EARLY TRAILBLAZER

Player/Coach/Spectator Conduct:  Zero-Tolerance Policy

• Play Hockey holds a zero-tolerance policy, regarding abusive language and/or language considered to be a racial/gender/religious slur in nature, that is strictly enforced.  Any player and/or coach reported to be in violation of this policy will automatically be removed from the game and will be suspended from participation until the matter has been investigated.  The tournament reserves the right to review any racially/gendered/religious motivated incident for further disciplinary action, including disqualification from the tournament, and disqualification from future events.

Respect the referees:  Zero-Tolerance Policy

• Coaches, players and spectators MUST never verbally abuse an official from the bench, on the ice or from the stands.  Anyone that is identified as doing such will be removed from the arena without question. 

Respect the officials that are working the games!  Coaches coach, players play, parents cheer!  From mites to the NHL, referees are humans, doing their best for the game and deserve respect.  Let’s make youth hockey a place our kids will one day want to become an official! 

General Rules and Information

• All games are played under USA/Minnesota Hockey rules unless otherwise noted.
• Only USA Hockey, MSHSL or Canadian certified officials will be used.
• A medic/EMT will be present in every venue.  
• The tournament will assume no liability for personal injury to participants or spectators during the event.
• An official roster must be furnished 30 minutes before the start of the first game.
• Contact/checking will be allowed at the Boy’s 2011 level and older.
• Slapshots will be permitted at all levels.  Tag-up offsides will be used at all levels.
• During a shorthanded situation, the shorthanded team will be allowed to ice the puck (original rule will be used).

Player Eligibility

• A maximum of 20 players may be rostered for any team.
• A team’s roster is frozen at the time the team starts their first game - no additions will be allowed.
• All players must play at their age level or older - players may not play at a younger age level unless approved by the tournament director.
• Teams that knowingly and/or intentionally play an ineligible aged player will receive an automatic 5-0 forfeit loss for all games.
• Any eligibility protest must occur before the start of the game and must come from the head coach to be valid.  
• Invalid protests will result in a 5-minute bench major for the challenging team. 
• A player may participate on more than one team when the teams are in separate age levels (example: May play on a 2011 and 2010 team).

Tournament Format

• Competition format will consist of round-robin play followed by seeded bracket and/or place games.
• Teams listed first in parings will be considered the home team and will be asked to wear the light-colored jerseys when possible.
• Once a team is confirmed for the tournament there will be no refunds under any circumstance.

Scoring and Points Format

• Teams will be able to earn up to 2 points per game.  Two (2) points for a game win, one (1) point for a game tie, zero (0) points for a game loss.
• If a team forfeits a game during pool-play they are required to forfeit all pool-play games in order to maintain equality in the standings.

Game Times

• All levels will play three (3) 15 minute, stop time periods.
• A six-goal lead at any time in the game will result in running time until the lead falls to less than six goals. 
  •The ice will be resurfaced every game all levels.
• All games will be completed in the set amount of time allowed in the schedule.  
• Each team will be permitted one (1) 45 second time out per game.
• Teams must be ready to play 30 minutes prior to the scheduled game time.  Games may start earlier when time permits and when both teams are ready.

Equipment

• The first team listed on the schedule should wear white (light) colored uniforms - when possible.
• All players must adhere to their local hockey governing body’s rules regarding equipment.

Penalty Enforcement

Minor = 2 minutes || Major = 5 minutes || Misconduct = 10 minutes

Ejection = Player is removed from the current game only.

Game Misconduct = Player will be removed from the remainder of the game and serve an additional one (1) game suspension. 

Fighting = Automatic tournament disqualification.

• Checking from behind will carry a minimum 5-minute major penalty plus a 10-minute misconduct.
• Boarding penalties will carry a minimum 5-minute major penalty.
• Any penalty deemed serious with an intent to injure will result in a 5-minute major and a tournament disqualification.
• Any player receiving 3 penalties will be ejected from the remainder of the current game.  A player from the offending team will be required to serve the third penalty.  Any major penalty will count as two penalties.
• All referee decisions are final.  Protests will not be allowed.

Overtime and Tie-Breaking Procedures

• In no case will any team be credited with more than seven (7) goal difference for statistical purposes.
• There will be no overtime in round robin pool play.
• Overtime in seeded and/or place games will be considered an extension of the 3rd period and will consist of a five (5) minute, sudden death running time period.  The period will be played 4-on-4 with goalies.  If a tie still remains, a 5-player shoot-out will determine the winning team.  If a tie remains, a sudden death shoot-out will determine the winning team.  Any player serving a penalty when the game clock expires will not be allowed to participate in the shoot-out.
• *Tie breaking procedure for teams tied after round robin play:

1. 1. Head-to-head competition.
   2. Point differential (goals scored minus goals allowed).
   3. Least goals allowed.
   4. Most goals scored.
   5. Least penalty minutes.
   6. Coin toss.

*In the event three teams, in the same pool, are tied in the standing after pool play, the results against tied teams (RATT = wins, loss, ties) will decide the seedings.  If the RATT cannot determine the seedings, the tie breaking procedure beginning with point differential shall be used in succession until the seeds have been determined.  The tie breaking procedure will not revert to any previously used procedure.

GOOD LUCK & Have fun!  Practice good sportsmanship, on the ice and in the stands.