Rules

The over–riding rule to remember about this tournament is that it is a FUN, CHARITY EVENT that focuses on participation over competition. Overly aggressive or violent play will not be tolerated.

1. General

  1. The Organizers of the Canadian Invitational of Central Park are Bob Weyersberg and Dean Keyworth, and their decisions on matters concerning the tournament are final. Unless specifically indicated to the contrary below, all USA Hockey rules will apply.

2. Roster / Payments

  1. All Participants/Players will sign the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND RELEASE WAIVER before being permitted to participate. The form will be accessible on the tournament website and will be available at the tournament.
  2. All players must be 18 years or older.
  3. Each team's roster will have a maximum of 15 eligible players and a minimum of 5 players, including goaltenders.
  4. Captains MUST supply Organizer with all an official roster of players with their names and jersey numbers. Rosters may not be altered once the tournament begins.
  5. The Organizer may ask a player for identification to verify if that player is on a team's roster at any point. If they are not on the roster then they will not play. Game may result in a forfeit to offending team.
  6. Players may only play for one team (with the exception of the All–Star game), unless excepted by the Organizer. Goalies are exempted from this rule.
  7. Captains must supply Organizer with payment in full before their first scheduled game.

3. Game/Tourney Structure

  1. Games will consist of three 20 minute running–clock periods..  Teams will get a five minute warm up period prior to each game.
  2. During the finals portion of the tournament a 10 goal differential will cause the clock to run without stopping until the goal differential is reduced to less than 10 goals. During "running time" situations, minor penalties will be 3 minutes in length; major penalties will be 6 minutes in length.
  3. Penalties in a game will cause no less than 2 skaters to be on the ice for the penalized team. Delayed penalties will be in effect when more than 2 players from one team are ruled off the ice for a penalty.
  4. In the event of a regulation game tie during the round robin portion of the tournament, the game will end as a tie. In the event of a tied scored at the end of regulation time during the finals portion of the tournament there will be a 5 minute overtime period with 3 skaters vs. 3 skaters with the first team to score being declared the winner and ending the game. If no goal is scored during the overtime period a 3–round shoot out will ensue. If the game is tied following the shoot out the game will end as a tie.
  5. ROUND ROBIN RANKING will be determined by points:
    • Six (6) points will be awarded for a win.
    • Three (3) points will be awarded for a tie.
    • Teams be awarded one–and–a–half points (1.5) for a penalty–free game.
    • Teams with 5+ penalties in one game will have one–and–a–half (1.5) points DEDUCTED from their total.
  6. ROUND ROBIN RANKING POINT TIE–BREAKERS will be applied in the following order:
    • by least penalties.
    • by least goals against.
    • by most goals for.
    • by most shut–outs.
  7. PLAYOFFS will consist of the top–6 ranked teams:
    8. Round 1: Game 1: #3 plays #6
    Game 2: #4 plays #5
    (Teams #1 and #2 have BYES)
    Round 2: Game 1: #1 plays winner of Round 1 Game 2
    Game 2: #2 plays winner of Round 1 Game 1
    Finals: Championship game: Winners of Round 2 play
    Consolation game: Losers of Round 2 play

  8. PLAYOFF GAMES (and the all star game) consist of three periods of 15 minutes each, stopped clock. Minor penalties will 2 minutes in length and major penalties will be 5 minutes in length.
  9. ALL STAR GAME. The captain of each non–playoff team (ranked #7–12 in the round robin) may submit up to four (4) players to participate in the All–Star game, on Sunday Feb. 15, 2009 at 11:00am. Captains should also indicate if their goalie is willing and able to participate. In case some teams do not wish to submit 4 players for then All–Star game, additional players may be drafted from willing teams. The maximum roster for each All–Star team shall be 14 skaters plus up to 3 goalies. The all star teams will be mixed (both New Yorkers and Canadians on each team) with rosters set by the organizers.

4. Equipment/Jerseys

  1. Every player MUST wear a HECC–certified half or full shield on their helmet and dress in full regulation hockey gear. Any player not doing so is not permitted to play.
  2. All players must be dressed in a similarly colored uniform jersey with a legible number on back.
  3. Teams must supply their own jerseys/uniforms. Jerseys for the All–Star game will be provided by the tournament.
  4. In the event of a color conflict between two teams, the visiting team will wear pinnies, provided by the rink.

5. Hockey Rules (Specific to Tournament/ Lasker Rink)

  1. Games will be four–on–four (four skaters and one goalie on the ice for each team).
  2. There will be NO icing infraction (ie. icing is ALLOWED). Two–line passes are ALLOWED.
  3. Minor penalties will be 3 minutes and major penalties will be 6 minutes running clock from the time that play is resumed after penalties are assessed.
  4. A team assessed 5 penalties in any one game will count as an immediate forfeit to that team and the game shall end immediately. In the event of a forfeit the score for the non–forfeiting team will be 1 or the actual number of goals that they had scored prior to the forfeit, whichever is greater, and 0 for the forfeiting team.
  5. Any player totaling 3 penalties in one game is immediately removed from that game (a misconduct is counted as a separate penalty in addition to any other penalties assessed at the same time). Any player ejected from a game must remove themselves from playing area and bench area. If player does not remove himself then an additional minor penalty will be assessed to the offending team. If player persists after that point then offending team will forfeit that game.
  6. Major infraction including fighting, head butting, kneeing, spearing, abuse of Officials or Organizers, spitting and any intent to injure will result in a major penalty and a game misconduct. Any further action will be decided by officials after the game.
  7. Sexual, racial or ethnic slurs are deemed to be a "match" penalty in the New York State region of USA Hockey. This is the most serious offense as defined in the rule book and necessitates a hearing with USA Hockey representatives to reinstate a player who has committed this offense. Any player being assessed a match penalty will be permanently barred from the tournament.