AMBITION HOCKEY INVITATIONAL
TOURNAMENT RULES 2023

General

1. Each team will play a minimum of 4 games in the tournament
2. Referees will abide by the current USA Hockey Rulebook with the exceptions described in the tournament rules. No protests will be accepted regarding the judgement calls made by referees.  
3. Delayed off-side is allowed
4. Icing is allowed when killing a penalty
5. The team’s manager/coach must check-in with the tournament office prior your team’s first game and 30-40 min before each game. 
6. Pre-game warmup will be two minutes continuous time during the tournament. Teams must provide their own pucks.
7. Should a major delay occur (i.e. “act of god”, power failure, major injury, etc.), after ½ hour the game will be called, and the current score will be recorded, regardless of time remaining in game.
8. The ice will be resurfaced after every game unless otherwise directed by the tournament committee. 
9. Each team should be ready to play 15 minutes PRIOR to their scheduled start times without any advanced warning. A team that does not show up to a game will be subject to a disciplinary committee and possible expulsion from the tournament. A defaulted game result will be a 3 - 0 for the winning team and 0-3 result to the losing team.
10. All players must wear equipment as directed by their home association. We are not liable for any injury due to equipment that does not meet CSA/US approved safety regulations/requirements. 
11. Home teams are to wear light color jerseys and visitors wear dark.  If a team only has one jersey, the coaches shall coordinate as needed to avoid a jersey conflict.  
12. The HOME team for playoffs will be the team with the highest ranking after the preliminary round and will decide which jersey color the team will wear. 
13. Teams will be responsible financially for any damage to dressing rooms. Each team should leave the dressing room within 25 min. after each game.

Game Format – PRELIMINARY ROUND

1. Each division will play 3x15 minute stopped-time period games
2. No overtime during preliminary games, games will be recorded as a tie

Game Format – PLAYOFF ROUND

1. Each division will play 3x15 minute stopped-time period games
2. One 30-second time-out per team per game will be permitted in the playoff round 
3. During overtime, a team will never play fewer than 3 skaters and will add an additional player (i.e. 4 on the ice) until the penalized player of the opposite team returns to the ice.  At the next stoppage, teams will return to 3-on-3.
4.  If there is a tie game at the end of regulation time during playoff games, the following overtime rules will apply: 

• 1 x 3-minute stop-time sudden death period played 3-on-3 + goalie;  
• If tie remains, a sudden death shootout will be used with 1 player from each team. Should it still be tied after 1 shooter, the sudden death shootout continues until there is a winner. All players on the bench must shoot prior to a player shooting for a second time. Shooters of both teams will shoot at the same time from the Center Line. 

Penalties

1. Game Ejection: dismissed from that game only and reviewed by tournament committee
2. Game Misconduct: reviewed by tournament committee and may be subject to additional discipline. 
3. Fighting Penalty: anyone involved in Fighting ON or OFF the ice on premises will be ejected from the tournament. 
4. Match penalties: suspended for the remainder of the tournament.
   All misconducts shall be reviewed by the tournament committee. 

Standings

1. The point system for teams ranking in the standings will be as follows: 2 points for a WIN, 1 point for a TIE, & 0 point for a LOSS.  
2. Regardless of the final score, a team will not be credited with more than a 5-goal win.
3. Teams ranking in the standings will be sorted by Total Points
4. In the event of a tie (2 or more teams) for a playoff seed after applying ranking criteria, the following criteria will apply sequentially until 1 team and only 1 team is identified ahead of all other teams tied. That team has the next position in the standings while we repeat the whole process from 16 c) with the remaining teams to determine the team's ranking in the standings:
   - Head-to-Head (head-to-head only used first if all teams tied have played each other)
   - Most wins
   - Highest Goals Ratio (GF ÷ (GF+GA))
   - Least Goals Against (GA)
   - Most Goals For (GF)
   - Fastest goal between the teams concerned
   - Fastest goal at the beginning of a game in the preliminary round
   - Best BR and if GA=0, that team will be ahead of everyone.
   - Least penalty minutes during the tournament
   - Flip of a coin by the tournament coordinator

Eligibility and Rosters

1. Each player must be the proper age for each division.  The exception, is players may be younger but not older than the division 
2. The roster must include a unique jersey number for each player. 
3. Teams must provide a final official game roster prior to the start of the FIRST game with no additions being allowed after the game has started.  The exception to this rule is that injured, sick, or unavailable goalies may be replaced with the assistance/approval of tournament organizers.
4. All eligible players must be entered on the first game score sheet (max 20 players including goalies). 
5. Every team must dress a minimum of 6 players and 1 goaltender. 
6. A ten-minute delay will be permitted to dress a second goaltender in the event the regular goaltender is injured, and the does not have a second goalie dressed.  
7. A player can only play for one team in one specific division during this tournament. Failure to do so may disqualify said player. 

ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY

1. We strive to provide a great experience at our tournaments for all attendees.  Team Officials are responsible for their actions and those of the parents and players. Aggressive or abusive behavior on the part of any player, team official, coaching staff or parent may result of your team being suspended for the balance of the tournament. 
2. At all times, the Tournament Director has the final word on the interpretation of the rules and has the right to change or alter these rules without any prior notice to act in the best interests of the tournament.