Rules & Regulations

U9 Game Format 

1. All games will be two (2) x 26-minute straight time periods with a buzzer every 2 minutes for shift changes. Faceoffs after each buzzer (10 seconds for teams to change and puck to be dropped for 1:50 of playing time). 5 on 5 play.

2. Each game will start with a 5-minute warm up, and have a 1-minute break at intermission between the two periods. Games will be played on half \Ice, using both benches.

3. If the puck is covered by the goalie, the opposing team is expected to back up a reasonable amount and let the other team break out with it.

4. If a team is scored on, the referee must pull the puck out of the net and give it to the team that was scored on to break out. The opposing team is expected to back up a reasonable amount to let the other team break out after the goal is scored.

5. At the end of each game, there will be an NHL format Pioneer Co-op Shoot out (see rules below). Pioneer Co-op Shoot Out has no bearing on the teams’ record. The purpose is for fun and skill development for both players and goalies. The winner of the Pioneer Co-op Shoot Out will receive Juice Boxes to be taken into their dressing room and dispersed to each player. The team who loses the Pioneer Co-op Shoot Out receives nothing.

6. After the Pioneer Co-op Shoot Out, both teams line up to shake hands and then line up on the Blue Line for the Player of the Game announcement.

7. MVP will be chosen by their own team’s coaches at end of the game by giving the name/number to the referee or score clock officials to announce.

8. Penalties will be called by the official on ice, and it is expected that coaching staff cooperate and call the penalized player off the ice to be shorthanded the remainder of the shift. If a goal is scored shorthanded, the penalized player can then be released from bench to play remainder of the shift until buzzer. The intent here is to allow the referees to learn to call penalties and for the players to learn how taking penalties can hurt your team.

9. All other rules will be as per Hockey Saskatchewan U9 CARDED guidelines

10. Points are awarded as such:

Win – 2 points, Tie – 1 Point, Loss – 0 points 

Tie-Game Procedures 

1. During the pool play rounds the games will end in a tie, resulting in 1 point.

2. During the Medal round games, if the game is tied after two periods, there will be a 6-minute straight time 3 on 3 sudden death overtime period. If no goal occurs, another 6-minute straight time period will run again until a goal is scored.

3. If a penalty occurs during an overtime period, the same rules apply and the player will be called to bench for the rest of the shift. The shift will proceed as 3-2 until the buzzer sounds. 

Pioneer Co-op Shoot Out Format

1. Each team gets 3 shot attempts to start, the home team chooses to go first or last, and teams alternate shots. The team that scores the most out of the 3 shot attempts wins the Pioneer Co-op Shoot Out. 

2. If the score is tied after three attempts, sudden death rounds will determine the Pioneer Co-op Shoot Out Winner, being the team that wins the next frame. 

3. A player can only shoot ONCE during shootout. 

4. Shooter starts at center ice.

5. Shooter must maintain forward momentum and cannot stop or move backward, the goal will not count.

6. No rebounds off posts or goalies will count as goal.

7. If the puck hits the goalie and goes into net, it is a good goal.

8. The goalie cannot attempt to throw their stick or any object at the shooter to stop them from scoring, but poke checks are indeed allowed.

Tie Breaker Procedures 

1. If two teams are tied in pool play, the following will be used to determine seeding:

   1.  Head-to-head record between the two teams

   2. Best win record in games played between tied teams. This means that the team with the most regulation wins would finish higher.

   3. If still tied, the team with the best goal average gains the higher position. The goal average of a team is determined in the following manner:

   4. Total number of goals for divided by the total number of goals for and against

Example: Team A scores 10 goals for and has 7 goals against. Their goal average calculation is as follows: 

Goals For = 10, Goals for and against = 10 + 7 = 17, Best goal average = 10/17 = 0.588 

1. Game Times and Arrivals 

1. It is important that all teams are aware of their scheduled game times and that the games may be running ahead of schedule. 

THERE IS LOTS OF ADDITIONAL TIME BUILT INTO THE SCHEDULE, PLEASE BE READY FOR EARLY START TIMES!

2. In the event a team is late for their scheduled game time, the clock will begin to run and for each minute the clock runs down, a goal will be awarded to the other team 

3. If the team misses 15 minutes of a game, it will be considered a forfeit and the team will receive 15-0 loss 

General Conduct and Behavior 

1. If at any point during the tournament, a team is abusive towards any player, coach, referee, volunteer or fan, the tournament organizers reserve the right to remove that team immediately from the tournament. 

Pioneer Co-op Shoot Out Format

1. Each team gets 3 shot attempts to start, the home team chooses to go first or last, and teams alternate shots. The team that scores the most out of the 3 shot attempts wins the Pioneer Co-op Shoot Out. 

2. If the score is tied after three attempts, sudden death rounds will determine the Pioneer Co-op Shoot Out Winner, being the team that wins the next frame. 

3. A player can only shoot ONCE during shootout. 

4. Shooter starts at center ice.

5. Shooter must maintain forward momentum and cannot stop or move backward, the goal will not count.

6. No rebounds off posts or goalies will count as goal.

7. If the puck hits the goalie and goes into net, it is a good goal.

8. The goalie cannot attempt to throw their stick or any object at the shooter to stop them from scoring, but poke checks are indeed allowed.

U11 Game Format 

1. All pool games will consist of 3 - 20 minute periods, stop time. A mercy rule will apply in all games. If the goal spread is 5 goals or greater in the 3rd period, the clock will revert to straight time. If the goal spread is reduced to 4 goals or less, the clock will return to stop-time. 

2. Penalties are two minutes in length, BUT are 3 minutes if the clock is running straight time in the 3rd period. 

3. Each team is allowed (1) 30 second time out

4. In pool play, should a game be running late the tournament committee reserves the right to go to straight time to catch up. 

5. Floods: Ice will be flooded every other period throughout the weekend.

6. There will be no overtime in pool play. Games will remain tied.

7. In medal-round games, if tied after regulation play, the following will occur:

   1. One 5-minute stop time sudden victory overtime period with 3 skaters and a goalie per side.  Should a penalty occur, the non-offending team will add a player and the penalized player will return to the ice after their penalty. At the first whistle after the expiration of the penalty, the teams return to 3 on 3 play.

   2. If still tied, a “3” player shoot-out (coin toss to see who shoots first).

   3. If still tied, a “1” player shoot-out (must use all players once before anyone can shoot a second time).

7. Points are awarded as such in pool play:

Win – 2 points

Tie – 1 Point

Loss – 0 points 

8. All other rules will be as per Hockey Saskatchewan guidelines

Tie Procedures

1. If two teams are tied:

   1. Best win record in games played between tied teams.

   2.  If still tied, the team with the best win record.

   3. If the two teams are still tied after i) and ii) have been applied,

then the team with the best goal average gains the higher position. 

2. If Three or More Teams Tied: NOTE: The 3–team tiebreaker is used to determine the seeding of the (3) tied teams. If any step in the tiebreaker only seeds one team, that team assumes that position.  The 3–team tiebreaker will continue to determine the seeding of the two remaining teams.  At no time will teams using this formula go back to the 2–team tiebreaker.

If three teams or more are tied, the point record established in the games among the tied teams only will be used as the first tie-breaking formula in deciding which team(s) shall advance, provided they played an equal number of games against one another.

i)   The team with the most wins (among tied teams), in ALL games, would gain the highest position.

ii) If teams are still tied after i) has been applied then the team with the best goal average gains the highest position.

NOTE: A maximum of seven (7) goal difference per game will be used in the calculation of the game ratio. This will be calculated from the actual “goals for” of the losing team in the particular game.

Game Times and Arrivals 

1. It is important that all teams are aware of their scheduled game times and that the games may be running ahead of schedule. 

THERE IS ADDITIONAL TIME BUILT INTO THE SCHEDULE, PLEASE BE READY 15 MINUTES EARLY AND BE AWARE OF EARLY START TIMES.

2. In the event a team is late for their game time, the clock will begin to run and for each minute the clock runs down, a goal will be awarded to the other team 

3. If the team misses 15 minutes of a game, it will be considered a forfeit and the team will receive 15-0 loss 

4. Warm-ups are 5 minutes in length and begin as soon as Zamboni doors shut 

General Conduct and Behavior 

1. If at any point during the tournament, a team is abusive towards any player, coach, referee, volunteer or fan, the tournament organizers reserve the right to remove that team immediately from the tournament. 

2. The referee’s decision(s) are final. The tournament committee’s decisions are final. No protests will be allowed.