RULES

Event Contacts:

Matt Miles

Tournament Director

Exposure Hockey Group

Cell: (802)-595-0860

Email: mattmiles@eehockeygroup.com

Barry Kerrigan

Tournament Management

Exposure Hockey Group

Cell: 802-734-6264

Email: barry@kerrigan4.com

Area Code Hockey is governed by the rules of AAU and privatley insured through AAU, and it is the responsibility of each player, coach, and team manager to be familiar with these rules and ensure all participating players and coaches are registered with AAU or privately insured with Eastern Exposure Hockey.

TOURNAMENT MANAGEMENT:

The Tournament Management shall be responsible for resolving all inquires or disputes regarding off-ice rule application or interpretation, player eligibility, disciplinary action and any other procedural disputes. Exposure Hockey Group supports zero tolerance initiatives for verbal abuse of any player, official, parent or spectator. The Tournament/Showcase Management or arena staff reserves the right to remove any violator from the premises. He/she will not overturn any dispute concerning rules and/or the judgment applied by on-ice officials. All decisions of the Tournament Management are final!

ROSTERS:

TRAVEL PERMIT — All teams must be approved by Exposure Hockey Group prior to each event.

ROSTER SUBMISSION — Player rosters approved by Exposure Hockey Group are required for all participating teams and shall be proof that all participating teams are properly registered and must be submitted to Exposure Hockey Group at least 10 days before any event start date.

• Rosters are frozen on the first day once the puck drops for the first game.
• All players are 2014 birth year or younger unless otherwise approved by tournament management.

GAME OPERATIONS:

Area Code Hockey events will follow the USA Hockey Rule Book *in addition to* various rule changes below.

NOTE: Area Code Hockey events are not USA Hockey sanctioned, rather privately insured.

ICE AND NETS — Area Code Hockey events are full-ice with full-size nets.

HOME TEAM/AWAY TEAM — As determined by the schedule - the home team will wear dark colored jerseys and the away team will wear light colored jersey unless otherwise agreed to by the coaches prior to the game.

MOUTH GUARDS— While mouth guards are strongly encouraged, mouth guards are not required.

WARM UP — One (1) three (3)-minute warm up. Teams are to provide their own pucks.

PERIOD LENGTH — Three (3) fifteen (15)-minute stop time periods.

ICE CUT — An ice cut will follow at the end of every game. All games will start on clean ice.

READY TIME — All teams must be ready to play 15 minutes prior to their scheduled start time.

LATE TO ICE — If a team is late getting on to the ice for warm-up, they can be assessed a minor for delay of game.

TIMEOUTS — Each team will be allowed one (1) thirty (30)-second timeout.

MERCY RULE — Play clock will go to running time if goal differential is 6 at the beginning of the third period.

ICING — Automatic Icing.

• Teams cannot ice the puck on penalty kill.

OFFSIDES — "Tag Up" Offsides.

• The attacking team may "tag up" by having all players exit the offensive zone. At that point the offside is waved off and the attacking team may re-enter the offensive zone in pursuit of the puck.

PENALTIES—Minor 1:30 minutes, Major 4:00 minutes, Misconduct 7.5 minutes

FIGHTING — Fighting is strictly prohibited. Any player involved in a fight may be dismissed at the discretion of Tournament Management and referees. If a game is interrupted by on ice fighting between players and/or bench staff, then the clock may continue to run. Games times will not be restored until the whistle has blown on the play that immediately follows the on-ice fight. Minutes lost will not be restored.

ROUND-ROBIN AND PLAYOFF RULES IN A TOURNAMENT SITUATION:

• TIES — If playoff game is tied after regulation time has expired, a sudden death overtime period will commence.
• OVERTIME — Teams will skate 3-on-3 for one (1) five (5)-minute sudden death overtime period.
  • If a team is assessed a penalty; teams will skate 4-on-3 for the length of the penalty. Once the penalty is over, the game will proceed with 4-on-3 play until a whistle blows the play dead. Each team will then revert back to 3-on-3 play.
  • If playoff game is tied after the sudden death overtime period, a shootout will commence.
• SHOOTOUTS — Three (3) round sudden death shootout.
  • Players are designated by each coach.
  • Home team will have choice of shooting first or second.
  • If shootout is tied after the first three (3) rounds, in turn, the shootout will continue player by player until a winner is determined (sudden death).
  • All players must take part in the shootout before a repeated player can shoot again.
  • A player serving a penalty at the end of an overtime period cannot take part in shootout. 

STANDINGS AND PLAYOFF SEEDS WILL BE DETERMINED BY (IN ORDER):

1) Most Points

2) Head to Head (this will only be considered if 2 teams are tied or all the teams are hon are tied have played each other )

3) Most Wins 

4) Most Regulation Wins 

5) Goal Differential (total goals for - total goals against)

• Goal differential max. is +/-6
  • For example, if Team A defeats Team B by a score of 10-1, the Team A goal differential is +6 rather than +9 while the Team B goal differential is -6 rather than -9.

6) Least Goals Against Overall

7) Coin toss

POINT TOTALS:

• Regulation Win = 3 PTS
• Overtime or Shootout Win = 2 PTS
• Overtime or Shootout Loss = 1 PT
• Regulation Loss = 0 PTS

NOTE: Playoff structure and schedule is clearly input as part of the online schedule.

• As most are aware, there is a significant shortage of referees and game officials across the country right now. Exposure Hockey Group has coordinated carefully with local Referee-In-Chief(s) and schedulers to have complete game coverage, and we are hopeful for no disruptions.
• In the event of a shortage of game officials, teams may have to play a game with only one official. These games will go on as scheduled and count as normal. In the event of a lack of at least one game official for whatever reason, the game will be cancelled. If possible, with available sources, ice times, and within the structure and timeframe of the tournament, Exposure Hockey Group may attempt to reschedule the game at a time and location acceptable to BOTH teams and SOLEY at the discretion of Exposure Hockey Group.
• If the game is cancelled and not rescheduled, the game will be recorded as a 0-0 tie in the tournament results and standings. Exposure Hockey Group understands the potential implications of this, and will work to avoid it, but a solution to everyone’s satisfaction and/or that impacts many more teams may not be possible on short notice

EVENT CANCELLATION:

If Exposure Hockey Group is prevented by circumstances outside of its control from hosting any Area Code Hockey event due to a restriction on sports imposed by emergency governmental order or if Exposure Hockey Group cancels any Area Code Hockey event in its sole discretion, all teams registered-paid to play will receive a portion or full registration fees paid to Exposure Hockey Group. Refunds will be paid in the same form of payment that was made by the team. Credit cards will be refunded the amount, minus the processing fee.

BEST INTEREST OF AREA CODE HOCKEY:

Exposure Hockey Group reserves the right to add, amend or remove any Exposure Hockey Group procedure, policy, rule or regulation, including, but not limited to, playing rules, eligibility rules, game format, to select or permit qualified teams/individuals to participate in the Paradise Puck or to align or change teams, in any particular skill level at any time, if it is deemed in the best interest of Area Code Hockey. All decisions of Exposure Hockey Group are final.

As a group you must confirm and understand all of the items in this document and ensure every program member and participant understands the same.