Rules

Tournament rules

The Tournament will be played by the rules of the Finnish Ice Hockey Association for E1-juniors with the following adjustments:

Teams and team jerseys

The tournament is hosting 64 teams playing in four 16 team groups (AAA+, AAA, AA and A).

Teams shall have two jerseys, darker home and lighter visitor jersey. Home team plays with dark colored jerseys and the team mentioned later in the schedule (visitor) uses lighter colored jerseys. Teams can mutually agree to divert from this rule.

A team contact person shall report at the tournament office when arriving and leaving the tournament. At time of reporting more detailed information about schedule and possible changes will be delivered.

Three best teams in each group will receive a trophy and medals.

Tournament days
Tournament will be played on 27-29.4.2018 and venues are:

AAA+ Espoonlahti ice rink
AAA   Matinkylä ice rink
AA      Metro-areena
A         Warrior Areena

Playing time and timeout

Playing time is 2*18min effective time, but maximum 55 min from the scheduled match starting time, whichever comes first. Officials will inform both teams 2 minutes before the total time (55 minutes) ends. Teams must be ready in their boxes 5 minutes before the game starts. No warm up on the ice before the game. The game starts immediately after previous game or ice resurfacing with starting line ups.

Teams must be ready in their boxes 5 minutes before the game starts. Should the team not be ready at this time, they will lose the game 5-0. No timeouts allowed.

Tournament structure

All teams will be play 7 games in the tournament. After the initial rounds there will be second round in groups followed by games for each position in tournament. The winning team receives two points, both teams get one point in the case of a draw and the losing team gets zero points.  Detailed schedule and struture is visible in the online system www.gameresultsonline.com

In group games (first and second round) team positions is judged as follows:

1. Points
2. Head-to-head points
3. Goal difference in all games in the group
4. Goals scored in all games in the group
5. Penalties
6. Draw

If a bronze, final or position game ends at a draw, there will be penalty shoot-out:

• Shoot-out is started with 3 players from both teams, which shall be named by coach and informed to referee immediately after game ends.
• Should there be a draw after the 3 shots the shootout will continue in the reverse order of shots with the rule of the “golden goal”, meaning that the game is over when one team scores and the other one doesn’t in the same pair of shots. The same player can not shoot twice in the same shoot out until all players in the team have shot once.
• Starting team of the shoot-out is the visitor team
• Only the decisive goal is registered to game report.

Tournament Jury and protests

All protests are handled by the tournament jury. The protest should be in writing, signed by the manager of the team and made no later than 10 minutes after the game has ended. The fee for a protest is 200 euros, which will be returned should the protest be accepted. The jury consists of the tournament director, and a referees of the game. To accept the protest jury shall be unanimous. The decision of the jury is final. Jury is not obligated to explain its decisions.

Changes to schedule

Tournament office has the right to amend schedules and interpret these rules if they so desire. Changes are informed to participating teams without a delay.

Responsibilities

All players and team staff must have valid and adequate insurance. The arranger of the tournament is not responsible for any injuries or other damage that may occur to the players or staff of any team.

Results and communication to teams

Tournament results are managed electronically at www.gameresultsonline.com where schedules, teams and electronic results are available. Results can be followed also in the tournament office and on screens in the lobby areas of each tournament venue. The system provides real time access to all tounament practicalities, including locker rooms and lunch schedule.

Each team is obliged to update team rosters to www.gameresultsonline.com in the way it has been separately adviced. Possible changes shall be provided to system at latest 20 minutes before start of the game and tournament office at venue shall be informed. Each team is allowed to list unlimited amount of players that are from the right age group.

Banners and streamers exchanged by teams

Banners or streamers shared to opponent teams shall be brought to opponent team box as soos as the teams enter the ice.

Penalties

If player receives a game penalty he is automatically banned from the next game.

If a player receives a match penalty, he is automatically banned from the tournament.A game penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct received by a player or other team members shall be handeld by tournament jury.

Behavior of teams and players in the tournament

The tournament is run in the spirit of ”Respect the Game” (program by Finnish Icehockey Federation). In case any of the teams is not behaving in a fair sportsmanship a tournament director may address team leader of the team in question and provide a warning. In case behavior is not improved tournament management may ban a team from tournament. A ban has been preceded by a warning and ban can not be cancelled.