Nazem Kadri North London Classic 2025
Tournament Rules and Regulations
Rosters & Registration
Team travel permits and rosters are to be uploaded to your team self management account by November 1.
Affiliated players must be registered before the first game and may only play for one team in the tournament. Affiliated players can only play for another team if their team has been eliminated AND they can not play more than 3 games in a day (unless approval received from Tournament Chair). Please notify tournament officials prior to using a player who has played on another team in the tournament.
ALL TEAMS REQUIRE A CERTIFIED COACH AND TRAINER ON THE BENCH FOR ALL GAMES.
A maximum 20 players including up to 2 goalies in full uniform and team officials (up to a MAXIMUM OF 5) will be permitted in the player’s bench area during game play.
Game Sheets
This tournament uses electronic game sheets. Each team is responsible for having their official roster on hand at all times. The head coach is required to sign/initial the electronic game sheet in advance of each game to approve player and staff roster details, game times and possible curfew information. Teams must ensure that any suspension is accurately documented on all game sheets.
Tournament organizers will email all teams to verify their team roster on the electronic game sheets by November 5.
Playing Rules
Playing rules and tournament regulations are those of Hockey Canada, the Ontario Minor Hockey Federation and the Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario.
The following rules will also apply:
Teams must have two sets of game jerseys. The team listed as home team will wear dark coloured jerseys, teams listed as away or visitor will wear light coloured jerseys. In the event of a colour conflict or dispute, the tournament official present reserves the right to make the final decision.
Except for the first game of the day teams MUST BE READY TO START THEIR GAME 15 MINUTES BEFORE the scheduled game time. Buffers have been built into the schedule and games will start early when possible.
Only arena personnel, referees, convenors and timekeepers will be allowed behind the area of the timekeeper’s box.
Player suspensions
Player suspensions for various infractions will be administered as per OHF MINIMUM SUSPENSION LIST with two exceptions:
- Any player who incurs a major penalty for fighting will be suspended for the remainder of the tournament.
- A Gross Misconduct will result in an automatic suspension for the remainder of the tournament.
Any team permitting a player to participate in a game that he/she is suspended, or ineligible will automatically forfeit the game 1-0.
Only team officials are permitted in the tournament offices. Suspended team officials are not permitted to enter the tournament offices.
Contact
This is a non-contact tournament and body checking is not permitted in any level or division.
U8 (½ Ice) - Game Play
Period Length: 2 x 21 min periods
Shift length / Buzzer: 90 seconds
All games will start with 24 minutes on the clock. As soon as the referees have stepped on the ice, the clock will start for the teams to warm up. At 22 minutes, referees will blow the whistle signaling the teams to get ready to start. The puck will drop at the 21-minute mark, this is to ensure that games start on time.
Festival Format
- Each team will consist of 18 skaters, split into two groups of nine skaters (8+1 goalie).
- The two split groups will play the opposing team’s two split groups (each half-ice games).
- Black pucks will be used.
- Referees and timekeepers will be used.
- Ice surfaces will be flooded after two hours of game play.
- Foam bumpers or half ice boards will be used to divide the rink.
Game Format
- Each team will be split into two groups. Teams will be divided evenly.
- Each team will dress two goaltenders, one for each half-ice game.
- Two, twenty-one (21) minute run-time halves.
- There will be a two-minute warmup.
- At the end of the first half, the visiting team will switch ends and benches (so each group plays each other).
Playing Rules
- Game will be 4 on 4 plus a goaltender.
- Teams share the same bench.
- The home team will be on the home end of the bench and the visiting team will be on the visitor end of the bench.
- Automatic buzzer every 90 seconds.
- If there are fewer than four players on the bench, the active player(s) designated to remain out must tag up at the bench prior to continuing play.
- No faceoffs, no offsides, players will change at the buzzer.
U9-U18 - Game Play
Round Robin Game Format
· Period Length: 10-10-15 stop time
· Games will not be curfewed
· The time clock will be run during the third period when the goal differential is five or more. Penalties will be also run time during this scenario. Clock will continue at run time until conclusion of game.
· Game Forfeits will result in a 1-0 win.
· Maximum goal differential is 7 goals.
Playoff Round Game Format
· Period Length: 10-10-15 / stop time
· OT: 5 minutes 3 on 3 followed by a shootout (if still tied)
· Shooters must be identified on the game sheet prior to the start of the game
· Shooters will shoot at the same time
· Any player serving a penalty that has not expired at the end of the overtime period is ineligible to participate in the shoot out.
The time clock will be run during the third period when the goal differential is 5 or more. Penalties will be also run time during this scenario. Clock will continue at run time until conclusion of game.
Scoring
2 points – Win
1 point – Tie
0 points – Loss
Time outs
Time outs are not permitted in round robin play. One 30 second timeout, per team, will be permitted in playoff games only.
Playoff and championship qualification
Qualification for play beyond the preliminary round into the playoff games will depend on division format and the number of teams in each division. There are no playoffs for U8 teams.
U9-U18 divisions are guaranteed four games. Teams advancing to the playoffs will be determined by greatest number of points earned in the round robin and tie breaker rules (below).
Teams losing a playoff game will be eliminated.
Round robin tie breaking rules
Tie Breaking Sequence Two Teams Tied If two or more teams are tied at the conclusion of a round robin series, then the following procedure will be used to determine the final ranking before the semi-final and final games are played. In the event that teams are tied for a playoff position, the following procedure will apply:
1. If two teams are tied:
1.1 The winner of the round robin games between the two tied teams gains the higher position.
1.2 The team with the most wins in the round robin gains the higher position.
1.3 If the two teams are still tied after 1.1 and 1.2 have been applied, then the team with the best goal average gains the higher position. The goal average of a team is to be determined in the following manner: Total number of goals for divided by the total number of goals for and against. NOTE: All round robin games are included.
Example: For = 10 goals Against = 4 goals Percentage 10 10+4 = .714 NOTE: The higher percentage gains the higher position
1.4 If the two teams are still tied after 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 have been applied, then the team which scored the first goal in the game between the tied teams gains the higher position.
1.5 If the two teams are still tied after 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4 have been applied, a single coin toss will determine which team gains the higher position.
Three or More Teams Tied:
The three-team tiebreaker is used to determine the seeding of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd seed. If any step in the tiebreaker only seeds one team, that team assumes that position. The three-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 two-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.
2.1 The team with the most wins (among tied teams) would gain the highest position.
2.2 If teams are still tied after 2.1 has been applied, then the team with the best goal average gains the highest position. The goal average of a team is to be determined in the following manner: total number of goals for divided by total number of goals for and against. NOTE: All round robin games are included.
Example: For = 10 goals Against = 4 goals Percentage 10 10+4 = .714 NOTE: The highest percentage gains the highest position(s). The exercise of 2.2 establishes the team or teams with the highest position(s) by percentage. These teams will advance. If there are still teams tied, they go to the next step. They do not go back to the “Two Team Tiebreaker”.
Example; A. Team A - .714 = 1 seed - Advances Team B - .500 = 3 seed – Does not advance Team C - .650 = 2 seed – Advances B. Team A - .714 = 1 seed – Advances Team B - .500 = Still tied with team C – go to next step 2.3. Team C- .500 = Still tied with team B – go to next step 2.3. C. Team A –. 650 = Still tied with team B – go to next step 2.3. Team B - .650 = Still tied with team A – go to next step 2.3. Team C - .500 = Does not advance
2.3 If teams are still tied after 2.1 and 2.2. The team with the fewest goals against (all round robin games played) will gain the highest position.
2.4 If teams are still tied after 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3. The team with the most goals for (all round robin games played) will gain the highest position.
2.5 If teams are still tied after 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4 have been applied, a coin toss shall determine the winner. In a 3 team coin toss, the odd team gains the highest position.
Overtime for Playoffs
Prior to playoff games, coaches will be asked to write out their player shoot-out order. Any player serving a penalty that has not expired at the end of the overtime period is ineligible to participate in the shoot-out.
If, at the end of regulation time, the game is tied, there will be a 5-minute sudden victory overtime period. It will be played 3 on 3 and all penalties during regulation time will carry over into overtime. If a team is one player short, play will be 4 on 3. If a team is two players short at any time during overtime, play will be 5 on 3 until the penalty time runs out.
At the first stoppage of play after both teams return to full strength play will revert back to 3 on 3 play.
If, after the 5-minute overtime, the game is still tied a 3-player shootout will commence. Using the coach lists, shootout begins and no player will shoot a second time until all players dressed for the game have taken a shot. Shooters on both teams will shoot at the same time in opposite directions. If tied after the first three shooters it then continues down the list in a sudden victory format.
If a player in the second position on the list prior to the shootout is injured during the game and cannot take their turn, the next player on the list will shoot and continue down the list accordingly.
If a team has 12 skaters and the opponent has 15 skaters, the team with the 15 can start over again at the top of their list after the 12th skater has taken their turn.
Game Officials
All games will be officiated by registered HOCKEY CANADA, OHF and ALLIANCE HOCKEY officials. Referees shall judge all goals from the ice. The tournament conveners will not discuss referee decisions.
Protests
Protests must be filed by team officials in writing with a $100.00 non-refundable fee per protest to the arena tournament office within one hour after the end of the game.
The decision by the Tournament Rules Committee will be final and may not be protested. It should be noted that a referee’s decision is final and may not be protested unless it concerns an interpretation of the rules as outlined in the Hockey Canada rulebook.