2019 Snowball Express Tournament Rules - as of September 26, 2018
Governing Rules
- Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) sanctioned rules shall be in effect, except where these tournament rules apply, including the use of OMHA sanctioned equipment, except where out of branch association rules may be different than the OMHA.
- Body checking is NOT permissible in any division
Eligibility and Registration
- Only players whose names appear on the approved league rosters or approved AP rosters are eligible to play any game during the tournament.
- All teams must register at the main tournament table in Rink A of the Duncan McDonald arena 45 minutes prior to the commencement of their first game of the tournament. Game sheets for all subsequent games must be filled out at the same location 30 minutes prior to remain games.
- All teams will be required to provide copies of the following documents when registering prior to their first game.
- An approved signed roster from their association stating the names of the registered players and team staff as well as an approved AP roster if any AP players will be participating
- All teams will also be required to provide an approved travel permit (Permission from association) to participate.
Format of Games
Novice Division
- All games will be three 10 minute periods (stop time).
- All teams will play 2 round robin games and a Final game to get there 3 games in (3 is the maximum number of games allowed per team each day).
- The tournament committee holds the right to start games up to 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time with the exception of the first game of the day. Championship games will start as scheduled.
- Points will be awarded as follows: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie and 0 points for a loss.
- If a team is unable to play and has to forfeit a game the opposing team will be granted a 3-0 victory.
- After preliminary games all teams will be ranked by points and advance to Championship games as scheduled.
- Tie Breaker rules will be as follows: Head to Head result, If still tied Goal For % GF/(GF + GA), if still tied total goals for, if still tied fewest goals against and if still tied a coin flip will decide. If more than 2 teams are tied Head to Head results will not be considered.
- Overtime will be played in championship games only. Overtime will consist of one 5 minute "Sudden Death" period played with 3 skaters and a goalie per side.
- If still tied at the end of the overtime period a 3 player shootout will take place. If still tied after 3 shooters the shootout will continue 1 player at a time until one team scores and the other does not. All players on the roster must participate in the shootout before any shooter can take a second shot. All shootouts will take place simultaneously with the shooter for each team shooting at the opponent’s goalie at the same time.
- All penalties will be assessed as per OMHA rules.
- There will be one 30 second timeout permitted in Championship games only.
Atom Division & Above
- All games will be three 10 minute periods (stop time). If there is a 5 goal spread in the third period the clock will switch to run time unless the lead is reduced to 3 goals.
- The tournament committee holds the right to start games up to 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time with the exception of the first game of the day. Championship games will start as scheduled.
- Points will be awarded as follows: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie and 0 points for a loss.
- If a team is unable to play and has to forfeit a game the opposing team will be granted a 3-0 victory.
- After preliminary games all teams will be ranked by points and advance to Championship games as scheduled.
- Tie Breaker rules will be as follows: Head to Head result, if still tied Goal For % GF/(GF + GA), if still tied total goals for, if still tied fewest goals against and if still tied a coin flip will decide. If more than 2 teams are tied Head to Head results will not be considered.
- In Championship games the team with the better record will be designated as the home team. Tie breaker rules will apply as above.
- Overtime will be played in championship games only. Overtime will consist of one 5 minute "Sudden Death" period played with 3 skaters and a goalie per side.
- If still tied at the end of the overtime period a 3 player shootout will take place. If still tied after 3 shooters the shootout will continue 1 player at a time until one team scores and the other does not. All players on the roster must participate in the shootout before any shooter can take a second shot. All shootouts will take place simultaneously with the shooter for each team shooting at the opponent’s goalie at the same time.
- All penalties will be assessed as per OMHA rules. If penalties are called that incur a suspension it will be served during the tournament and may carry over to league games subject to that team's association rules.
- There will be one 30 second timeout permitted in Championship games only.
Team Etiquette
- Two staff members of each team must be in attendance with players in the dressing room at all times. Tournament committee reserves the right to inspect dressing rooms.
- Any damage to the dressing room or arena facilities caused by team members shall be the responsibility of the team.
- Players or team officials are not to enter the referee’s rooms at any time.
Tournament Committee
- In no event shall the tournament sponsors and/or tournament committee and its volunteers, game officials or Quinte West Minor Hockey Association be responsible for any liability claim, loss, damage or expense of any kind arising during the tournament howsoever caused, including but not limited to injuries (including death), facility or equipment damages or thefts.
- The tournament rules committee reserves the right to make any/all decisions on (i) the interpretation of the tournament rules, (ii) changes to round robin play based on the actual number of participating teams; and (iii) tournament objections and protests.
- All decisions will be FINAL.