WEST MALL LIGHTNING EARLYBIRD “A” TOURNAMENT   “Your Season Starts Here”

TOURNAMENT RULES

TEAM SIGN IN
All teams must sign in with Tournament Staff one (1) hour before the start of their first game. Team Staff must provide an approved tournament travel permit from their respective home association, and an Official Approved team roster. AP Players/ Call-ups must be carded and on an official roster.  A team will not be permitted to play any games if this information is not provided.  As it is an early bird tournament, updated approved rosters may be submitted during the course of the tournament but a player or team official may not participate in a game until they are on the team’s approved roster.

Jersey Colours: The home team is to don their dark jerseys and the away team their whites/light.

GAME SHEETS must be completed by both teams 30 minutes prior to game time.

LENGTH OF GAMES
Standard length of games will be as follows:
U11 – U14
   10/10/12 Minute periods
U15 and Older
   10/10/15 
 
If required, Tournament Officials reserve the right to reduce game times to a minimum of 10/10/10 minutes to ensure compliance to game schedules. Any changes to game length will be indicated on the Game Sheet prior to the start of the game.
 
TIME OUTS will be permitted only in Playoff games as indicated on the game sheet. A single 30-second time out is permitted per team; this can be taken at any time including overtime.
  



 
WARM-UP There will be a three-minute warm-up prior to each game. No pucks will be permitted on the ice until the nets are pegged for the safety of the Referees. Failure to comply with this rule will result in a Bench Minor penalty at the start of the game for the offending team. This rule will be enforced with the Referees discretion only. 13 minutes will be displayed on the game clock and started once both nets are pegged and both teams have at least one player on the ice surface. A whistle will be blown at the 11-minute mark as a warning to teams. Puck drop will commence at the 10-minute mark. If teams are not ready at centre ice at the 10-minute mark the game clock will continue to run until the first whistled stoppage of play. While appreciating the importance of sportsmanship in hockey, to maintain the schedule, handshakes will only be permitted at the conclusion of Playoff games at the referees’ discretion.

OVERTIME will only apply to Playoff Games and indicated on the Game Sheet.  If tied at end of regulation time, there will be a single five (5) minute Sudden Death five on five Overtime Period. If tied at end of OT Period, game will be decided by a shootout.
 
SHOOTOUT Opposing players will shoot concurrently. If still tied, play will continue with Sudden Death 1 on 1 shoot out. Players can shoot a 2^nd time only if all other players on the team (excluding goalies) have taken shots. A player who has not fully served any penalty incurred during regulation time or the overtime period may not participate in the shootout.

MERCY RULE in effect in third period.  If there is a goal spread of 5 or more goals, run time will commence. Game will revert to stop time if the spread is reduced to 2 goals.

TOURNAMENT FORMAT
6 Team Divisions 
Two Groupings.
 
The Play-In Format: Each team will play 3 round robin games against the three teams in the opposite grouping. Following this, the teams will be ranked in their groupings and first place teams in each group will get a ‘bye’ to the Semi-Final round. The lower seeded teams will play each other for a spot in the semi-finals via a Play-In game. This format ensures that all teams play 4 different teams throughout the tournament and every team will play an elimination game giving them a chance to continue through regardless of round robin placement.
TIES in Division standings will be resolved as follows:
 
Playoff Position Tie Breakers in order:

• Winner of Head-to-Head game
• Most Wins
• Goals For %  -  goals for / (goals for + goals against)
• Most goals
• Least penalty minutes
• Random Draw

MAJOR PENALTIES
 
Any player assessed a Gross Misconduct or Match penalty will be disqualified for the remainder of the Tournament.
 
REGULATIONS
 
This tournament is sanctioned by the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL)/CHA and will be played under GTHL/CHA rules. Officiating will be provided by the GTHL.
 
Body checking is not permitted at any age group.
 
Decisions made by Tournament staff are final and cannot be appealed.
 
On ice decisions by referees including penalties cannot be changed, adjusted or modified by Tournament Personnel.