Spirit of the Tournament

This is a recreational hockey tournament. Fun comes first. We play hard, we play fair, and we all want to be able to go to work on Monday. Respect your opponents on and off the ice — we're all here for the love of the game.

1. Player Eligibility

• This tournament is open to recreational/hobby players only.
• No players currently active in any organized league — at any level (amateur, semi-professional, or professional) — are permitted to participate.
• Each team must submit a completed roster before their first game. Players not listed on the roster may not take the ice.
• Maximum roster size: 15 skaters + 2 goalkeepers.

2. Game Format

• Each game consists of 2 periods of 15 minutes, running time (the clock does not stop for stoppages of play).
• Halftime break: 2 minutes between periods.
• Warm-up: 3 minutes of warm-up before each game.
• Group stage ties remain as draws. In the event of a tie in placement games, the game is decided by a shootout (3 shooters per team; sudden death if still level).

3. Body Contact

• No hard body checking is permitted at any time during the tournament.
• Incidental contact is a normal part of the game. However, any intentional, excessive, or reckless body contact will result in a penalty at the referee's discretion.
• We mean it: everyone wants to be able to go to work on Monday.

4. Icing

• Standard icing rules apply. Hybrid icing is not used.
• The referee will call icing according to standard rules.
• Line changes are permitted for the team that iced the puck.

5. Game Interruptions & Abandonment

• Games are not interrupted for penalties, icing, offsides, or minor incidents. The clock keeps running.
• A game may only be abandoned by the referee in exceptional circumstances (serious injury, safety hazard, or force majeure). If abandoned, the score at the time of the stoppage stands.

6. Penalties

• Standard minor penalties (2 min) and major penalties (5 min) apply. Penalty time runs during play.
• Fighting is strictly prohibited. Any player involved in a fight is immediately disqualified from the tournament. No exceptions.
• Verbal abuse directed at referees, players, or officials will not be tolerated and may result in a game misconduct.
• The referee's decision is final.

7. Group Stage Rankings & Tiebreakers

Points awarded: Win = 3 pts · Draw = 1 pt · Loss = 0 pts

Tiebreaker order:

1. Points
2. Head-to-head result
3. Goal difference
4. Goals scored
5. Penalty shootout (if still tied)

8. Equipment

• Full protective equipment is mandatory for all players: helmet (with cage or visor), gloves, shin pads, shoulder/elbow pads.
• Goalkeepers must wear full goaltending equipment.
• Jerseys: Home team wears dark jerseys, away team wears light jerseys. If in doubt, the away/visiting team changes.

9. General

• Teams must be at the rink and ready to play at least 5 minutes before their scheduled game time.
• Late arrivals may result in a forfeit at the tournament director's discretion.
• Dressing rooms must be left clean and vacated within 30 minutes of the final buzzer.
• All off-ice decisions by the Tournament Director are final.