Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
Provincial Hockey Tournament Rules
April 2016
The goal of the MNRF Hockey Tournament is to annually bring together current and
past MNRF employees from across the province for friendly and fair hockey
competition and socialization in an environment in which all individuals are treated
with respect.
The MNRF Hockey Tournament Committee will be responsible for the supervision,
interpretation and enforcement of these rules.
Code of Conduct
During the course of all activities and events all participants; including players,
coaches, managers, officials, volunteers and supporters shall conduct themselves at all
times in a respectful manner and shall comply with the OPS Workplace Discrimination
and Harassment Policy.
Team captains/reps are responsible to ensure all their players are made aware of this
code of conduct and to ensure that no disrepute is brought upon MNRF or the
tournament through team or player conduct, logo, display, action or inaction.
As this event is part of the extended workplace, non-compliance with this code of
conduct shall result in disciplinary action by the MNRF Hockey Tournament Committee
including up to suspension from current and/or future tournaments and may involve
disciplinary action by the MNRF.
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Table of Contents
Section A – General Rules……………………………………………………………………………………..…………………………..3
Team and Player Eligibility ……………………………………………………………………………………………………3
Women’s Division Exceptions………………………………………………………………………………….4
Equipment…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….4
Tournament Schedule and Game Format………………………………………………………………………….....5
Rules of Play………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….6
Penalties………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..7
Round Robin Play and Standings……………………………………………………………………………………….……7
Tie Breaking Rules………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….7
Semi-finals and Finals…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….7
Overtime………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….7
Shoot-out………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...8
Protests………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………....8
Section B – Seeding of Teams………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………..8
Section C – Provincial Committee Structure and Tournament Fund………………………………….………………..9
Section D – Suggested Scheduling Formats……………………………………….……………………………….….………….10
Division with Ten Teams – one group………………………………………………………………………….………..10
Division with Eight Teams – two groups…………………………………………………………….………………….10
Division with Six Teams – one group………………………………………………………………………….………….11
Division with Four Teams – one group…………………………………………………………………………….…….11
Division with Seven Teams – one group………………………………………………………………..……….……..11
Division with Five Teams – one group……………………………………………………………………………….…..11
Division with Three Teams – one group………………………………………………………………………………...12
Section E – Awards…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………….13
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Section A – General Rules
Team and Player Eligibility Rules
1.
All Ministry of Natural Resources permanent employees, Group 3, probationary staff and
retirees; spouses of permanent, probationary, Group 3 staff and retirees are eligible.
Unclassified staff, provided they have been employed for at least 66 days in the previous 12month period, is eligible. All participating players must be over the age of 18.
2. Players who have participated in two previous MNRF Provincial Tournaments as MNRF
employees are eligible to play. (Players who participated in tournaments under this rule
prior to 2006 will be allowed to continue to participate. Effective January 1, 2006, for any
new players to be eligible for this exception the player must have been an MNRF employee
as outlined above.)
3. Offspring of MNRF permanent, retired, probationary or Group 3 staff are eligible provided
offspring are over the age of 18.
4. Each participating team will consist of a maximum of 18 players (including goalie), one coach,
one manager and one trainer.
5. At least 50% of each team must be comprised of retired staff, regular staff, probationary
staff, Group 3, unclassified staff who have been employed for at least 66 days in the last
12-month period or spouses of regular or probationary staff.
6. Those staff employed by other Ministries, Authorities, the OPP or Commissions are not
eligible for the tournament.
7. A team may use a goalie that is not eligible under the above rules provided the goalie is over
18 years of age and it is noted on the registration list.
8. No participating player may be carded, 9 months prior to the date of the tournament, by the
NOHA, OHA, OMHA, OWHA, Professional, Semi-Professional, Varsity University or
College teams. Teams using carded players will forfeit all games in which the ineligible
player participated if a protest is filed and upheld by the MNRF Hockey Tournament
Committee.
9. Should non-MNRF teams participate in the tournament they will only be eligible to play in
the round robin segment of the tournament.
10. Exceptions to these rules must be approved by the MNRF Hockey Tournament Committee.
Exceptions will be approved only where a team does not have a minimum of 13 players
excluding the goalie.
11. Application in writing to the MNRF Hockey Tournament Committee for any exceptions must
show names, age and previous hockey experience including highest level of organized
hockey played.
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12. A team or player suspended from participation by the MNRF Hockey Tournament Committee
will be enforced by the Organizing Committee for the current year’s tournament.
13. Roster changes cannot be made after the commencement of the tournament without
consent and approval of the MNRF Hockey Tournament Committee and the Host Organizing
Committee.
14. At no time shall a player play on more than one team in the same division.
15. For each game, barring injury, each participating team will dress players in accordance to the
Tournament eligibility rules. In the case of coach, manager and trainer, they need not wear
team sweaters but must remain behind the bench for the duration of the game. Violation of
this rule will result in forfeiture of the game in which the violation was proven (to the
satisfaction of the MNRF Hockey Tournament Committee) to have occurred.
16. Exceptions will be considered by the MNRF Hockey Tournament Committee should goalies
be injured and unable to play.
17. To be eligible to play in the scheduled games on Saturday, a player must have played at least
one game for that team on Thursday or Friday unless that person has received special
approval from the MNRF Hockey Tournament Committee.
18. Violation of player eligibility rules will result in forfeiture of the game in which the violation
was proven to have occurred.
Women’s Division Exceptions
19. In addition to the regular MNRF Tournament Team and Player Eligibility Rules the following
rules will apply to the Women’s Division when it is included in the tournament.
a) No OWHA carded players on A, AA, within the 9 months prior to the date of the
tournament and AAA teams within the past 21 months.
b) Allow 17-year-old daughter of tournament eligible parent participating on the team as a
player, coach, manager or trainer.
c) Allow one sister per staff member and mothers of MNRF staff per Eligibility Rule 7.
d) Allow any unclassified staff who has been employed by MNRF within the last year.
e) Allow members of the Ontario Public Service who qualify per the Women’s Division
Exceptions
Equipment
20. Protective CSA approved headgear must be worn by all players. Players without protective
headgear will not be allowed to play. (Facial protection is not mandatory except for goalies,
but is strongly recommended).
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21. Goalies must wear CSA approved facial protection. If the facial protection does not have a
CSA sticker it will not be allowed to be used. If an approved goalie mask cannot be produced
the goalie cannot play.
22. The tournament organizers will supply one set of hockey sweaters to be worn by the visiting
club, should a uniform color conflict occur. The MNRF Arena Manager and/or referee’s
ruling on sweater change shall be accepted as final.
Tournament Schedule and Game Format
23. Home team will be the first team named on the schedule for the round robin series of play.
24. Tournament organizers shall ensure that no team will be scheduled for more than one game
starting earlier than 10:00 am
25. Ice will be flooded at the completion of each game.
26. Two (2) qualified referees will officiate each game.
27. Each game will consist of two (2), 15-minute stop time periods
28. Each team must indicate one captain and two assistant captains on the score sheet prior to
each game.
29. The procedure at the start of the games will be as follows:
a) Teams should be prepared to start games immediately following the flood.
b) The timekeeper will sound the buzzer and start the clock at the time the
game is scheduled to start.
c) A three (3) minute warm-up period will be allowed, and then the
timekeeper will sound the buzzer a second time.
d) Immediately after the second buzzer, the referee will signal both teams to
centre ice for the start of the game.
e) Should one team not show or be prepared to play, the referee will award
the team on the ice (1) goal and signal the clock to start. The clock will run
continuously and the referee shall award a goal for each three (3) minutes
the clock runs. If after 15 minutes (1 period) the team does not show, the
game will be forfeited.
f) If the end of the previous game is ahead of schedule and both teams are
not ready to play, Rule 29(b) will take effect when both teams are ready to
play or at the scheduled time of the game.
Rules of Play
Playing rules will be as set out in “The Official Rule Book” of the Canadian Hockey Association (CHA)
except as follows:
30. Slap shots shall not be allowed.
a) A slap shot violation will result in an immediate whistle and a face-off in
the defending zone of the team that committed the infraction.
b) Goals resulting from slap shots shall not be allowed.
c) Slap shots are defined as those shots where the stick is raised above the
knee on the back draw.
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31. No body checking shall be allowed. Referees will be instructed to call body contact in the
style and manner that has become standard in Old-timer and Non-contact Men’s League
play. (See CHA Rule 50 for complete description).
32. The red line will NOT be in effect for two line offside passes.
33. After a stoppage of play
a)
The visiting team will be allowed five seconds to make any player changes
and then
b) The home team will be allowed five seconds to make any player changes.
c) As soon as the ten seconds has elapsed, the referee taking the face-off will
blow the whistle and prepare to drop the puck. If after five seconds the
players are not in position to take the face-off, the offending team’s center
will be ejected.
d) Any subsequent infractions by that team during the game will result in a
delay of game penalty.
34. A Mercy Rule will be in effect in which, at the discretion of the organizing committee,
a)
The game will go to running time if there is a five (5) goal spread with 10
minutes remaining in regulation time.
b) There will be no reverting back to stop time for the balance of the
regulation game.
c) If a player is assessed a penalty during stop time and during that penalty
the clock goes to running time under the Mercy rule the penalized player
(s) will still be allowed to return to play at the designated time of penalty
expiration.
Penalties
35. Penalties will be called as set out in Section Four of the CHA official rule book
a) minor - 2 minutes
b) major - 5 minutes
c) misconduct -10 minutes
36. Penalties assessed during the running time will be
a) 3 minutes for a minor,
b) 7 minutes for a major/match penalty
c) 12 minutes for misconduct.
37. A penalty assessed during stop time will remain as per CHA rules even if running time is
started during the duration of the penalty.
38. When coincidental minor penalties occur, the teams will play at full strength.
39. Any player who is assessed THREE PENALTIES in one game shall be ruled off the ice for the
remainder of the game (Game Misconduct). It shall be necessary to place a substitute on the
penalty bench immediately to serve the third penalty.
o (Note 1): Any combination of minor, bench minor or major penalties
shall apply to the personal total of any individual in the game.
o (Note 2): Players assessed a Game Misconduct under the Three
Penalty rule will not be suspended from additional games.
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40. Any player assessed a 5-minute penalty for fighting will also be given a game misconduct
and will be suspended from the rest of the tournament. (Further suspension from future
MNRF tournaments will be decided by the MNRF Hockey Tournament Committee).
41. If any player deliberately injures or attempts to injure another player, in addition to the
appropriate penalty, a game misconduct will be assessed and the player will be suspended
for the remainder of the tournament.
42. Any manager, coach, player or trainer who strikes, pushes or deliberately abuses a referee or
other game official shall be suspended from this tournament and subsequent MNRF
tournaments.
Round Robin Play and Standings
43. In the event of a tie at the end of regulation time in the round robin play, there will be no
overtime. Teams will be awarded the following”
a) Win
b) Tie
c) Loss
2 Points
1 Point
0 Points
44. In the event that teams are tied in the standings at the end of round robin play, the
placement of teams in the standings for semi-final games will be determined as follows.
Compare the teams using the appropriate paragraph and rules below. Start with Tie
Breaking Rule “a” moving sequentially through the rules until the tie between the teams is
broken. The team is placed higher in the standing with a positive response to the Tie
Breaking Rule e.g. Team A has “Lower number of penalty minutes” than Team B. Team A is
placed above Team B in the standings.
Tie Breaking Rules
Two Teams Tied
a) Winner of round robin game between the teams.
b) Lower number of penalty minutes. A game misconduct or game ejection
will be counted as 30 penalty minutes for the purpose of the Tie Breaking
Rules
c) Winner of flip of a coin.
More than Two Teams Tied
Compare all teams at the same time using the rules for “Two Teams Tied”. When one team is
deemed to be higher in the standing, start comparing the remaining teams at the first rule “a”
moving sequentially through the rules until the tie between the teams is broken. Repeat the
process until all teams are ordered in the standings.
Semi- Finals and Finals
Overtime
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45. In the case of a tie at the end of regulation play for semi-final and final games, the following
format will be used:
a) Overtime play will commence immediately following regulation play.
b) A 5-minute sudden death stop time period will be played with teams using
goalies plus 3 players per side, minus any penalized players
NOTE: Players can be changed at any time during any portion of overtime play.
Shoot- out
46. If the game remains tied at the end of the 5-minute overtime period, a shootout will be
initiated.
a) Five players will be selected from each team.
b) One player from each team will shoot simultaneously at the opposing
team’s goaltender.
c) After all five players have shot, if teams remain tied, one player who has
not been chosen already will shoot as part of “sudden death”.
d) The team whose player scores first, while the counterpart misses will be
declared the winner.
Protests
47. All protests must be filed to a member of the MNRF Hockey Tournament Committee within
one (1) hour of the completion of the game in question.
48. Only the team captain and/or coach may file the protest.
Section B –Seeding of Teams
All teams who register for the tournament must submit a team roster indicating
a) The eligibility status of each player,
b) the age of each player
c) And each player’s previous hockey experience including the highest level of
organized hockey played.
d) The roster should be signed by a MNRF Hockey Team manager.
Seeding will be done by the tournament organizing committee. Final seeding or any disputes regarding
seeding will be decided by the MNRF Hockey Tournament Committee.
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The initial seeding of teams will be based on the results of the previous tournament as
follows.
i. The teams placing first and second in the final standings in each division will be
moved up to the next highest division.
ii. The teams finishing last and second last in the final standings will be moved
down to the next lowest division.
2
If teams cannot be seeded based on rule 1 (due to changes in entries) the seeding will be
based on the final standings for the last three tournaments.
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If teams cannot be seeded according to rules 1 and 2, the teams will be seeded as
follows.
i. Based on the relative experience and age of the players.
ii. By consent of the team if seeded in a division higher than determined by rules
1 and 2 or by player experience or age.
iii. As determined by the MNRF Hockey Tournament Committee.
A fifth division may be added if there are too many teams to manage in a four division
tournament.
Section C – Provincial Committee Structure and Tournament fund
1.
The MNRF Hockey Tournament Committee shall be composed of a total of 8 members of which
there will be seven permanent members and one member of the current year’s tournament
hosting committee.
2.
The permanent members will be comprised of one member from each MNRF region, one
representing the women’s division and three “at large” members and shall be selected by any
method deemed appropriate. The member of the current year’s tournament hosting committee
shall be selected by the hosting committee. The women’s representative will be selected from
the women’s players by any means deemed appropriate. All members representing MNRF
regions and women’s division shall be permanent MNRF employees but committee “at large”
members may include retired MNRF staff.
3.
The permanent members and the women’s representative may remain on the tournament
committee until such time as they decide to resign. The permanent members will select a chair
from amongst themselves. The chair shall remain in the position for a term as determined by the
permanent members. The member of the current year’s tournament committee shall remain on
the committee until the end of the current year’s tournament.
4.
Decisions will be made based on consensus of the permanent members and the member of the
current year’s hosting committee. If consensus cannot be reached the chair will make the final
decision.
Provincial Hockey Tournament Fund
If profits permit each tournament will donate $500.00 towards a Provincial Hockey Tournament Fund until
balance of $2,000.00 is reached.
Funds are available as seed money or to cover cost overruns as needed.
The fund will be administered by the MNRF Provincial Hockey Tournament Committee.
Fund to be maintained at $2000.00
It is suggested that each tournament support the local community through donations to and/or
partnerships with charity or community groups.
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Section D - Suggested Scheduling Formats
The standard for game scheduling is:
 Thursday - 1 game
 Friday - 2 games
 Saturday - 1 game and a second game for the winners of the Saturday morning game.
Division with Ten Teams - one group
Each team plays 3 games in the round robin and are seeded in the playoffs according to the overall
standings after the round robin.
Round robin schedule:
Game 1
1v2
3v4
5v6
7v8
9 v 10
Game 2
1v4
2v3
5v8
6v9
7 v 10
Game 3
1 v 10
4v5
2v9
6v7
3v8
Playoff schedule
Game #
1
2
3
4
5
Cons final
Champ final
Teams
TH
6 place v 7 place
TH
TH
5 place v 8 place
ND
RD
2 place v 3 place
ST
TH
1 place v 4 place
TH
TH
9 place v 10 place
winner G‐1 v winner G‐2
winner G‐3 v winner G‐4
TH
Division with Eight teams - 2 four team groups
Round robin: each team plays 3 games within their own group
Playoffs:
Championship:
st
nd
Team finishing 1 in group A plays team finishing 2 in group B
nd
st
Team finishing 2 in group A plays team finishing 1 in group B
Winners of games above playoff for championship
Consolation:
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rd
th
Team finishing 3 in group A plays team finishing 4 in group B
th
rd
Team finishing 4 in group A plays team finishing 3 in group B
Winners of games above playoff for consolation championship
Division with Six teams - one group
Round robin: each team plays 3 games
Playoffs:
Championship:
st
Team finishing 1 has a bye to the finals.
nd
rd
st
Teams finishing 2 and 3 play with winner playing 1 place team for championship
Consolation:
th
Team finishing 4 has a bye to the consolation finals.
th
th
th
Teams finishing 5 and 6 play with winner playing 4 place team for consolation championship.
Division with Four teams - one group
Round robin: each team plays 3 games
Playoffs:
Championship:
st
Team finishing 1 has a bye to the finals.
nd
rd
st
Teams finishing 2 and 3 play with winner playing 1 place team for championship
Uneven number of teams
Division with Seven teams - one group
Round robin: each team plays 3 games
Playoffs:
Championship:
st
Team finishing 1 has a bye to the finals.
nd
rd
st
Teams finishing 2 and 3 play with winner playing 1 place team for championship
Consolation:
th
th
Team finishing 4 plays team finishing 7
th
th
Team finishing 5 plays team finishing 6
Winners of games above playoff for consolation championship
Note: One team plays two games on Thursday to ensure that all teams get three round robin games, but
the second game does not count for the team that plays twice.
Division with Five teams - one group
Round robin: each team plays 3 games
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Playoffs:
Championship:
st
Team finishing 1 has a bye to the finals.
nd
rd
st
Teams finishing 2 and 3 play with winner playing 1 place team for championship
Consolation:
th
th
Team finishing 4 plays team finishing 5
th
th
nd
rd
Winner of 4 v 5 plays loser of 2 v 3 for consolation championship
Note: One team plays two games on Thursday to ensure that all teams get three round robin games, but
the second game does not count for the team that plays twice.
Or (depending on available ice time and budget)
Round robin: each team plays 4 games
Schedule for round robin
Thursday
1v2
3v4
5v1
2v4
Friday
3v5
2v3
4v1
5v2
1v3
5v4
Playoffs: number of games played Saturday reduced due to extra game in round robin
Championship:
st
Team finishing 1 has a bye to the finals.
nd
rd
st
Teams finishing 2 and 3 play with winner playing 1 place team for championship
Consolation:
th
th
Team finishing 4 plays team finishing 5 for consolation championship
Division with Three teams - one group
Round robin: each team plays the other two teams twice
Championship: Team finishing first plays team finishing second
Note: Try to schedule so that each team plays at least one game on Saturday
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Section E – Awards
Note: Teams presented with trophies are responsible for updating the trophy and delivering the trophy to
the organizing committee of the following year’s tournament prior to the beginning of that tournament.
A Division
Champions: The Reynolds Cup. Donated by Dr. J.K. Reynolds
Finalists: Ron Vanden Tillart trophy
Consolation Champion: no trophy awarded
B Division
Champions: B Championship Trophy
Consolation Champion: no trophy awarded
C Division
Champions: C Championship Trophy. Donated by Muskoka Containerized Services Ltd.
Consolation Champion: no trophy awarded
D Division
Champions: D Division Championship Trophy. Donated by Munro’s Archery, Carleton Place
Consolation Champion: no trophy awarded
E Division
Champions: E Division Championship Trophy
Consolation Champion: no trophy awarded
Women’s Division
Champions: Women’s Division Trophy
Consolation Champion: no trophy awarded
Turkeys of the Tournament
The team with the poorest record is awarded the OFAH Turkeys of the Tournament Award
Best Participating Team
The team that exhibits the most spirit and participation in keeping with the goal and code of
conduct of the tournament will be awarded the Best Participating Team Trophy
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