HSL Championship

2012 AAA

HSL Championship Rules

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.
• Schedules will be finalized on the hslchampiosnhip.ca website. This will be your hub for all schedules and statistics for the weekend.

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.

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, the opposition head coach will announce 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.

2012 AAA - 5 Teams - March 13-16th

Round Robin Format:

• Teams will play a 4-game round robin against each of the other teams, which will determine the top two teams who will play in the Championship final on Sunday.
  • Wins will be worth three (3) points
  • Ties will be worth one (1) point
  • Losses will result in zero (0) points
  • NO overtime to be played
  • A MAXIMUM of +5 or -5 for goal differential per game, regardless of final score (ie: a 7-1 win by Team A will only result in a +5 for Team A and -5 for Team B)

Playoff Format:

• 1st and 2nd place after round robin will play in the Championship Final

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, calculated as:
   1. Goals For (GF) / Goals For (GF) + Goals Against (GA) (A maximum goal differential of ±5 per game will be applied.)
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.

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, calculated as:
   1. Goals For (GF) / Goals For (GF) + Goals Against (GA) (A maximum goal differential of ±5 per game will be applied.)

3. Highest Regular Season Points Percentage - The team with the highest points percentage from the regular season ranks higher.
4. Fewest Penalty Minutes (PIMs) - The team with the lowest total penalty minutes in the Round Robin ranks higher.
5. 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.

In-Game Protocols will be as follows:

*** OFF-ICE OFFICIALS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR INFORMING ON-ICE OFFICIALS OF THE NUMBER OF STICK INFRACTIONS ***

• Any player who receives a major penalty, may also be assessed a Game Misconduct.
• Any player who receives a match penalty, will be assessed a Game Misconduct
• Any player that receives three or more stick infractions will be ejected from the game (6 total PIM stick infractions).
• A match penalty will require an automatic hearing and the player will be suspended until further notice from the league.
• Any minor or major penalty coupled with a game misconduct requires a substitute player to serve the minor or major penalty.
• Automatic suspensions will be given according to the Suspension Guideline Document (see HSL Suspension Appendix)

HSL In-Game Protocols

Guidelines for Off-Ice Officials

• Team logoed apparel is strictly prohibited in the penalty box area for all volunteers. You will be asked by the HSL representative to either change or leave the penalty box.
• Any off-ice official in the penalty box cannot be under the influence of any alcohol or narcotics of any kind
• You are an official for the game, so act professionally, behavior unbecoming
• Zero tolerance for any exchanges with athletes of any sort, official will be removed by on-ice officials if there are issues of any sort

Off-Ice Officials Roles

• HOME Team will provide four (4) volunteers
  • MUST have one (1) certified/trained scorekeeper off-ice official per game
  • One (1) timekeeper
  • Two (2) off-ice officials - penalty box attendants
    • Each off-ice official in the penalty box will count shots on their respective end zones to have a proper tally at the end of the game.
  • PLEASE ENSURE THE PROPER GOALIE IS LISTED IN THE GAME SHEET!

**Scorekeepers/Timekeepers will also play music**

Game Time and Length

All games will start at the time they are scheduled to start. Games will only begin early in the case the HSL Representative has spoken with the following people in this order:

1) Arena staff

2) HSL Executives/HSL Representative

3) Officials

4) Both teams must also consent

*** Failure to adhere to these stipulations to start a game early without proper communication will result in a fine ***

Mercy Rule

• After the 1st period, if the score is a goal differential of 7 goals or more, the remaining time in the game will be run-time.
• All penalties remain the same as stop time, no changes.
• The remaining time will change back to stop time, if the goal differential is closed to 5 goals thereafter.
• Stoppages due to injury on the ice will result in stop time until the play resumes and run time is in effect again.
• Regardless of the goal differential, the 1st period is always stopped time.

Jersey Colours

All Home Teams will wear light-coloured jerseys; All Visitor Teams will wear dark-coloured jerseys. Coaches are encouraged to touch base with the other team in advance of their game to ensure there are not any conflicts in this regard.

Warm-Ups

• Will begin at the scheduled start time of the game (unless proper channels have been gone through to start games early)
• Players are not permitted to enter the playing surface until a minimum of one official is on the ice and the nets are placed on the moorings. Minimum of one (1) official will be on the ice prior to the start of the scheduled game
• Warm-up clock will start to countdown immediately when the game is scheduled to start
• Warm-up lengths will vary dependent on division. There will be no floods between warm-ups and the start of the game.
  • 2013 AAA and younger - 3 minutes
  • 2012 AAA and 2012 Major - 5 minutes
• When two (2) minutes have elapsed (2017 Major to 2013 AAA) in warm-up, or four (4) minutes (2012 AAA and 2012 Major), a referee will stand at centre ice and blow the whistle to give each team warming up a one (1) minute warning to the conclusion of the warm-up and teams must be prepared to push pucks to the timekeepers area of the ice.

 Handshakes

• All players and coaches must hold the Benches at the buzzer/completion of the game. Officials will release the teams to permit them onto the ice. Suspensions may result otherwise.
• All teams will shake hands after the game, this includes Coaches. Officials will reserve the right to have teams bypass this scenario if they feel the game is too heated.

Referees

• Must have one official on the ice prior to teams entering surface for warm-ups
  • Put nets on
  • Ensure pucks are on both sides of the ice
• A minimum of one (1) referee must be on the ice prior to the teams entering the ice for warm-ups. Once the referee places both nets on the pegs, the official will instruct both teams to enter the ice surface for warm-ups, it will be at this time the official will order for the timekeeper to begin the clock with the predetermined warm-up time. Should the league find that teams and/or referees are not acting reasonably or following the protocol in place, the league will take any necessary disciplinary action. Both teams, timekeepers and officials are strongly encouraged to get the game under way as expeditiously as possible.

Pucks

• Provided by the league and will be kept in the timekeeper’s box during the showcase. The league representative in the arena will ensure they are put away each evening and readily available for games.
• Pucks will be divided up evenly between the home and away teams for warm-up
• At the conclusion of warm-up, all pucks are to be safely pushed over to the penalty box for the volunteers to pick up all pucks to allow the game to start
• If the number of pucks is getting low, please make the HSL Representative aware to replenish the puck supply