Rules

Blues Juniors, Esa Tikkanen turnaus, 25.-26.3..2016, Matinkylä, Leppävaara, Espoo

Playing rules are E2-Juniors’ competition rules of Finnish Ice Hockey Association (FIHA) and District area division South with the following specifications.

Series, teams and uniforms

Tournament will consist of 10 AAA+- level, 8 AAA-level, 10 AA-level and 8 A-level teams that are divided into 4 series. AAA and A series are divided to 2 groups (A-B), each containing 5 teams. AAA and A series are divided to 2 groups (A-B), each containing 4 teams. The games of the Tournament shall be played according to the Tournament schedule. Each team should carry two sets of jerseys, a darker home and a lighter away jersey. The home team, defined by the Tournament program, shall wear darker jerseys. However, this can be changed, if mutually agreed between the teams.

Game Duration

Each tournament game consists of 2 periods of 15 minutes effective playtime (stop time). However, the maximum total playtime of a single game is 45 minutes (running time). The game ends the latest when the total time of 45 minutes is full. The total playtime of each game will start as marked in the program unless otherwise specified by the Tournament management.

The teams must be ready to start the game as marked in the tournament program. The game will begin immediately after the ice is ready and the goals are set in their places. If a team is not ready to play when their game is scheduled to begin according to the Tournament schedule, they will be condemned to forfeit their match 5 - 0. The periods are separated by a one (1) minute intermission (included into total time). The playing ends are not changed between the periods. Using a time-out (30 seconds) is allowed only in the Playoff games.

Tournament mode - AAA+ and AA series
The 10 teams are divided into two, five-team groups in the Preliminary Round. After a single round-robin series in both group, the top two teams from both group plays for positions 1-4, the third and fourth-placed team in each group plays for positions 5-8 and fith-pladed team of the both group plays for positions 9-10 

Tournament mode - AAA and A series
The 8 teams are divided into two, four-team groups in the Preliminary Round. After a single round-robin series in both group, the top two teams from both group plays for positions 1-4, the third and fourth-placed team in each group plays for positions 5-8.

For all games points shall be awarded as follows:

2 points for the winning team at the conclusion of regulation time
1 point for both teams at the conclusion of regulation time if the game is tied
0 points for the team losing the game in regulation time

The ranking of a team within the group after the Preliminary Round is defined as follows:
1) Collected points
2) Points of a mutual game
3) Goal difference of mutual games
4) Scored goals of mutual games
5) Goal difference of all the games within the group
6) All the goals scored in all games within the group
7) Lot
In case a Playoff game ends tie, the winner shall be determined by a Game Winning Shots (GWS). The following procedure will be utilized:
- The GWS will begin with three different players per team nominated by the coach of each team.
- If the game is still tied after three shots by each team, the GWS will continue with a tie-break shoot-out by one player of each team.
- The same or new players can take the tie-break shots. The same player can also be used for each shot by a team in the tie-break shoot-out.
- The away team will start the GWS.
- The referee shall determine the end of the rink to be used for the shoot-outs.
- Only the decisive goal will count in the result of the game. The decisive goal will be credited to the player who scored.

Referees

In each game there will be a referee approved by Finnish Ice Hockey Association (FIHA) who can use an additional junior referee.

Jury of the Tournament and protests

All protest are handled by the tournament Jury, whose decision is final. Protests shall be filed in writing within 10 minutes after the end of the match. The protest deposit is 200€, which will be returned if the protest is accepted. The jury consists of the tournament director and two designated members. If necessary, the jury will also hear the match referee. The jury’s decision to approve the protest must be unanimous. The Jury is not obliged to argue its decision(s).

Changes to the Tournament program

The organizer of the Tournament can change the Tournament schedule and program, and interpret these tournament rules in case specific reasons arise. Any such changes will be notified without delay to the participating teams.

Responsibilities and accidents

The organizer of the Tournament has NOT insured players, and is NOT responsible for participating players for any injuries or accidents occurring during the games. The head of each team is responsible to ensure that each player of the team has a proper license and insurance in place. Furthermore, each coach and the active staff members of a team must carry a license/insurance. There are persons with first aid skills (EA1) present in the Tournament site.

Conduct

The behavior of the teams, players and staff must be exemplary and in the spirit of fair play. Also, viewers are asked to act supportively and show children a good example. The organizer can remove those who behave inappropriately in the stands. For member of staff behaving inappropriately FIHA's competition rules are applied.

Game results and rosters

Tournament score service is handled electronically on http://www.gameresultsonline.com/, where the Tournament schedule, rosters and game results are available. The teams need to inform their rosters to Tournament organizer in advance as separately instructed. The tournament office is to be informed 20 minutes before a game starts of any changes to the pre-nominated roster.

Each team can nominate unlimited number of players that are of required age to its roster. Tournament medals are given to three best placed teams (maximum of 21 medals per team).

Interpretation of these rules

Should there be any difference between the Finnish and the English versions of these rules, the Finnish version shall apply.