BMHA Pre-Season Tilt

TOURNAMENT RULES 2026

BMHA Pre-Season Tilt

• General:
  • Team managers are asked to check in their team up to 45 minutes prior to their first tournament game to confirm their team roster.
  • The Tournament Director reserves the right to impose a running clock at any time during the tournament in case of an extended injury or an abnormal prolonged game delay.
  • 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.
  • If games are running behind, 13:00 will go on the clock and will roll until the first whistle of the game. Teams should be getting cleaned up from warm-up at the 11:00 min mark and be prepared for puck drop around the 10 min mark.
  • The ice will be resurfaced after every game unless otherwise directed by the Tournament Director.
  • Each team should be ready to play 15 minutes PRIOR to their scheduled start times without any advanced warning. A team that does not present itself 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.
  • The HOME team for playoffs only, will be the team with the highest ranking after the preliminary round and will decide which jersey color the team will wear.
  • Home Team will wear light colored jerseys and Away team will wear dark colored jerseys.
  • Referees will abide by the current Hockey Canada Rulebook. No protests will be accepted regarding the judgement calls made by referees.
  • Teams will be financially responsible for any damage to dressing rooms. Each team should leave the dressing room within 25 min. after each game.
• Playing Rules:
  • Teams are guaranteed 4 games during the weekend.
  • Pre-Game warmups will be two-minutes.
  • Teams must provide their own pucks for warm-up.
  • Teams must be prepared to play up to fifteen (15) minutes prior to their scheduled start time.
  • Games will not start earlier than 15 minutes prior, even if the ice is available.
• Game Lengths:
  • Games will be 10-10-10 for U10, U11, U12, U13.
  • Games will be 10-10-15 for U14, U15, U16, U18.
• Preliminary Games:
  • There will be no overtime in a preliminary game.
  • Games ending in a tie will be recorded as a tie game.
  • No time-outs during round robin play.
• Playoff Games:
  • Teams will be allowed one 30-second timeout per team, per game.
  • If there is a tie game at the end of regulation play during playoff games, the following overtime rules will apply:
    • 1x 3-minute stop-time sudden death period played 3-on-3 + goalie.
    • During overtime, a team will never play with less 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.
    • If a tie remains, a sudden death shootout will be used with a minimum of 1 shooter from each team. Should it still be tied after one shooter, the sudden death shootout will continue until there is a winner. All players on the bench must shoot prior to another player shooting for a second time.
    • Players receiving a penalty that does not expire during the end of the overtime period, are ineligible to shoot.
• Penalties:
  • All penalties will follow Hockey Canada and OMHA guidelines.
  • Suspensions will fall under the OHF guidelines.
• Mercy Rule:
  • If a difference of five or more goals exists at any time in the 2nd period in the preliminary round games or playoff games, the clock will become running time.
  • The time will stop again should the lead be reduced to a 3-goal margin.
  • During run-time time, penalties will posted as 3:00 for a minor and 8:00 for a major.
• Standings & Team Ranking:
  • The point system for teams ranking in the standings will be as follows:
    • 2 points for a WIN.
    • 1 point for a TIE.
    • 0 points for a LOSS.
    • Regardless of the final score, a team will not be credited with more than a 5-goal difference.
  • Teams ranking in the standings will be sorted as follows:
    • Total Points.
    • Head-to-Head (head-to-head not used if 3+ teams are tied and will only be used if all teams tied have played each other).
    • Most Wins.
    • Highest Differential “GF%” (GF÷(GF+GA)).
    • Least Goals Against.
    • Least Penalty Minutes during the tournament.
    • Flip of a Coin by the Tournament Director.
•  Protests:
  • Protests will not be accepted for any on-ice referee calls.
  • Protests on player eligibility must be submitted to the tournament office before your game.
• Code of Conduct:
  • We strive to provide a great experience at our tournaments for all attendees. Team officials are responsible for their actions and those of parents and players.
  • Aggressive or abusive behavior on the part of any player, team official, coaching staff or parent may result in your team being removed from the facility and suspended for the remainder.

Arena Locations: 

1. QSWC (FDC, Mackay, Wally Dever) - 265 Cannifton Rd, Belleville, ON K8N 4V8
2. Deseronto - 51 Mechanic St, Deseronto, ON K0K 1X0