WINTER CUP

Rules

REGULATIONS

1. All teams must be rostered with USA Hockey, the Canadian Hockey Association or the appropriate IIHF affiliate.
2. Teams are required to bring their official team roster or player cards, as well as, their travel permit (if required by their governing body) to each game.
3. Players and coaches should report to the arena at least one hour prior to each game.
4. Each Division will play standard USA Hockey rules for appropriate age.
5. A maximum of four team officials may be on the player’s bench at one time. Additionally, each team will provide a penalty box official.
6. All teams must be prepared to begin any game 15 minutes ahead of schedule.
7. The home team will wear white jerseys and visitors wear dark.
8. Penalties will be 1:30 (1.5 mins), 3 min (double), 4 min (major) or 8 min misconduct.
9. One, 30-second timeout per team, per game, for semifinal and final games ONLY.
10. At any point during the tournament; if a team needs to withdraw due to COVID, all games that the team(s) would have played would get a W based on the forfeit rules. All games prior to withdrawing would stand as completed games and would count.

GAME FORMAT

1. 3-minute warm-up. Teams will play 13-13-13 minute stop-time periods.
2. 2. There will be no OVERTIME in Round Robin Games.
3. In the event a semifinal or final game should end in a tie, the tie will be broken in the following manner:
   1. 4-on-4 for 3 minutes running-time
   2. 3-on-3 for 3 minutes running-time
   1. If a penalty is assessed the non-penalized team will add a player for a power play. Penalties will be stop-time, until teams are even strength and then back to running time.
   3. a 3-player shootout
   4. a sudden-death shootout consisting of players who have not participated in the 3-player shootout until everyone on the team has shot.
4. For shootouts, format is as follows: Three-player (best-of-3) shootout. Home team decides who shoots first, if still tied after three-player shootout, it then goes to sudden death. New players will participate in a sudden-death shootout. The players in the first group-of-three may not shoot again until all other eligible players on their team have had a turn. Must go through the entire roster prior to repeating. Goalies are not eligible.

SCORING

1. All divisions will be scored two points for a win, one point for a tie, and zero points for a loss per game.
2. For the 16U through '11 Divisions (excluding ‘07 and ‘10), will have a four-game round robin - Top four teams move onto semifinals. The ‘07 and '10 Divisions will have a three-game round robin and will reseed for semifinals (1 vs. 4, 2 vs. 3)
3. Any forfeited games including COVID Forfeited games will be recorded as a 3-0 score. Any forfeited games affecting another team’s playoff status may be reviewed by the tournament director to determine which teams advance beyond preliminary round play. Use of ineligible players will disqualify a team from the tournament. All games played by a disqualified team will be forfeited. No monies will be refunded.
4. If a team is down by 5-or-more goals in the 3rd period, running time will commence. If the gap is closed to two goals, stop time will resume. The maximum goal differential attainable per game is +/-

OFFICIALS

1. All tournament officials are current members in good standing of USA Hockey and are deemed qualified to officiate at the level of play assigned.
2. A zero tolerance for verbal abuse is in effect and will be enforced for all team officials, players, and spectators.
3. Appropriate penalties will be assessed for disputing or arguing a decision of the officials, any visual demonstration of dissatisfaction, or for the use of obscene or vulgar language to anyone at any time during the tournament.
4. Please keep in mind that the tournament director does not have the authority to reverse the decisions of the game officials.

USA HOCKEY RULES

1. This tournament is sanctioned by USA Hockey. The following USA Hockey rules may not be familiar toteams from other IIHF affiliates.
2. Any player receiving 4-or-more penalties in 1 game must sit the following game.
3. If a team receives 12-or-more penalties in one game, the head coach must sit the following game.
4. There is no center ice red line except for icing.
5. Canadian teams are required to wear mouth guards and neck guards according to the rules of their governing body.
6. Anyone receiving a game misconduct must sit the next game.
7. Anyone receiving a match penalty is disqualified from further play.
8. The acting tournament director (ATD) reserves the right to take measures necessary to ensure a safe tournament for the participants including the modification of any rule(s) herein which is deemed by him/her to be in the tournament’s best interest. Decisions of the acting tournament director are final.

For AYHL 10U only, the AYHL USA Hockey full-season roster only is allowed. AYHL 10U minor roster rules are allowed.

PLAYOFFS

Please refer to tournament scoreboards or speak to a tournament official in order to determine the playoff format for each division. It is incumbent upon the team officials to confirm with a tournament representative whether or not their team has advanced beyond preliminary round play prior to leaving the arena following their final preliminary round game. Tiebreakers - To determine teams advancing to the semi and final rounds. If more than 2 teams are tied, as soon as the tie is broken, the same tiebreaker is reapplied to any remaining ties.

1. Head-to-Head Competition - Direct play between two tied teams.
2. Goal Quotient - The team with the greater % will advance. GF/(GF +GA)
3. Fewest Goals Against
4. Lowest Total Penalty Minutes
5. Fastest Goal scored in the 1st game of the round robin.

These rules may be amended prior to the tournament to coincide with any changes in the tournament format.