2014 RICK LAPOINTE TOURNAMENT - RULES AND REGULATIONS

RULE 1 – GENERAL

1. Rules and regulations of the Tournament are as presented by Hockey Canada (HC), the British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association (BC Hockey), and Vancouver Island Amateur Hockey Association (VIAHA) and as set out by the Tournament Committee.
2. The Tournament Director, or designate, shall have sole and final interpretation of any rule or regulation governing any aspect of the Tournament.

RULE 2 – FORMAT – ROUND-ROBIN AND PLAYOFFS

1. Twelve teams have been selected from all applications received.
2. Each team will be guaranteed four games.
3. The twelve teams will be divided into three pools consisting of four teams in each pool. All three pools will be Tier 1. During round-robin, the teams in each pool will play each other once.
4. Point structure is as such: 2 points for a win, 1 for a tie and 0 for a loss.
5. Following the round-robin, the teams will be seeded into three flights according to round-robin record: 1-4, 5-8, and 9-12. The flights will then each have a semi-final and final game within their own flight.

RULE 3 – PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

1. A maximum of nineteen players per team will be allowed in any game, which includes two goalkeepers, who shall be eligible to play as goalkeepers only. All players shall be duly registered to that team in accordance with HC regulations or with applicable player registration regulations in the team's own jurisdiction.
2. All team roster and player registration forms must be supported by approved HC Player Registration Rosters or equivalent approved registration lists from the team's own jurisdiction.
3. Applicable HC approved Player Registration Rosters, or equivalent approved player registration lists from the team's own jurisdiction, must be available to the Tournament Director or designate for examination prior to the team taking part in any Tournament game (generally, photocopies will suffice). Unless other specific arrangements have been made, all player registration documentation must be available before the team’s first game on December 4th. This requirement may be waived by the Tournament Director.
4. The Tournament Director shall have the option of requesting the presentation of other identification for any participants at any time prior to or during the Tournament. This other identification may include, but is not limited to, birth certificates or passports. If deemed necessary, original documents must be available.
5. In the event that any amendments (additions or deletions) are necessary to a team's roster once they have been notified of their acceptance into the Tournament, updated information must be forwarded to the Tournament Director as soon as possible. Any added players must be properly registered with their team and all registration documentation must be available for examination by the Tournament Director or designate prior to that player participating in any Tournament game.
6. No player will be allowed to play for more than one team.
7. Duly registered affiliate players may be used in accordance with the rules and regulations from the team's own jurisdiction. All appropriate player registration and identification documentation must be available for examination, if requested, by the Tournament Director or designate prior to or following that player’s participation in any Tournament game. 

RULE 4 – DURATION OF GAMES

1. All teams must be ready to start the game 15 minutes earlier than the scheduled start time (except for the first game time each day). Games may start 15 minutes earlier than scheduled at the sole discretion of the Tournament Committee. If a game is to start 15 minutes early, and the team is not ready, a 2 minute delay of game penalty will be assessed to the offending team.
2. All round-robin, semi-final and flight games will be timed as follows: Five minute warm-up, followed by three 20 minute stop time periods. An ice clean will occur after each period. The mercy rule will be in effect for all games (see Rule 6).
3. There will be no overtime played in any round-robin games.
4. For all play-off games, should a game end in a tie after regulation time, teams will change ends once and play one five minute stop time sudden death period in a four-on-four format (total of 5 players on the ice for each team including the goalie). Should the game still be tied, a 5 man shoot-out will be held. Teams will not change ends and no warm-up shall be permitted prior to shoot-out. Home team decides the first shooter.
5. If necessary, as determined solely by the Tournament Director or designate, the timing and duration of games or the scheduling of ice cleans, as set out above, may be altered for any unforeseen situations, or to keep games within the allocated game times. No protests will be allowed in this regard.
6. Each team will be allowed one thirty-second timeout, during any Tournament game. 

RULE 5 – SHOOT-OUT

1. The home team decides who shoots first. The selected players will alternate in taking a shot on the opposing goal. The team who has scored the most goals in the shoot-out will be recorded as having won the game by a one goal margin.
2. If the game has not been decided after each team has utilized their designated five players, the shoot-out will continue with other players from the team until the tie is broken in a sudden death format. The originally selected players, and any other player who has participated, will not be allowed a subsequent attempt until the full roster, excluding goaltenders, have been expended. This procedure will repeat until a winner is declared. 

RULE 6 – MERCY RULE

1. The mercy rule will be in effect for all games.

2. Should a team reach a point in any game (other than the first period) where the goal differential between themselves and their opponent is six or more goals, running time will come into effect.

3. At any point in the game should this goal differential be reduced to five or less, stop time will commence upon the scoring of that determining goal.

4. For tie-breaking purposes, no team will be credited for more than a six goal differential spread for any Tournament game in which the mercy rule has been utilized, no matter what the final score of that game (+6).

5. Penalties that are assessed at any point during running time shall be three minutes for a minor penalty, and seven minutes for a major penalty. If stop time is commenced while a penalty is in effect, the full time remaining in the penalty will also revert to stop time.

6. The mercy rule format, as set out above, may not be altered for any reason other than an emergency or unforeseen situation as determined solely by the Tournament Director. 

RULE 7 – DETERMINATION OF STANDINGS AND TIE BREAKING

1. Following completion of the round-robin games in each pool, standings for the purposes of determining play-off match-ups will be determined as follows: Most points obtained in the round-robin games (two points for a win, one point for a tie, zero points for a loss).

2. All teams will advance to preliminary round play-offs.

3. In the event teams are tied for determining preliminary play-off positions following the completion of the round-robin series, the following tie-breaking criteria shall apply:

   1. If two teams are tied, the following tie-breaker rules will come in effect.

      1. Head to head.

      2. The greatest positive goal differential* in all round-robin games.

      3. Least goals against.

      4. Least total penalty minutes in the game between the two teams.

      5. Least total penalty minutes in all round-robin games.

      6. A coin toss.

   2. If three teams are tied, the following tie-breaker rules will come in effect. Once one team is eliminated using the following criteria, the two remaining teams will still follow under this category.

      1. Head to head.

      2. The greatest positive goal differential* in all round-robin games.

      3. Least goals against.

      4. Least total penalty minutes amongst the three tied teams.

      5. Least total penalty minutes in all round-robin games.

      6. A coin toss.

   3. If four or more teams are tied, the following tie-breaker rules will come in effect.

      1. Head to head.

      2. The greatest positive goal differential* in all round-robin games.

      3. Least goals against.

      4. Least total penalty minutes amongst the tied teams.

      5. Least total penalty minutes in all round-robin games.

      6. A coin toss.

         *Goal differential is defined as the total goals FOR minus total goals AGAINST. Goal differential as specified in the above regulations cannot exceed six goals. Refer to Rule 6 above (Mercy Rule). Once teams are eliminated using the above criteria, involving either three or four tied teams, the remaining teams will still follow under the same category in determining placement. 

RULE 8 – PLAYING RULES

1. The playing rules of the Tournament will be such rules as established and interpreted by Hockey Canada, BC Hockey, the Vancouver Island Amateur Hockey Association and by the Tournament Committee.

2. All suspension rules as specified by the above governing bodies will apply.

3. The starting line-up rule is waived for all Tournament games.

4. Teams or players shall not be permitted on to the ice prior to the officially designated game start time and only after at least one game official has entered on to the ice. A bench minor penalty may be assessed by the game referee for violation of this rule. Teams involved in repeat violations of this rule may be subject to additional sanctions as determined by the Tournament Director.

5. Unless a specific prior arrangement is made with the Tournament Director, the designated home team shall wear light coloured sweaters and the designated visiting team shall wear dark coloured sweaters. In the case of a conflict of sweater colours, the designated home team will be responsible to change sweaters. The Tournament Director or representative will have final authority to interpret whether there is a sweater colour conflict.

6. All teams must leave their dressing room in a clean and tidy state after each game. If a dressing room is found to be left in a state not satisfactory to the Tournament Director, the team shall receive a warning. A second infraction will result in the team being fined $100. Any damage done to the facility by a team will result in a $100 fine plus the cost of any repairs.

7. The Tournament Director will have final interpretation of all playing rules of the Tournament.

 RULE 9 – PROTESTS

1. No protests will be entertained regarding a referee's on-ice decision.

2. Protests must be filed, in writing, by a recognized team official and submitted to the Tournament Office (Ian Stewart Complex) within one hour after the conclusion of the particular game. A $100.00 non-refundable fee must accompany any protest submission.

3. Any and all protests will be adjudged solely by the Tournament Committee and their decision shall be final.

RULE 10 – MISCELLANEOUS

1. A recognized team official will be responsible for completing the roster portion of the game sheet at least thirty minutes prior to the scheduled start of the game. Game sheets will be available in the Tournament Office at the arena venue.

2. After the conclusion of each game, copies of game sheets will be available to each team at a minimum fifteen minutes after that game is completed in the Tournament Office. A team official will confirm the assignment of goals and assists during the game within 15 minutes of the completion of the game in the Tournament Office after which time the statistics as shown on the game sheet will be final.

3. Following the conclusion of each team’s round-robin portion of the Tournament, it will be the responsibility of a recognized team official to ensure their team’s standings and upcoming game schedule.

4. The Tournament Director shall have sole authority to interpret any situation arising from any aspect of the Tournament that is or is not specifically referred to under the preceding rules and regulations.