or more goals at or after the start of the 2nd period.
• Converts game to running time.
• Run-Time Penalty Lengths: Minor = 3 mins | Major = 7 mins | Misconduct = 10 mins.
• Penalties run on the game clock only and do not affect individual PIM stats or team penalty tiebreakers.
• If the trailing team reduces the goal differential to 6 goals, stop-time resumes once current penalties expire.

D. Overtime & Shootout

• Round Robin & Consolation games can end in a tie (no overtime).
• Playoff & Final Games (Sunday Only):
  1. 5-Minute Sudden-Death Overtime: 3-on-3 stop-time.
  2. 3-Player Shootout: Alternating shots; team with the most goals wins.
  3. Sudden-Death Shootout: If still tied, single-round sudden death with new shooters until everyone on the roster has shot once.

E. Timeouts

• Round Robin: No timeouts permitted.
• Playoffs / Finals (Sunday): One (30-second) timeout per team per game.

F. Icing

Automatic icing applies to all games.

G. Penalties & Suspensions

• Minor: 2 minutes
• Major: 5 minutes
• Misconduct: 10 minutes
• All majors will be reviewed by the Tournament Committee. Protests are not accepted.
• Ejections: Any player receiving a combination of 2 Game Misconducts, Gross Misconducts, or Match Penalties is ejected for the remainder of the tournament.
• Coaches/Managers: Any coach/manager receiving a Game Misconduct under rules 11.5(b), (c), or (d) (harassment of officials) or a Gross Misconduct is suspended for the remainder of the tournament (no appeals). Issues with officials may be brought to the committee after a mandatory 6-hour cooling period.

H. Stick & Head Infractions

Receiving three (3) stick infractions (High Sticking, Slashing, Cross-Checking, Spearing, Butt-Ending) or three (3) head contact infractions in a single game results in an immediate game ejection.

I. Fighting

• Instigating a fight results in game ejection and possible further committee action.
• During a fight, all skaters must go to their benches and goaltenders must remain in their creases.
• Any player/coach leaving the bench to join a fight will be suspended for the entire tournament.

7. Points & Tiebreaker System

A. Point System

• Win: 3 Points
• Tie: 2 Points
• Loss: 1 Point

B. Goal Differential Limits

Maximum goal differential counted per game is +/- 7.

• Example 1: 10–0 win counts as +7 / -7.
• Example 2: 10–2 win counts as +7 / -7 (Goal difference capped).

C. Tiebreaker Hierarchy (2 or More Teams)

When a tie is broken between teams in a multi-team tie, the process resets to Tiebreaker #1 for remaining tied teams.

1. Head-to-Head (2 teams) / Head-to-Group (3+ teams): Head-to-Group is ignored unless all tied teams played each other an equal number of times.
2. Winning Percentage: Calculated as $\frac{\text{Wins} + (0.5 \times \text{Ties})}{\text{Wins} + \text{Ties} + \text{Losses}}$.
3. Best Goal Differential: Calculated as $\frac{\text{Goals For}}{\text{Goals For} + \text{Goals Against}}$ (Rule 7b +/-7 limit applies).
4. Penalty Minutes: Fewest penalty minutes.
5. Total Goals Against: Fewest total goals allowed (Rule 7b limit does not apply).
6. Coin Flip: Team managers will be notified prior to the flip.

8. Schedule & Play-Offs

• Official tiebreaking is performed post-game on Saturday evening by the committee.
• Advancing teams will be formally announced via an EventConnect tournament-wide notification.
• Playoff matchups on the website are non-binding until official confirmation is broadcast.

9. General Rules

• Any unsportsmanlike behavior or disrespect toward opponents, referees, or staff not explicitly covered under Hockey Canada rules is subject to game or tournament disqualification.
• Protests are strictly prohibited and will result in team expulsion.
• Alcohol consumption before/during games by players, coaches, or officials is strictly forbidden.
• The Tournament Committee reserves the right to amend or veto any rule.

10. Definitions

• Head-to-Head (HTH): Evaluates head-to-head win totals between two tied teams.
• Head-to-Group (HTG): Evaluates record among 3 or more tied teams, provided every tied team played each other at least once.