St. Thomas Minor Hockey Association
SPECIAL TOURNAMENT RULES AND REGULATIONS
SANCTION
All STMHA tournaments are sanctioned by the OMHA and are governed by the OMHA
Tournament Rules and Regulations. All playing rules are CHA with the following exceptions.
ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
A team may sign and use nineteen (19) players for each game, which includes two goaltenders.
ALL players must be approved prior to the start of your first game.
Team officials must present their approved team roster for the current season to the tournament
office prior to the start of their first tournament game.
Affiliated players (AP) must be registered with the team and listed on an approved AP list. Please
note; a player may only play for one team during the tournament.
PROCEDURES
Team Managers must report to the arena at least one-hour prior to their first tournament game in
order to check in. Teams must be prepared to start
15 minutes before each of their scheduled
game times
should we require games to start early.
All Non-OMHA teams must provide written permission from their association to participate in this
tournament.
Dressing Room locations will be assigned and posted at the arena.
Note: Spectators are asked to not attend the change area or dressing rooms. It is the duty of the
Spectators are asked to attend the change area or dressing rooms. It is the duty of the
team’s manager to communicate and respect this rule at all times. Where applicable, a female
dressing room will be provided. Please notify the tournament convenor upon your arrival if a
separate dressing room is required.
FORMAT
Divisions will be divided into groups for the preliminary round.
All teams are guaranteed three (3) games. The maximum number of games for any team is five
(5).
Game Times:
Tyke, Novice, Minor Atom, Atom, Atom AE, Minor Peewee, Peewee, Peewee AE
Each preliminary round game will consist of three (3) ten (10) minute stop time periods.
Playoff games will consist of two (2) ten (10) minute stop time periods and one (1) fifteen (15)
minute stop time period.
Exception: Tyke & Novice playoff games will be three (3) ten (10) minute stop time periods.
Minor Bantam, Bantam, Bantam AE, Minor Midget, Midget, Midget AE
Each preliminary round game will consist of two (2) ten (10) minute stop time periods and one (1)
fifteen (15) minute stop time period.
Playoff games will consist of one (1) ten (10) minute stop time period and two (2) fifteen (15)
minute stop time periods.
There will be a three (3) minute warm up for all games.
POINTS (PRELIMINARY ROUND)
A team’s standing in the preliminary round will be determined by the total points accumulated.
No overtime will be played in the preliminary round. There will be five (5) points awarded for each
game as follows:
(a) Two (2) points will be awarded to the winner of a game.
Two (2) points will be awarded to the winner of a game.
(b) One (1) point will be awarded to each team of a tie game.
One (1) point will be awarded to each team of a tie game.
(c) One (1) Point will be awarded to the team who scores the most goals during the
One (1) Point will be awarded to the team who scores the most goals during the
period for each period of every game.
(d) Half (½) a point will be awarded to each team if no team scores in the period or each
Half (½) a point will be awarded to each team if no team scores in the period or each
team scores the same number of goals in the period.
TIE-BREAKER
In the event teams are tied in points at the end of the preliminary round the following procedure
will apply:
a) The result of the preliminary round game involving the tied teams will apply (head to head).
The result of the preliminary round game involving the tied teams will apply (head to head).
The winner of the preliminary round game between the tied teams will advance.
b) If teams are still tied after a), the team with the best goal average will advance.
The goal
average of a team will be determined by dividing the total number of goals for and against into the
total number of goals for.
The teams will be ranked in the standings with the team with the
highest goal average securing the higher position in the standings.
c) If the teams are still tied after a) & b), the team with the most wins will advance.
If the teams are still tied after a) & b), the team with the most wins will advance.
d) If the teams are still tied after a), b) and c), then the team that scored the first goal in the game
If the teams are still tied after a), b) and c), then the team that scored the first goal in the game
between the two teams will advance. (Applies only where two teams are tied).
e) If the teams are still tied after a), b), c) and d), the team with the least penalty minutes
If the teams are still tied after a), b), c) and d), the team with the least penalty minutes
throughout the preliminary round will advance.
f) If the teams are still tied after all previous methods have been applied, then the winner will be
If the teams are still tied after all previous methods have been applied, then the winner will be
decided by a single coin toss. The team determined to have traveled the farthest distance will
have the ‘call’ on the coin toss.
One (1) thirty (30) second time-out is permitted in championship games only.
OVERTIME (SEMI-FINAL ROUND)
In the event of a tie score at the end of regulation time during a Semi-Final game one sudden
victory five (5) minute stop-time period will be played. Each team will be allowed four (4) skaters
and one (1) goaltender on the ice. Penalties being served at the end of regulation will carry into
the overtime period.
If the two teams are still tied after this overtime period, then a three (3) player shoot-out will occur.
The Teams will not change ends for the shootout. The home team will have the
opportunity to choose to shoot first. The teams will then alternate shots.
Three (3) players from each team shall participate in the shootout and they shall proceed
in such order as the Coach selects. All players are eligible to participate in the shootout
unless they are serving a ten minute misconduct or have been assessed a game
misconduct, gross misconduct or match penalty.
Once the shootout begins, the goalkeeper cannot be replaced unless he is injured. No
warm up shall be permitted for a substitute goalkeeper.
Each team will be given three shots, unless the outcome is determined earlier in the
shootout. After each team has taken three shots, if the score remains tied, the shootout
will proceed to a "sudden victory" format. No player may shoot twice until everyone who
is eligible has shot
OVERTIME (CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES)
In Championship Games - up to 3 - five (5) minute sudden victory overtime periods will
be played before a shoot-out will take place. The four-on-four format will continue in each overtime
period. After 3 overtime periods a shoot-out will commence (rules listed above)
TIMEOUTS
There will be NO timeouts permitted during the preliminary or semi-final rounds. One (1) thirty
(30) second timeout per team will be permitted during the Championship game.
GOAL DIFFERENTIAL
In the event of a five (5) or more goal differential at any time in the third (3rd) period, the clock will
revert to ‘running time’. Stop time will not resume until a three (3) goal differential is secured.
Minor Penalties incurred during running time will be three (3) minutes in duration.
FIGHTING
All fighting Majors constitute expulsion from the game and the team’s remaining games of the
tournament.
Any verbal abuse of an official will result in an automatic game misconduct.
STARTING LINEUP RULES
The Starting lineup rule will be waived for all games in this tournament.
TEAM COLOURS
Teams are to bring two sets of sweaters - one dark and one light. The home team designated on
the game sheet will wear the light colour. In the event of conflicting colours, the home team
designated will be responsible for changing sweaters.
EQUIPMENT
“The Ontario Minor Hockey Association implemented a ‘mandatory mouth guard’ policy for all
OMHA Registered Players. Effective January 1, 2002, As such ONLY OMHA players must wear
a mouth guard for all OMHA sanctioned events.”
Approved neck protectors are mandatory for all participants as per CHA rules.
PROTESTS
ALL REFEREE RULINGS ARE FINAL. The tournament committee DOES NOT schedule
referees and cannot request an alteration to the referee schedule.
Any protests must be submitted in writing to the Tournament Protest Committee within one hour
of the completion of the game in question. All Tournament Protest Committee rulings will be final