Rules

North American Hockey Classic

1. COMPOSITION OF TEAMS:

Each team may register 20 players. 18 skaters plus two goaltenders may dress for each game. A maximum of five team leaders (Coaches/Manager/Trainers) will be allowed on the team bench during a game.

2. TEAM ROSTERS:

The roster as submitted on each team's first tournament game sheet will be considered FINAL and those players listed on the first game sheet of the tournament will be the ONLY players allowed to compete for the duration of the tournament. Head Coach and manager should be included on the final roster.

Each team must submit an online roster of players eligible to play in the NAHC tournament. All changes to the online roster MUST be made prior to the first game, otherwise stats for your team will not be kept, and this includes correct jersey assignments as well (see rule 4).

Players are only allowed to be on a roster of 1 team, per age group, per weekend. A player may participate in their own age group and an older age group, but may NOT participate in two divisions of the same age group (ie. A 2005 born player, may participate in only one 2005 division, and participate in only one 2004 division.

Birth certificates for all players must be carried with the team and be available for inspection upon request. If a player is unable to produce their birth certificate upon request, he or she will be unable to participate for the remainder of the tournament. Teams must provide proof of insurance at tournament check-in along with their waiver-completed form.

3. DRESSING ROOMS

Dressing room assignments will be posted each day on the main board in each arena. Any damage to a dressing room will be charged to that team (if you see any damage when you first enter your room please contact the arena attendant). NAHC is not responsible for lost, damaged or stolen property.

4. HOME & VISITING TEAMS

The first team listed is the HOME team and will be identified on each schedule. ALL TEAMS MUST HAVE A SET OF BOTH LIGHT AND DARK JERSEYS. The home team will wear LIGHT colored jerseys and the away team will wear DARK.

5. COMPLETING THE GAME SHEET

Starting line-ups will not have to be identified, however the starting goaltender must be circled on the game sheet.

6. GAME STARTS

Teams MUST be prepared to play 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.

7. ON ICE OFFICIALS

All referees and linesmen are approved and are under the direction of a Referee in Chief.

8. PRE-GAME WARM-UP

Teams will be allowed a three-minute warm-up at the beginning of the game. If the tournament is running behind the allotted time, warm-up time will be reduced. Teams must stay on their side of the center red line.

9. ORDER OF LEAVING THE ICE

The referee shall determine which team leaves the ice surface first.

10. ICE FLOODS

Ice floods will occur after every two periods of play, which will commence with the next game of the day. Teams will be given a 10-minute break while the flooding is done. When there is no flooding between periods, each team will be given a one-minute break. For games that are starting with no flood, teams should be ready to begin their warm-up immediately following the preceding game. The 2017, 2018 & 2019 age group will have a 1-minute break between each period with no floods.

11. MANDATORY EQUIPMENT

Helmets and full-face protectors are mandatory for all players. The use of neck guards will be mandatory based upon the rules of your home province or state. Players not conforming to these standards will not be allowed to play until the required equipment is in place. If a player, except a goaltender, loses his or her helmet during the play, that player must immediately stop and pick up his or her helmet and put it on, or leave the ice surface. All helmet straps must be reconnected prior to re-entering the game. If a goaltender loses his/her facemask play will be stopped immediately.

12. ALTERNATE GOALTENDER

All alternate goaltenders are required to wear protection while the game is in progress. If a team changes their goaltender, no warm-up is permitted.

13. MERCY RULE

All games in the tournament are 15-minute stop-time periods. Should a team have a lead of five goals or more at the start of the second period, running time shall apply. Should this lead revert back to four goals or less, stop time will resume. This mercy rule will apply to ALL games of the tournament.

14. PENALTIES

The clock will not be stopped during straight time (i.e. when the mercy rule is in effect) while the referee deals with any penalties.

(a). Penalties during Stop-Time: Minor: Two (2) minutes - Double Minor: Two (2) + Two (2) minutes - Major: Five (5) minutes - Misconduct: Ten (10) minutes

(b). Penalties during Mercy Rule: Minor: Two (2) minutes - Double Minor: Two (2) + Two (2) minutes - Major Five (5) minutes

Any player who receives four total penalties in one game will be ejected for the remainder of that game.

15. ROUND ROBIN PLAY

There will be no overtime in the Round Robin games. Points will be awarded as follows: Two (2) for a win, One (1) for a tie, Zero (0) for a loss.

16. PLAYOFFS

The playoff format will be adjusted to reflect the number of teams in each division. The seeding of teams will be based on where they ended up after round robin play.

17. OVERTIME IN PLAYOFFS

If teams are tied at the end of regulation time, there will be a one-minute break with no ice flood. Teams will not change ends. After the one-minute break, (A-Side Playoffs) 5 minutes will be put on the clock and played out at stop time with three [3] skaters and a goalie on each side. The first team that scores shall be declared the winner at any point during the overtime. If tied after overtime period. Each team will pick three players. The visiting team will shoot first and alternates to home team until all three players have taken their turn. If a winner is not declared, then each team will choose one player at a time to shoot until a player scores at the end of the rotation. ONLY PLAYERS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN PREVIOUSLY SELECTED WILL BE ALLOWED TO SHOOT. Each player on your entire team must shoot before reusing a previous player (except goaltenders). This will continue until a winner is declared.

(B or C Side Consolation Playoffs) Each team will pick three players. The visiting team will shoot first and alternates to home team until all three players have taken their turn. If a winner is not declared, then each team will choose one player at a time to shoot until a player scores at the end of the rotation. ONLY PLAYERS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN PREVIOUSLY SELECTED WILL BE ALLOWED TO SHOOT. Each player on your entire team must shoot before reusing a previous player (except goaltenders). This will continue until a winner is declared.

18. TIE IN STANDINGS

Team standings shall be determined by total points as set out in Rule 15. To determine team standings in the event of a tie in points, the following criteria shall be used: (1) The winner of the game between the two tied teams shall be deemed the winner. In the event of a tie between more than two teams, this tie breaking criteria shall not apply in any circumstances. (2) If still tied after the first criteria, or if the first criterion is not applicable, the team that has the most wins at the end of the round robin play shall be deemed the winner. (3) If still tied after the most wins criteria, the best plus minus goals to a max of + 7 and - 7 per game shall be deemed the winner. (4) If still tied after the plus minus criteria, the least goals against shall be deemed the winner (total goals against during round robin play). (5) If still tied after the least goals against criteria, goals for shall be deemed the winner (total goals for during round robin play). If no winner is declared after the goals for criteria, there will be a coin toss to declare a playoff spot.

19. ICING

Regular icing rules will apply, the no touch rule will be in effect.

20. RED LINE

There will be NO red line or centerline for offside passes.

21. GAME PLAY

The tournament committee reserves the right to adjust the playing time of any game. All teams affected will be advised of the time adjustments. The tournament committee has the right to suspend play in any game.

22. BODY CHECKING

There will be NO body checking allowed in the follow age groups: 2014/2015/2016/2017/2018/2019 and all female divisions.

23. SLAP SHOTS

Will be allowed in all levels.

24. STICK MEASUREMENTS

Absolutely no stick measurements at any time.

25. TIME OUTS

Each team will be allowed one-30 second time out per game.

26. COINCIDENTAL PENALTIES

If coincidental penalties are called, NEITHER team will skate short-handed.

27. CHECKING FROM BEHIND

A player may receive either a 2 minute minor+10 minute misconduct, or alternatively a 5 minute major + game misconduct at the discretion of the referee. If any game misconduct is issued in the final 10 minutes of the 3rd period, the player will receive at minimum, an additional 1 game misconduct.

28. MATCH PENALTY/GROSS MISCONDUCT

Any player assessed a match penalty (A deliberate attempt to injure by spearing, butt-ending, slashing, cross-checking, etc.), or a gross misconduct will be subject to the tournament committee ruling before the next scheduled game.

29. PROTESTS

Will only be allowed when the eligibility of the player is in question under the following circumstances. (a). If the athlete plays in an age division where he/she is too old. This rule applies to all the teams entered in the tournament. All protests will be dealt with by the committee. Teams found in violation of these rules will result in the athlete being disqualified from the rest of the tournament. The team in violation will have the games that the illegal player participated in recorded as a loss of 1-0. A team affected who lost or tied against the team in violation will receive an official score of 1-0 and receive 2 points. Under no circumstances will protests be allowed after the round robin portion of the tournament is over. All other protests will NOT be allowed.

30. PROTOCOL

No family members or parents and players are allowed to approach tournament committee or officials with questions or comments. Any parents/family members and fans that become disrespectful during a game or the duration of the tournament will be removed from the arena.

31. FIGHTING

Any type of fighting will result in an automatic two game suspension.

32. GAME RESULTS

All teams should use the tournament website for final game results. Do NOT go by rink boards for final accurate scores. It is the responsibility of each team to know where they stand before a tiebreaker game. Tournament will NOT be responsible if a team does NOT check tie-breaking rules. If unsure please ask the Tournament Committee, but the Tournament Committee will NOT project tie-breaking scenarios and outcomes. It is the responsibility of each team to contact the tournament committee if their score is not properly recorded on the tournament website. The tournament committee MUST be contacted within two hours from the time the game is completed if there is an error that must be changed.

33. HOTELS

All out of town teams MUST use tournament sponsored hotels as advertised on the tournament website.

34. REFUNDS

There are absolutely NO team registration refunds for any reason.

35. FORFEITING GAMES

The tournament will not be held responsible if for some reason a team decides to forfeit a game. If a game is forfeited, the winning team will receive a +7 and the losing team will receive -7 for plus/minus purposes.

36. INSURANCE

All teams must carry a minimum of $2 Million dollars in team liability insurance and the tournament committee MUST have a copy of their team insurance before the start of the tournament. No Insurance, No Play!!

37. COACHES

Coaches MUST treat officials with respect. Inappropriate behavior can result in a coach being suspended from the tournament with the discretion of the tournament committee. Any coach who is intoxicated during game play or while communicating with tournament committee or officials, will be removed from the tournament facility. If a coach gets ejected from a game, he/she will automatically receive a minimum 1 game suspension.

38. INJURED PLAYERS ON BENCH

Any injured player that appears on the bench during a game MUST wear a helmet.

39. STATS

Players' stats will be recorded on the tournament website based on the game sheet. If players are wearing different numbers for home and away jerseys, tournament stats will NOT be recorded. No parents are able to request changes to players' stats. Changes in player stats must be made by team coaches or managers directly following their game to the tournament rink coordinator. Most changes will be made following tournament.

40. NINE TEAM DRAWS

The 9th place team after round robin play, in a nine-team draw, will ONLY be guaranteed four tournament games.

41. TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE

The tournament committee has the final say in all decisions. If there are any mishaps during the tournament, the tournament committee is NOT held responsible. If flights are delayed or cancelled, changes to the tournament schedule will NOT be made. If there is a breakdown at a rink facility, the tournament committee has the right to shorten ALL game lengths. Floods between periods and games may be eliminated.

42. No video replay will be accepted on any discretionary calls. All decisions will be final by the officials.

 Schedule Disruptions & Refund Policy

Play Hockey will make every reasonable effort to reschedule games cancelled or disrupted due to circumstances beyond our control, including adverse weather, facility unavailability, or other unforeseen events. Rescheduling is not always guaranteed but will be pursued wherever possible.

Registration fees are generally non-refundable. Refunds will only be considered in exceptional circumstances and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of PLAY Hockey.