HSL Championship Rules

These rules and guidelines will be the protocol followed by ALL divisions.

HSL Championship Guidelines

• All in-game protocols will remain the same as HSL Regular season league games, unless otherwise noted. This includes warm-up, length of periods, mercy rule and rulebook will be the same as then-current HSL Rulebook.
• Supplemental disciplinary procedures and reviews will be managed by the same process as the HSL Regular Season.
• Tie games in round robin portion of the tournament will end in a tie.
• Quarterfinals, semifinals or Championship games ending regulation in a tie will play overtime and shootout if necessary. Overtime rules and protocol are listed below.
• Teams will be guaranteed a minimum of three (3) games during the Championship weekends, as per Acceptance Package information provided prior to the start of the season.
• Pools for Championship weekends will be determined via total Points Percentage (PTS% in website standings) through the regular season, due to the divisional realignment and hybrid divisional games between different divisions which took place. Only records played between teams in the same division will be used. Meaning, games played only against teams playing in the same championship tournaments will be used to determine standings. These PTS% totals are listed below, next to the competing teams in this championship.
• Teams with the highest regular season points percentage will ALWAYS be deemed as the Home Team during the Championship Weekends.

Championship Weekend Post-Game Protocols

• At the conclusion of EVERY GAME, teams will line up on their respective blue lines and we will be giving away a Player of the Game award, powered by Bauer Hockey. The coaches from each team will choose a Player of the Game from the opposing team, please let the scorekeeper know who your PoG is, and if possible, have them announce it in the facility. If they are not using the mic, please annonce the athlete as loud as possible. They will come to center ice to receive their award. In order to have enough time for this, please ensure games are moving along at a fast rate as officials will also be instructed to move the game along as fast as possible.

Tiebreakers for Final Rankings After Round Robin (If 2 Teams Are Tied in Points)

1. Head-to-Head Result - The team that won the head-to-head matchup in the Round Robin ranks higher.
2. Most Wins - The team with the most total wins in the Round Robin ranks higher.
3. Goal Quotient - The team with the highest decimal rating (A maximum goal differential of ±5 per game will be applied), calculated as: Goals For (GF) / Goals For (GF) + Goals Against (GA)
4. Regular Season Points Percentage - If teams remain tied, the team with the higher points percentage from the regular season ranks higher.
5. Fewest Penalty Minutes (PIMs) - The team with the lowest total penalty minutes in the Round Robin ranks higher.
6. Coin Flip - If teams remain tied after all criteria, a coin flip (or random draw) will determine the final ranking.

Tiebreakers for Final Rankings After Round Robin (If Three or More Teams Are Tied in Points)

1. Head-to-Head Record Among Tied Teams - Only results from games played between the tied teams will be considered. The team with the best points percentage in those matchups ranks higher.
2. Most Wins in Round Robin - The team with the most total wins in the Round Robin ranks higher.
3. Goal Quotient - The team with the highest decimal rating (A maximum goal differential of ±5 per game will be applied), calculated as: Goals For (GF) / Goals For (GF) + Goals Against (GA)
4. Regular Season Points Percentage - If teams remain tied, the team with the higher points percentage from the regular season ranks higher.
5. Fewest Penalty Minutes (PIMs) - The team with the lowest total penalty minutes in the Round Robin ranks higher.
6. Coin Flip - If teams remain tied after all criteria, a coin flip (or random draw) will determine the final ranking.

Overtime Rules for Playoff Games

1. Overtime Period
• A 5-minute, 3-on-3 overtime will be played if the game is tied after regulation.
• Teams switch ends for overtime.
• If a shootout is required, goalies return to the net they defended in the third period.
• Breaks:
• 60 seconds between the end of the third period and the start of overtime.
• 60 seconds between overtime and the start of the shootout (if needed).
2. Shootout (If Still Tied After Overtime)
• A 3-player shootout will decide the winner.
• The home team chooses whether to shoot first or second.
• If still tied, a sudden-death shootout follows.
• All skaters must take a shot before any player can shoot again.

 Note that in all instances, the League Commissioner reserves the right to make final decisions if any lack of clarity or confusion arises from the perception of the above-mentioned rules.