Rules

Tournament Playing Rules

Rules: Except as noted in these rules of play, all games are subject to the USA Hockey official rules: http://www.usahockey.com/page/show/902338-rule-book-and-resources 

Rosters/Sign-in: Final rosters are requested by Tuesday, March 1 with player names, numbers, and position. Microsoft Excel is the preferred format. Please email rosters to swinter@aboutbwf.com. Roster changes are permitted up to the start of the third tournament game, but such players will not be listed in the materials. Regardless, all players must sign-in before playing their first game with proof of age (photo ID). Team captains need to provide four copies of the roster during sign-in if different than a roster submitted prior. Any additional deviations must be provided to the scorekeeper by the team captain before each game. 

Number of Games: Each team is guaranteed three total games Friday - Saturday. Teams must be prepared to play by 3 PM on Friday and will have one game on Friday and two on Saturday. Championship games (4th game) will be played Sunday morning between the top two teams in each division. All games on Sunday will take place before noon. 

Tie Breakers: For Championship Games eligibility (in order of application): 

1. Most wins. 

2. Period and overall game points (Buffalo System): 

a. Games won: 2 points each game; 

b. Game ties: 1 point each game. 

c. Periods won: 1.0 point each period; 

d. Period ties: 0.5 point each period. 

e. Fewest goals allowed. 

f. Net goal differential (max of 6 per game). 

g. Most goals scored. 

h. Team with fewest penalty minutes 

i. Coin toss (Conducted by the Chief Off-Ice Official). 

Player Eligibility: Year of birth will be the age determining factor (i.e., age as of Dec 31, 2022). All male players skating must be at least the minimum age for each division. Goalies must be at least 40 years old by Dec 31, 2022. Goalie replacement due to emergency must be authorized by tournament officials. 

Players can play on more than one team with approval, but can only play on one team per division. In order to participate in a championship game, a player must have played in at least one regulation game with that team. 

Length of Games: For each game, there will be one three-minute warm-up before the game and three 15-minute stopped-time periods with one-minute breaks between periods. Should a six-goal differential exist with five minutes remaining in the third period, the game clock shall revert to running time, unless and until the deficit drops under six goals. Unless otherwise noted, there will be no overtime or shootouts except in the championship games. 

Mercy Rules:   If , at any point in the first or second period, there is a 10-goal differential, we will go to running clock at that point.  If there is a six-goal differential anytime in the third period, we will go to running clock. 

Penalties:  Individuals are only allowed four penalties per game. After the fourth penalty, the player will be ejected but still be able to play in the next game. Any player receiving a Misconduct Penalty will serve just the 10 minutes but will allowed to remain in the game and he/she will still be eligible for any following game(s). Any player getting two Misconduct Penalties in the tournament will become ineligible for any other games in this tournament and subject to review for eligibility in future tournaments. Any penalty resulting in a Game Misconduct or Match Penalty will result in that player losing eligibility for the rest of the tournament and subject to review for eligibility in future tournaments. Misconduct, Game Misconduct, and Match penalties do not have to be served by anyone (player ejected). All minor (two minute) and major (five minute) penalties must be served by a non-ejected player(s) unless such penalties are coincidental. Someone else on the team must serve any non-coincidental penalties in addition to the ejection. 

Timeouts: Each team will be granted one 30-second time-out. No additional timeouts will be authorized in a Championship overtime game. A team may use their only timeout in overtime.

Slapshots:  Full slapshots are allowed.

Uniforms and Equipment: Helmet shields or masks are not required, but highly recommended. Team jerseys need to be similar (not exact jersey matches, helmets, socks, pants, etc…). Team jerseys need to be of the same color (preferably the exact same type of jersey) with unique numbers on the back of each one. All teams should be prepared to wear light and dark jerseys for the entire tournament. If a team only has one complete set of team jerseys, players need to bring other jerseys (i.e., if the team jersey is light, players need to bring a dark jersey and vice versa). If a team has to wear substitute jerseys, the team captain must inform the off-ice officials of any jersey number differences before the start of the game. Substitute jersey numbers do not have to be the same as player basic jersey numbers, but individual players must be uniquely identifiable (color and/or number). The Tournament shall make every effort to have one set of black jerseys on-hand if needed.

Championship Game: All overtime periods are running time, sudden death periods. The first team to score wins. The clock will remain running and will only stop if a penalty is called. Teams may change players only on the fly. No substitutions will be allowed at the whistles. Any penalties remaining at the end of regulation will be carried over into the subsequent overtime period. Penalties incurred during overtime will result in a penalty shot instead of time in the box. Only a player on the ice at the time of the penalty may take a penalty shot. In the event of a failed penalty shot in overtime, both play and the game clock will resume with a faceoff in the penalized team’s zone. Teams will commence the first overtime period by playing four-on-four (excluding the goaltenders) for 5 minutes. If neither team scores by the end of the 5-minute period, the teams will commence a second overtime period by playing three-on-three (excluding the goaltenders) for 5 minutes. If the game is still tied, there will be a 3x3 shootout. If still tied, the shootout will continue 1x1 until one team ends up ahead at the end of a round. The home team has the option of which team shoots first. Teams do not have to provide the order. If the team with the fewer players needs to have a player shoot a second time, both teams can do so. The order for the second round does not have to be the same as the first round, but a player cannot shoot a third time until all players from the team with the fewer players have shot twice. The scorekeeper will keep track of the numbers of the players shooting.