TOURNAMENT RULES - updated Nov 2008

TOURNAMENT RULES
(1) Round Robin Play:

All games shall consist of three (3) twenty (20) minute stop time periods. There will be an ice clean prior to each game and at the end of the second period. Where there is no maintenance scheduled between periods, teams will change ends and start the next period. There will only be a 5 minute warm-up prior to the start of the game, pucks are provided. If at any time during the game there is a 5 goal differential between the teams the clock will continue to run, penalties called during this time shall be 3 minutes in length. Once the goal differential is less than 5 the clock will stop at all whistles. Teams will be allowed one thirty (30) second time out which will be taken at anytime during the game. Only one time out will be allowed per one stoppage of play.
Note:  No overtime will be awarded for Round Robin play. All tied games will remain a tie.
 Points will be awarded in the Round Robin as follows:

Win 2 Points
Tie 1 Point
Loss 0 Points

Round Robin Pool Standings
In the case of a tie for first place in a pool at the conclusion of the Round Robin, the standings will be determined by:
(i)The winner of the game between the two tied teams, or if that game ended in a tie, the team with the best win record or
(ii)The SHA Tie Breaking Procedure 3.09.01 will be used

(2) Playoffs: (Quarter- Finals and Finals)
All games shall consist of three (3) twenty (20) minute stop time periods. There will be an ice clean prior to each game and at the end of the second period. Where there is no maintenance scheduled between periods, teams will change ends and start the next period. There will only be a 5 minute warm-up prior to the start of the game, pucks are provided. If at any time during the game there is a 5 goal differential between the teams the clock will continue to run, penalties called during this time shall be 3 minutes in length. Once the goal differential is less than 5 the clock will stop at all whistles. Teams will be allowed one thirty (30) second time out which will be taken at any time during the game (regulation or overtime). Only one time out will be allowed per one stoppage of play.
OVERTIME:
The overtime in the playoffs and finals will be sudden death (first goal wins). The teams will change ends and play 5 minute stop time 4 on 4 until the first goal is scored, if after 5 minutes of stop time no goal is scored the teams will play 3 on 3 until the tie is broken. When a penalty is called in OT the penalized team will designate a player to the penalty box and the non offending team will add a player.
A Side (Quarter- Final Play)
The top six (6) pool winners after the final Round Robin play will advance into the A side quarter-finals. These top 6 teams will be seeded from (1-6) as determined by:
(i)Total number of points
(ii)The winner of the game between the two tied teams, or if that game ended in a tie, the team with the best win record or
(iii)The SHA Tie Breaking Procedure 3.09.01 will be used
Two (2) wildcard teams will be selected to advance with the top six (6) pool winners into A side quarter-final play.
These wildcard teams will be the two (2) second place teams in final pool standings with the best records, as determined by:
(i)Total number of points
(ii)The winner of the game between the two tied teams, or if that game ended in a tie, the team with the best win record or
(iii)The SHA Tie Breaking Procedure 3.09.01 will be used
An advancing wildcard team shall not be drawn against its pool winner in quarter-final play and wildcard positions in the quarter-final draw may be adjusted to avoid this.

B Side (Quarter- Final Play)
The remaining four (4) second place pool teams after final Round Robin play will advance into the B side quarter-finals. These remaining four (4) second place pool teams will be seeded from                (9-12) as determined by:
(i)Total number of points
(ii)The winner of the game between the two tied teams, or if that game ended in a tie, the team with the best win record or
(iii)The SHA Tie Breaking Procedure 3.09.01 will be used
Four (4) wildcard teams will be selected to advance with the remaining (4) second place pool teams into B side quarter-final play.
These wildcard teams will be the four (4) third place teams after final Round Robin play with the best records and seeded 13 to 16 by:
(i)Total number of points
(ii)The winner of the game between the two tied teams, or if that game ended in a tie, the team with the best win record or
(iii)The SHA Tie Breaking Procedure 3.09.01 will be used

 

C Side (Quarter – Final Play)
The remaining two (2) third place pool teams after final Round Robin play will advance into the C side quarter-finals. These remaining two (2) third place pool teams will be seeded from                (17-18) as determined by:
(i)Total number of points
(ii) The winner of the game between the two tied teams, or if that game ended in a tie, the team with the best win record or
(iii) The SHA Tie Breaking Procedure 3.09.01 will be used
The remaining six (6) fourth place pool teams after final Round Robin play will be selected to advance with the remaining (2) third place pool teams into C side quarter-final play. The remaining six (6) fourth place teams will be seeded from (19-24) as determined by the procedure above.

 

(3) SHA TIE BREAKING PROCEDURE 3.09.01

To determine team’s standings in the event of a tie, the following criteria shall be used by all leagues or associations playing under the jurisdiction of the SHA.

 

a) Two Teams Tied
If two teams are tied
i) Best win record in games played between tied teams.
ii) If still tied, the team with the best win record.
iii) If the two teams are still tied after i) and ii) have been applied, then the team with the best goal average gains the higher position. The goal average of a team is to be determined in the following manner:

Total number of goals for divided by the total number of goals for and against.

NOTE: All games are included.

NOTE: A maximum of seven (7) goal difference per game will be used in the calculation of the game ratio. This will be calculated from the actual “goals for” of the losing team in the particular game.

Example:                            For = 10 Goals      Against = 4 Goals

Percentage

Total Goals For              10                  = 10      = .714
Total Goals For              10 + 4                14
Total Goals Against

iv) If the two teams are still tied after i), ii) and iii) have been applied, the team with the least number of minutes in penalties throughout all games, gains the higher position.
v) If the two teams are still tied after i), ii), iii) and iv) have been applied, then the team which scored the first goal in the game between the tied teams gains the higher position.
vi) If the two teams are still tied after i), ii), iii), iv) and v) have been applied, a single coin toss will determine which team gains the higher position.

 

b) Three or More Teams Tied

NOTE: The three-team tiebreaker is used to determine the seeding of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd seed. If any step in the tiebreaker only seeds one team, that team assumes that position. The Three-team tiebreaker will continue to determine the seeding of the two remaining teams. At no time will teams using this formula go back to the two-team tiebreaker.

If three teams or more are tied, the point record established in the games among the tied teams only will be used as the first tie breaking formula in deciding which team(s) shall advance.

i) The team with the most wins (among tied teams) would gain the highest position.
ii) If teams are still tied after I) has been applied then the team with the best goal average gains the highest position.

NOTE: All games are included.

NOTE: A maximum of seven (7) goal difference per game will be used in the calculation of the game ratio. This will be calculated from the actual “goals for” of the losing team in the particular game.

Example:                            For = 10 Goals      Against = 4 Goals

Percentage

Total Goals For              10                  = 10      = .714
Total Goals For              10 + 4                14
Total Goals Against

 

The exercise of ii) establishes the team or teams with the highest position(s) by percentage. These team(s) will advance. If there are still teams tied, they go to the next step. They do not go back to the “Two Team Tiebreaker”.

Example:

(a) Team A - .714 = 1 seed – Advances
     Team B - .500 = 3 seed – Does Not Advance
                                            Team C - .650 = Advances

(b) Team A - .714 = 1 seed
                                            Team B - .500 = Still Tied with Team C – go to next step iii)
                                            Team C - .500 = Still Tied with Team B – got to next step iii)

(c) Team A - .650 = Still tied with Team B – go to next step iii)
                                            Team B - .650 = Still tied with Team A – go to next step iii)
                                            Team C - .500 = Does not advance.

iii) If teams are still tied after i) and ii), the team with the fewest goals against (all games played) will gain the highest position.
iv) If teams are still tied after i), ii), iii), the team with the most goals for (all games played) will gain the highest position.
v) If teams are still tied after i), ii), iii) and iv), have been applied, the team to qualify would be the team that received the least number of minutes in penalties throughout all games played.
vi) If teams are still tied after i), ii), iii), iv) and v) have been applied, a coin toss shall determine the winner. In a 3 team coin toss, the odd team gains the highest position.

 

(4) MATCH PENALTIES: Any player receiving a MATCH penalty will be suspended as per the SHA Regulation 3.07.02.
(5) RULE INFRACTIONS: Score sheets will be constantly monitored and any team caught breaking the rules will be penalized accordingly, without an appeal by the opposing coach.
(6) REFEREES DECISIONS: Will be final in all matters pertaining to rules, interpretations, assessment of penalties and awarding of goals and assists.
(7) PROTESTS: Will not be allowed or considered.
(8) TEAMS: Each team shall consist of not more than 19 players (17 skaters and two goaltenders). All personal on the bench must be recorded on the game sheet.
(9) GAME MVP: A game MVP will be selected from each team for all the games by their coaches. Teams will line up on their blue lines at the conclusion of each game.