2023-2024 Worthington Hockey Association Tournament Rules
Tournament games will be played under USA Hockey rules as modified by Minnesota Hockey and the Local Tournament committee. A current rule book and local rules will be available at the scorer’s table.
Tournament games will have USA Hockey registered referees at the correct level of play. All referee decisions are final. No protests will be allowed.
Certified medical attendants will be available for all games.
Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated. Any player, coach or fan exhibiting unsportsmanlike behavior will be ejected from the game and / or tournament by the officials, the Tournament Director or any member of the WHA Board of Directors and Arena Staff.
The top team in all brackets is considered the Home Team and will wear light colored jerseys. The Visiting team will wear dark colored jerseys. In the event a team does not have the correct jersey, it will be handled at the time of the game.
Resurfacing of ice. At Squirt Level play, it will be done between games. At Girls 12u / 10u level play, it will be done between games. At Peewee Level play, it will be done between games. At Bantam level Play, after the second period. At the Peewee and Bantam level, it will also be up to both team’s coaches, agreeable discretion.
Each team will have five (5) minutes warm-up prior to the start of the game. Squirt and girls 10u games will consist of three (3) twelve (12) minute stop periods. Peewee, Bantam and Girls 12U level play will consist of three (3) fifteen (15) minute stop periods. One minute rest period between periods. Each team will be allowed a single one(1) minute time out per game. Tournament director may change due to time restraints at his/her own discretion.
During the 3rd period, run time will commence if there are time constraints or whenever the goal separation is 6 goals or more. Clock time will change from “stop time” to “running time” when the difference in goals is six and will remain as long as the difference is six or more in the third period only. Clock time will revert to “stop time” when the difference in goals is four or less. In “running time” mode, the clock will be stopped only for an injury, reporting a goal, if the puck goes out of play, or at the referee’s discretion. The clock will resume at the face-off.
Penalties for all levels of games will be 2 minutes for a minor; 5 minutes for a major and 10 minutes for a game misconduct. There will be a maximum of 5 penalties per player per game. That player will then set the remainder of the game. If at the end of a game, that player will sit for the next game. All other penalties will be enforced at the referee’s discretion. Fighting penalty will warrant expulsion from the tournament. Spearing, butt ending, or intent to injure, will be dealt with according to USA Hockey guidelines, and at the referees discretion. This tournament will follow MN District 4 rules in regard to game misconduct, game ejections or game fighting penalties. There are no appeals for these infractions. ALL DECISIONS OF REFEREES ARE FINAL, NO PROTEST WILL BE ALLOWED….
Point System/Tie Breaker Rules: The tournament format will be a “round robin” format with two (2) points being awarded for a win (with an additional point (1) awarded for a shutout), one (1) point for a tie, and zero (0) for a loss. If at the end of Round Robin Play, there is a tie in point standing, the tie will be broken down in the following order. 1) Head to Head play. 2) Goals scored in all games in pool play. 3) Goals scored against, subtracted from goals scored, positions in order of greatest surplus. 4) Coin toss. In finals games, if a tie exists at the end of regulation play, there will be a 1 minute rest period followed by a 5 minute sudden death period, if tie still exists, there will be a one minute rest period, teams will switch ends of ice, followed by a 5 minute 4 on 4 sudden death period. If a tie exists after the second overtime period each head coach will select 5 players to participate in a shootout, with teams alternating shots, starting team will be the visiting team, until a winner is determined. In all matters not covered above, decisions made by the Tournament Director are final.
The entry fee of the Worthington Hockey Association Squirt, Peewee, Girls 10U & 12U, and Bantam Invitational Tournaments is $750. Mini Mite Jamboree $200 & Mite Jamboree $225. No gate fees charged.
A Credentials committee which is headed by the tournament director will be responsible for checking, coaches cards and team rosters, rosters should be a USA Hockey roster, signed by all participants and approved by the USA Hockey Registrar, also proof of USA hockey Registrar and insurance. All must be turned in at least 1 hour prior to the first game played at this tournament at check area.
All teams from outside of Minnesota will be informed of the MAHA age cutoffs and will be given the opportunity to withdraw from the tournament.
All players must wear approved helmets, facemasks, and mouth guards. No persons other than certified coaches or rostered players are allowed on the player bench. Any player not suited for the game must wear an approved helmet while on the player bench. Canadian teams must wear protective equipment as designated by CAHA.
Each team is responsible for adult locker room supervision at all times while at the Worthington Hockey Arena.
No parents/spectators are allowed on the ice surface at any time before, during, or after the games per new USA Hockey guidelines. This includes the taking of pictures on the ice after a game. Pictures will need to be taken from behind the glass.
In all other matters not covered above the Tournament Director Decisions will be final.
Mini Mite / Mite Jamboree Additions
No scoring or team standings will be kept.
Games will consist of three (3) 12 minute run time periods.
All games will be played on ½ sheet of ice.
Line changes will occur every two (2) minutes. There is no change on the fly.
Registration is $200 for Mini Mite teams and $225 for Mite teams.