Rules and Format

 2017 Crowchild Challenge

Rules and Format

This tournament has been sanctioned by the CHA and only CHA registered teams will be allowed in the tournament. Exceptions will be made for US teams which must be registered members of the USAH. Exceptions will also be made for European teams if they are registered with their IIHF member country and have been approved by Hockey Alberta and sanctioned by Hockey Canada. Only players registered with the teams and players affiliated in accordance with CHA regulations may participate. Player registration cards or registration forms must be available on request, even though copies are in possession with the tournament committee. All teams must have been registered with the CHA, USAH or IIHF member country prior to September 5, 2018.

All games will utilize registered Minor Hockey Association of Calgary (MHAC) game officials.

Playing rules will be those used during the regular season in Calgary, in accordance with the CHA and MHAC. A complete set of MHAC rules can be found at https://www.hockeycalgary.ca/assets/file/2017_18_HockeyCalgary.pdf

This includes, but is not limited to the following:

1. Throat protectors are required and mouth guards are required for Calgary teams.  Hockey Calgary regulation 11(c): teams from outside of Calgary who are not required to wear mouth guards in their home association are exempt from wearing them while playing in games that have been sanctioned by Hockey Calgary.
2. Body-checking is not allowed in either the Atom or Pee-Wee divisions.
3. The red-line is not in effect for offsides.

The following rules are specific to this tournament:

1. Round-robin games will be 1.5 hours long and will consist of two 15 minute and one 20-minute stop time period. If game ends in a tie, NO overtime will be played. There will be a flood every two periods during round-robin play for PeeWee level players.
2. If it appears that the game will exceed the 1.5 hour time limit, the arena coordinator has the discretion to drop the clock to two minutes.
3. Any team unable to commence play 10 minutes after the scheduled starting time will forfeit the game. The opposing team will be awarded a 6-0 win.
4. In all games, a “Mercy Rule” will apply in the third period only. If a team has a 6 or more goal lead at any time in the third period, the clock will switch to running time. If the losing team decreases the goal differential to 5 goals, the clock will revert back to stop time. For the purpose of the plus-minus calculation in the tie-breaking procedures, a maximum of a 6 goal differential will be used. If the final score of any game has greater than a 6 goal differential, the winning team’s GOALS FOR and the losing team’s GOALS AGAINST will both be reduced to arrive at a differential of 6 goals.
5. Each team will be allowed one 30 seconds time out per game.
6. Championship games will consist of three 20-minute stop time periods. In the Championship games, a break will be taken between the 2nd and 3rd periods while the ice is flooded for PeeWee level players. In the event of overtime, the teams will be allowed a three (3) minute break during which they are NOT to leave the playing surface. See “Overtime Procedure”.
7. Any team official (e.g. coach, manager, trainer) who fails to maintain adequate control over their team, on or off the ice, may face disciplinary action, including expulsion from the tournament.
8. Any protests must be made known verbally to the Tournament Committee within 15 minutes after the game in question has ended. A written account of the protest must be submitted to the Tournament Committee within one (1) hour of the completion of the game. The Tournament Committee will act on the written account of the protest and will rule as soon as it believes all of the facts are available.
9. DECISIONS OF THE TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE ARE FINAL.

PEEWEE FORMAT

PeeWee players must be 12 years of age or younger as at December 31, 2018.

The Pee Wee tournament will consist of 8 teams total, 4 in pool A and 4 in pool B.

Each team in the pool will play a round-robin format within that pool, playing a total of 3 games in the round robin. 

Two (2) points will be awarded for a win, one (1) point for a tie, and zero (0) points for a loss.

Play-off will have following format: 

Game 1: 1st in pool A vs 2nd in pool B

Game 2: 1st in pool B vs 2nd in pool A

Game 3: 3rd in pool A vs 4th in pool B

Game 4: 3rd in pool B vs 4th in pool A. 

Winning teams of Games 1 and 2 will play in Challenge Cup Final; losing teams of Games 1 and 2 will play in Laughton Cup Final. Winning teams of games 3 and 4 will, and losing team of games 3 and 4 will play each other in Consolation finals.

ATOM FORMAT

Atom players must be 10 years of age or younger as at December 31, 2018.

The Atom tournament will consist of 8 teams total, 4 in pool A and 4 in pool B.

Each team in the pool will play a round-robin format within that pool, playing a total of 3 games in the round robin. 

Two (2) points will be awarded for a win, one (1) point for a tie, and zero (0) points for a loss.

Play-off will have following format: 

Game 1: 1st in pool A vs 2nd in pool B

Game 2: 1st in pool B vs 2nd in pool A

Game 3: 3rd in pool A vs 4th in pool B

Game 4: 3rd in pool B vs 4th in pool A. 

Winning teams of Games 1 and 2 will play in Challenge Cup Final; losing teams of Games 1 and 2 will play in Laughton Cup Final. Winning teams of games 3 and 4 will, and losing team of games 3 and 4 will play each other in Consolation finals.

TIE-BREAKER ROUND - ROBIN PLAY

In the event of a tie in the standings between two or more teams after the completion of the round robin, the team placing shall be determined as follows:

In the case of a tie in the standings between 2 teams in a pool at the conclusion of the round robin, the pool standings will be determined as follows:

1. the winner of the game between the two tied teams if they played one another, or;
2. if that game ended in a tie, the team with the better record of goals for and against (goals for divided by goals against - highest fraction wins) (Note that a maximum six-goal differential in any one game will apply) or;
3. if again there is a tie, the team that scores the first goal in a game between the two tied teams or;
4. if the two teams did not play each other, the best record of goals for and against per (2) above.

In the event of a tie in the standings between three (or more) teams, pool standings will be determined by:

5. the best records of goals for and against as per (2) above or;
6. if a tie still exists, then the team with the fewest penalty minutes assessed in the round robin or;
7. if all else fails, the tie will be broken by a coin toss.

CHAMPIONSHIPS - OVERTIME PROCEDURE (ATOM & PEE WEE)

The playoffs are single elimination knockout.

If a championship game is tied after three periods have been played (regulation time), the tie will be broken by “sudden death” overtime (the clock will be set for 20 minutes). Each team will play with three skaters and a goaltender. Existing penalty time will carry over from regulation time. If a penalty is assessed during overtime, the penalized team will play a man short for the duration of the penalty. If both teams are assessed penalties (coincidental), the offending players will serve their time but both teams will continue to play with three skaters and a goaltender.

Substitutions can be made at any time during any of the overtime periods. Teams can play their players at their own discretion. The goaltenders can be substituted for a skater at any time.