Vail Eagle Hockey Association

GENERAL

• All teams, players and coaches must be registered with USA Hockey.
• There will be no combination or all-star teams admitted.
• Prior to each team's first tournament game, teams must provide the following at the credential table:
  1. USA Hockey Team Membership Application
  2. USA Hockey Player Roster form signed by USA Hockey Registrar
  3. IMR ( Individual Membership Registration) for each player
  4. Copy of each player's Birth Certificate
  5. Medical/Release Form for each player
  6. USA Coaching Cards
  7. USA Zero Tolerance Policy will be enforced for all players, coaches, officials and spectators

2. ENTRY FEE/REFUND POLICY

3. TEAMS/GAME FORMAT

• Level of play will be at the House/Recreational level for the age classifications of Squirt through Midget A. There will be Tier II classifications at the Midget Major AA, Midget Minor AA level and Bantam AA Level and Squirt AA Level
• There will be 4- 10 teams accepted at each of the following age classifications, with VEHA reserving the right to alter the number depending on ice availability: If less than 4 teams apply the age division may be dropped.
  • November 14-16 – Midget Major AA, Midget Minor A, Bantam A and B.  
  • November 21-23 – Squirt AA , A , and B, Peewee A and B
    • Note: First games may begin as early as 9:00 AM on Friday.
• Each team will be required to bring white/light home jerseys and dark away jerseys. If a team has only one jersey, they will notify the other team 30 minutes prior to the game to arrange changes in jersey colors.
• Each team is guaranteed a minimum of 4 pool play games, with the top two teams in each division advancing to the Championship Game. If more than 4 teams at any one level are accepted into the tournament, there will be the possibility of crossover games from each of the two pools to determine which teams play in the championship.
• All games shall consist of three (3) periods of play. For all age classifications, the first and second periods will be a fifteen (15) minute running clock and the third period will be a twelve (12) minute stop clock. There will be a one (1) minute rest period between periods of play. 3 minutes will be allotted for warm up.  Curfew Games will be allotted one hour from the time warm up begins.   Squirt games will be 12 Minutes Running and 12 minute stop.           
• When the goal differential is four (4) or more goals in any portion of the third period, the clock will continue to run. If a team scores, making the goal differential less than 4 in any portion of the third period, the clock will go back to stop time.
• The time clock will be stopped during a running time period in the event of injuries.
• Penalties will be clock time. Penalties will begin on the drop of the puck. If a penalty ends during a stoppage of play the player may not return to the ice until play has resumed. Any player assessed a match or major fighting penalty on the game sheet will not be allowed to continue to play in the tournament.
• Each team may have one time out per game.
• There will be no overtime play in any pool play game.
• Two (2) points will be awarded for a win, one (1) point for a tie & zero (0) points for a loss.
• The Tournament Director reserves the right to take any game to running or curfew time if the tournament game schedules fall more than 45 minutes behind. Curfew time is one hour per game and once imposed will remain in effect for the balance of the day.
• All teams must be present in the rink 45 minutes prior to scheduled game time. All teams must be dressed and ready to take the ice 25 minutes prior to their scheduled game time.
• There may be less than 4 hours between games for some teams in the tournament schedule. Every effort will be made to avoid this.
• Teams will be expected to travel between the Eagle Pool and Ice Rink in Eagle and Dobson Arena in Vail for games; we will attempt to keep travel to a minimum between games.
• Championship games will be held at Dobson Ice Arena in Vail.

4. PENALTIES/SPORTSMANSHIP

• The Vail tournament emphasizes sportsmanship. Please stress this with your coaches, parents and players. Fighting, abusive behavior, or unsportsmanlike conduct, including taunting at any time whether playing or observing will not be tolerated by players, coaches or spectators.
• Any player receiving a fighting penalty will be suspended for the remainder of the tournament.
• Any player receiving a major, other than fighting, (5-minute penalty) along with a game misconduct penalty will be suspended for the next 2 games of the tournament. The Tournament Director and the local supervisor of officials may impose an additional penalty up to and including suspension from all tournament games as well as submitting their findings to appropriate governing bodies.
•  Any player that receives a game misconduct penalty consisting of 5 penalties in one game will be suspended for the next two games of the tournament.
• Any team that receives 15 penalties in 1 game which results in the coach receiving a game misconduct, the coach will be suspended for the entire tournament.
• Game officials and tournament officials are empowered to call abuse penalties under rule 601 in the immediate area of the arenas, especially for any unsportsmanlike behavior or taunting. Players not actively participating in a game, assessed such a penalty will sit a minimum 10minute misconduct prior to participating in their next game, and may be removed from all tournament play.
• Any player removed from the ice for a violation of playing rules must immediately proceed to the team locker room and remain inside the locker room until teams have completed the game and left the ice. A registered team official must accompany the removed player until the completion of the game. Failure to remain in the Locker room will result in suspension from the tournament, and may be sent to CAHA disciplinary committee for supplemental discipline.
• Any spectator ejected for violation of the USA Hockey Zero Tolerance policy for parents and spectators will be banned from attending and/or participating in all remaining activities during the tournament. In addition, the spectator will not be allowed entry into any portion of the rink property (including locker complex, warming room, and rink area). Should a spectator attempt to gain access at any time during the tournament after ejection, the coach of the team this spectator is affiliated with will be held responsible for immediate removal of the spectator.
• The Tournament Director, in collaboration with the on-ice officials, reserves the right to declare a game official prior to the end of regulation time if the teams involved refuse to play hockey and are behaving in an unsportsmanlike manor or in any manor deemed detrimental to the game of hockey.
• All players, coaches, team officials, and spectators are expected to conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner at all times while observing/participating in tournament activities. Players, coaches, and spectators are expected to refrain from the use of vulgar and/or obscene language, gestures, etc. which could be constructed as unsportsmanlike in nature. Individuals persisting in such behavior after being asked to refrain could be subject to actions including banishment from participating in/observing the tournament and if necessary, criminal prosecution.
• The tournament committee will not tolerate abuse of officials and the referees on the ice will have the discretion to call bench penalties for any abuse of officials by the fans, parents, or team officials. Abuse penalties called at the end of a game will carry over to the start of your next tournament game.The referees shall have the option of ending any game should they feel the players or game officials are endangered. In such a case, the outcome of the game shall be determined by the Tournament Director, representative and/or on-ice officials.
•  All team officials, players, parents, and fans must follow the “ZERO TOLERANCE” rule listed in the current USA Hockey Rule Book, and as posted in the rink. Vail Eagle Hockey Association believes the tournament experience should be positive for teams and spectators. Remember it’s just a game!

5. CHECK IN:

6. TIE-BREAKER RULES

1. Two points will be awarded for each period a team wins in pool play (pool play is defined as all games except the championship game or if a semi final 5th game is added), one point for each period the teams are tied, 0 points for losing the period.
2. Winner of head to head competition
3. The team with the least amount of penalty minutes will advance if teams are still tied.
4. Subtracting the number of “goals scored against” from the number of “goals scored for” in the games played against the other teams in pool play, where their position shall be in the order of greater surplus.
5. Dividing the “goals scored” in these games by the “goals scored against”, where their position shall be determined by the greatest quotient.
6. If the above procedure does not break the tie, the teams shall use the “coin-toss” procedure to determine which teams advance.

7. CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

• Teams shall not change ends
• A two (2) minute rest period will be taken between the end of regulation play and the sudden death overtime period.
• The ice will not be made prior to the sudden death overtime period.
• Any overtime period shall be considered part of the game and all unexpired penalties shall remain in effect.
• The first team to score in the sudden death overtime period will be declared the winner.
• There will be up to two (2) sudden death periods each 4 minutes in duration. No rest period. The first period will be 4 on 4, the second period will be 3 on 3.  At no time will a teams numerical on ice strength fall below 3 players. Should a team with 3 players receive a penalty, the penalized player shall immediately proceed to the penalty box, the offending team will be allowed to place a substitute player on the ice and the non offending team will be allowed an extra player for the duration of the penalty. Upon expiration of the penalty the offending player may return to the ice thus keeping the teams at even strength until the next stoppage of play, at which time both teams will start the ensuing face-off with the correct numerical strength( 4 on 4 or 3 on 3 ).
• If the two teams are still tied at the end of the sudden death overtime periods, the winner will be determined by the “shoot-out” procedure.
• The “shoot-out” procedure is as follows:
  1. Each team will select five (5) players, who will alternately take penalty shots on the goalie.
  2. If after the first five (5) players have taken all their shots, the score remains tied, the process will be repeated with five (5) different players from each team, until the tie has been broken. The game score will reflect the original score, plus one goal for the winning team's shot.

8. AWARDS

9. LOCKER ROOMS

10. DAMAGES TO THE RINK and PROPERTY

11. EQUIPMENT/JERSEYS/NETS

• All players are required to wear a full compliment of hockey equipment, including colored mouth guards, as required by age group per USA Hockey.
• It will be the home team's responsibility to wear white/light colored jerseys and the visiting team's responsibility to wear dark colored jerseys. Tournament officials must be advised immediately if any team is unable to meet this requirement.
• Goal nets will be anchored by friction cleat devices as called for by the revised USA Hockey rules.

12. DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE/PROTESTS

• Discipline and protests will be decided by the Tournament Director and local Supervisor of officials
• Protests of any game must be made verbally within 15 minutes of any game and submitted in writing, with a protest fee of $ 200.00, within one hour of the alleged occurrence. The line of protest shall be:
  1. On-ice officials
  2. Protest Committee consisting of the Tournament Directors and local Supervisor of Officials.
  3. There may be no protests on playing rules, interpretation of playing rules by on-ice officials or judgment calls.
  4. If a referee or linesman fails to show for a game and the coaches agree to play, the coaches lose the right to protest any aspect of the game.
• The Discipline Committee shall be responsible for deciding any actions, suspensions or other actions to be taken against a player or team official.
• No player or team official shall be suspended from participation in the remaining games except as noted above, unless he/she has appeared before the committee and has been given the opportunity to relate his/her version of the incident. The Discipline Committee will meet prior to that team's next game.

13. OFF-ICE OFFICIALS

14. INTERPRETATION OF RULES