Gananoque Minor Hockey Association (GMHA)
Tournament Rules
(December 2023-24)
General
1. Sanction and Regulations - All GMHA tournaments are sanctioned by the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA). All OMHA rules apply and will be enforced.
2. Eligibility – Teams must be registered with their home association and must be in good standing.
3. Team Composition – Each team can carry up to 17 players and 2 goalies. All players on the team (including affiliated players) must be registered through their home association and must be listed on the official team roster. A copy of the official team roster must be provided to the tournament coordinator no later than one week prior to the start of the tournament. No team will be permitted to play without a valid roster.
4. Travel Permits – All teams are required to provide approved travel permits from their home associations.
5. Team Managers – The team manager or coach must check in at the registration table 45 minutes prior to the start of the team’s first game in order to verify that all team documentation is in order. The registration table will be located at the tournament office (GMHA office), which is at the top of the first set of stairs upon entering the arena. Please note that game sheets are to be completed (filled out and signed) in the tournament office.
6. Team Trainers – Each team is required to have a registered trainer on the bench for each game. In the event that the team’s trainer is not available, the trainer from the opposing team may act on his/her behalf but must sign the game sheet accordingly.
7. Governance – The tournament committee and/or tournament coordinator reserve the right to make any decisions on the interpretation of the tournament rules, objections, protests, etc. All decisions by the organizers will be final.
8. Officials – On-ice officials, timekeepers and scorekeepers are assigned by GMHA. On-ice officials will have the final say on all goals and penalties awarded.
9. Health Protocols – There are currently no COVID-19 related protocols in place at the arena. That said, the tournament and venue (Lou Jeffries Arena) would need to comply with any directives issued by the local Health Unit, should circumstances change. We have our fingers crossed that this will not be an issue, but thank you in advance should we need to adjust.
Point System
All preliminary round games will be played on a point system with a maximum of three points allocated as follows:
· 2 points awarded for a win
· 1 point awarded for a tie
· 0 points for a loss
In the event that a team forfeits a game or fails to complete a game, a score of 3-0 will be recorded and the winning team will be awarded 2 points.
Tie Breakers (for Seeding following Preliminary Rounds)
If two teams are tied, the tie will be broken based on the following system:
I. Winner of head-to-head games
II. The team with most wins
III. The team with fewest losses
IV. The team with the fewest goals scored against
V. The team with the best ratio of [goals for/(goals for + goals against)]
VI. The flip of a coin
If three or more teams are tied, the tie-break will start at Step II. Once a team moves on, the remaining teams will cycle through the filter from the top of the list, with head-to-head competition being the priority if two teams are tied at any point in the process.
Overtime and Shoot-Out Procedure ( Championships)
If a final game is tied after regulation time, the teams will play a 5-minute, 3-on-3, sudden death overtime period, followed by a sudden death shoot-out, if required. In a championship game the 3-on-3 overtime period will be 10 minutes, followed by a sudden death shoot out, if required. If a team is assessed a penalty in the overtime period, the other team will be allowed to ice a fourth skater for the duration of the penalty. Upon the expiration of the penalty, the team that was serving the penalty can also ice a fourth skater until the next stoppage, after which play will return to the 3-on-3 format for the duration of the overtime period. In the event of a shoot-out, no player on a team will be allowed to shoot a second time until every player on the team has attempted a shot (excluding goalies). The teams will alternate shooters, with the home team deciding which team shoots first.
Game Format
All preliminary games will consist of a 2-minute warm-up and three 10/10/10 minute stop time periods. Final games will be 10/10/15.
If during the third period the goal differential is 5 or more, the game clock will be allowed to run “straight time” until the goal differential drops to 3 or lower. The only time the clock would stop during straight time is if an on-ice injury were to occur.
No timeouts shall be allowed in any preliminary round games. In the championship games, each team will be allowed one 30-second time out.
Each team must be dressed and ready to start the game 15 minutes early, in the event that the tournament is running ahead of schedule.
When team colours conflict, the home team will be expected to change sweaters.
If for any reason a goalie cannot continue to play and no second goalie is available, he/she must be replaced immediately by a substitute player.
Safety
Players must not go on to the ice until the arena staff has left the ice, and the Zamboni door has been closed.
Team officials are not allowed to cross the ice in order to access the benches or dressing rooms.
All participating players must wear an approved neck protector at all times. Mouth guards must be worn at all times unless the team’s local hockey branch does not require them.
Note that in accordance with rule 17 of the OMHA Manual & Operations, ALL goaltenders MUST wear an approved throat protector.
Circumstances Warranting Ejections
Any 5-minute major penalty for fighting, any match penalty, or any gross misconduct penalty will disqualify the player/team official from any further participation in the tournament.
Any player receiving three penalties involving any combination of head contact violations, hits from behind, boarding, or charging, in any one game, will be ejected from that game.
This is a no alcohol event. Zero tolerance is in effect for all coaches, players and spectators and will be strictly enforced by the referees and/or the tournament committee.
Respecting Others and the Facility
Please be respectful of everyone associated with the tournament. Note that any abuse (verbal or otherwise) of players, coaches, spectators, officials, tournament officials, or facility staff, will not be tolerated.
Please also respect the facility. Out of courtesy to other participants, please vacate the dressing room within 15 minutes of the conclusion of any game, and kindly ensure that all tape, water bottles, etc. have been placed in the appropriate receptacles before leaving. Note that offending teams will be held responsible for damage to arena property.
All coaches are responsible for their players’ actions both on and off the ice.
Other
GMHA and the Tournament Organizing Committee do not accept any responsibility for theft, damage, accidents or injuries to participants, spectators, equipment, personal belongings, etc. as the result of participating in this event
Most of all, have fun and Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!