International Holiday Classic Tournament
December 26th to 30th, 2011
Tournament Sanction #A31-11-12

Tournament Format

Age Categories
1998 Minor Bantam
1997 Major Bantam
1996 Minor Midget

Schedules:
All teams will be guaranteed four games in Preliminary Play.

Minor Bantam:

• Teams will be divided into TWO CONFERENCES. Conferences maybe unbalanced in terms the total # of teams in each Division. Divisions of five teams will play a Round-Robin format within their division. Divisions of 4 teams will play a Round-Robin within their Division with 1 Cross-Over game. This will help to facilitate the "Head to Head" tie-breaker Rule.
• The 1st and 2nd Place team in each Division, will advance to the Play-off Rounds of their respective Conferences. Conference Champions will play for the Grand Championship. Top rankings will be awarded to Division Winners, followed by second place finishers; in order of the formula below.

Major Bantam:

• Teams will be divided into TWO CONFERENCES. Conferences maybe unbalanced in terms the total # of teams in each Division. Divisions of five teams will play a Round-Robin format within their division. Divisions of 4 teams will play a Round-Robin within their Division with 1 Cross-Over game. This will help to facilitate the "Head to Head" tie-breaker Rule.
• The 1st Place team in each division and the best two Wild Cards of the Selke Conference, will advance to the quarter finals. The 1st Place team in each division and the best three Wild Cards of the George Legge Conference will advance to the quarter finals. Conference Champions will play for the Grand Championship. Top rankings will be awarded to Division Winners, followed by Wild Cards; in order of the formula below.

Minor Midget:

• Teams will be divided into TWO CONFERENCES. Conferences maybe unbalanced in terms the total # of teams in each Division. Divisions of five teams will play a Round-Robin format within their division. Divisions of 4 teams will play a Round-Robin within their Division with 1 Cross-Over game. This will help to facilitate the "Head to Head" tie-breaker Rule.
• The 1st Place team in each Division, as well as the best two Wild Cards in each Conference will advance to the Play-off Rounds of their respective Conference. Conference Champions will play for the Grand Championship. Top rankings will be awarded to Division Winners followed by Wild Cards; in order of the formula below.

Formula
***Wild Cards, Standings, & Rankings will be determined on the basis of:
a) highest points earned(wins & ties combined) during Preliminary Play,
b) if still tied on the basis of "Head to Head" during Preliminary Play,
c) if still tied most wins during Preliminary Play,
d) if still tied, on the basis of highest percentage (add the goals for & against together, and divide into the goals for), during Preliminary Play,
e) if still tied least goals against, during Preliminary Play,
f) if still tied, most goals for, during Preliminary Play,
g) coin toss. However the Tournament Committee reserves the right to change play-off opponents to ensure that no team plays a Wild Card or an opponent from preliminary play in the Quarter-Finals. *See Tournament Rules # 6 for Preliminary Play if more than two teams are tied.
***TEAMS WILL NOT BE RE-RANKED AFTER THE FIRST PLAY-OFF ROUND***

AWARDS:

• Tournament Champions and Finalists will receive tournament awards respectively for each member of their team as well as a Team Trophy.
• Individual Player Awards will be awarded for:
  Tournament Most Valuable Player (All Age Categories)

Length of Games

Overtime:
Overtime will be played only in the, Quarters, Semis & Finals. During the Preliminary Rounds, if the game is tied at the end of regulation time each team will be awarded one point.

ICE RE-SURFACING:
During Preliminary play and through the Play-off rounds re-surfacing will occur according to the following guidelines:
For All Minor Midget games a flood will occur every two periods
For All Minor and Major Bantam games floods will occur at the end of the 3rd period
All Conference Finals – floods will occur between 2nd & 3rd periods
All Grand Championships – flood between 1st, 2nd & 3rd periods

PRE-GAME WARM-UPS:
3-Minute maximum
For all Minor Midget games where a flood does not occur prior to the start of the game, the participating teams must begin their warm-up immediately after the teams from the preceding game have left the ice, OR RISK A DELAY OF GAME PENALTY.

RUNNING TIME:
During the Round Robin, a five-goal differential at any time in the third period will result in running time. If the deficit is reduced to three goals, stop time will resume.

Rules & Regulations
1)
Hockey Canada/O.H.F. rules apply with the following exceptions noted.

2)
Teams must register at least one hour prior to their first game.

3)

1. All teams must dress a minimum of 12 skaters, including 2 goalies (unless injury).
2. The maximum number of players to be dressed for each game is 19 (20 for USA hockey), this includes two goalies. Affiliated players will be accepted providing they are registered on the initial team list prior to the first game. No player may play for two teams during the tournament. If however an affiliated player's team has been eliminated from the tournament, that player becomes eligible to play with the higher category team.
3. Any team found with ineligible players participating in a game will be disqualified from the tournament. (Note: Games won by a disqualified team will be considered a win for the opposing team at a score of 1 - 0).
4. All teams must carry local league Registration Cards or League Roster Forms for each player (copies accepted). No team can participate without their Branch Travel Permission.

4)

FIGHTING / MAJOR PENALTIES / MATCH PENALTIES
Reference GTHL minimum suspension list (copy given to all coaches at registration)..

5)

TEAM COLOURS It is preferable that each team carries two contrasting sets of sweaters with them. It is the responsibility of the Home Team to change color of sweaters if they are similar to their opponents. Home and Away is indicated on the schedule.

6)

TIES - METHOD OF DECLARING DIVISION STANDINGS, RANKINGS, & WILD CARDS

1. If two teams are tied in points, whichever team won the game played against the team which it is tied with, places higher, i.e. “head to head”.
2. Whichever team earned more wins based on Preliminary Play. However in Round-Robin play if more than two teams are tied, whichever team earned more points (wins & ties included), based on games between the teams tied.
3. If still tied, add the goals for and against together and divide into the goals for, the team with the highest percentage placing higher.*** When applying this formula the maximum goal differential in any game shall be no greater than 10.
4. If still tied... least goals against
   If still tied... most goals for
   If still tied... fewest penalty minutes (Majors & Misconducts included)
   If still tied... coin toss

7)

OVERTIME PROCEDURE

1. Ties in the MINOR/ MAJOR BANTAM & MINOR MIDGET QUARTERS/SEMIS If tied at the end of regulation time teams will not change ends, but commence to play a ten (10) minute stop time sudden-victory overtime period. If still tied, play will resume in a five (5) minute sudden-victory period with four skaters on the ice per team. If still tied, an additional sudden-victory period will resume with three players on the ice per team until one team scores. *** A penalty incurred during the “3 on 3” will result in the non-offending adding an additional player to the ice until the expiration of the penalty and the first stoppage of play..
2. Section (a) applies to all play-offs except the MINOR BANTAM/MAJOR BANTAM & MINOR MIDGET CONFERENCE FINALS, & GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP. If tied at the end of regulation time, teams will not change ends, but commence to play a ten (10) minute stop time, sudden-victory overtime period. If still tied, teams will retire to their respective dressing rooms while the ice is re-surfaced. Upon returning to the ice, teams will commence playing ten (10) minute stop time sudden-victory overtime periods until one team scores. In the event of a prolonged overtime game, the re-surfacing of the ice will be left up to the discretion of the referees and tournament Chairperson; in consultation with both teams to ensure the players’ safety is of the utmost priority. .

8)

PROTESTS

There shall be NO PROTESTS. The decisions of the Tournament Committee shall be final. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to rule on items not previously covered, and the Hockey Canada will not permit a referee’s penalty call to be changed unless said referee agrees to the change in writing.

9)

TIME-OUTS

One 30-second time-out will be allowed per game (includes overtime).

General Information

• Insurance:
  The Holiday Classic Tournament or its Tournament Committee will not be held responsible for injuries caused by a player or spectator. Please ensure that all players are covered by insurance before participating in the Tournament.
• Dressing Rooms:
  Only registered players will be allowed in the dressing rooms. Any player(s) suspended during the tournament must not enter the dressing room prior to the game(s) from which they are suspended. Failure to adhere to this rule will result in a further suspension. Dressing Rooms must be vacated 20 minutes after game. Teams are responsible for ensuring their dressing rooms are locked and secure at all times. It is the team’s responsibility to provide their own locks.