CHALLENGE CUP RULES 2020-2021
 

1. The NSMHC sanctions this league championship; all rules and regulations of the Council will be in effect.
2. All games will consist of a three-minute warm up and three – 15-minute stop time periods for U15 and U18 and three 10-minute stop time periods for U13 and U11
3. U11 and U13 due to the 50 minute ice time flooding will take place between games. 
4. U15 - U18 Floods will take place after every two periods of play (ex- First game- Flood after second period/ Second game- Flood after first period/ Flood before third game then again after second period)
5. All semi-final and final games will start with a clean sheet of ice and flood after the second period
6. Any games forfeit will be awarded a score of 5 – 0 in the standings.
7. After a 5-goal differential that games will then run straight time for the remainder of the game. 
8. Standings in the round robin play will be based on the following: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, 0 points for a loss
9. Tie breaking method for round robin play will follow Hockey Nova Scotia Regulations 23.11 (Revised July, 2017).  See appendix A attached.
10. If games are running behind, we will be switching to straight time to keep on schedule. 
11. First and second place teams will play in the championship games.
12. ALL DIVISIONS: There is 1 timeout for each team in the crossover and championship games. NOT IN THE ROUND ROBIN. 
13. All U18 and U15 championship games will consist of three – 15-minute stop time periods.  All U13 and U11 championship games will consist of three – 12-minute stop time periods.
14. Tie breaking in the championship game will be decided using the following procedure:
15. A five-minute stop time sudden death period will be played 4 on 4.
16. If the game is still tied, a shootout will decide the winner.
17. Each team will use three players. If the game is still tied, then each team will choose one player until a winner is declared. All Players on each team must have the opportunity to shoot before a player can shoot twice.
18. Teams will be admitted to dressing rooms 30 minutes prior to game time and teams are asked to vacate dressing rooms immediately following their game.
19. Players, coaches and parents are asked to cooperate in keeping the arena, dressing rooms, and annex clean and tidy.
20. Any player or coach receiving a game/gross misconduct, or match penalty will be dealt with in accordance to the NSMH Code of Discipline.
21. No protests will be entertained. The tournament chairpersons and committee will make any decision necessary during the tournament play.
22. Suspensions given during the tournament will follow NSMH rulings.
23. A player can play on the team that he/she is registered with for the league championship and can play for one team only. (Exceptions may be made for goaltenders, depending on the situation. Teams using ineligible players will forfeit their game.
24. All pertinent Public Health and facility restrictions will apply obviously. (Please review attached document and share with your coaches, bench staff, Players, parents etc). 

 
APPENDIX A
23.11. Tie Breaking Sequence Two Teams Tied
If two or more teams are tied at the conclusion of a round robin series, then the following procedure will be used to determine the final ranking before the semifinal and final games are played.
In the event that teams are tied for a playoff position, the following procedure will apply: If two teams are tied:
a) The winner of the round robin game between the two tied teams gains the higher position.
b) The team with the most wins in the round robin gains the higher position. Regulations August 2017 (Revised) Page 80 of 95
c) If the two teams are still tied after 1)a and 1)b have been applied, then the team with the best goal average gains the higher position. The goal average of a team is to be determined in the following manner:
Total number of goals for divided by the total number of goals for and against.
NOTE: All round robin games are included.
Example: For = 10 goals Against = 4 goals Therefore Goal Average Percentage = 10 (Goals For) divided by 10+4 (Goals For plus Goals Against) = .714
NOTE: The higher percentage gains the higher position
d) If the two teams are still tied after 1)a, 1)b, and 1)c have been applied, the team with the least number of minutes in penalties throughout all of the round robin games, gains the higher position.
e) If the two teams are still tied after 1) a., 1) b., 1) c., and 1) d. have been applied, then the team which scored the first goal in the game between the tied teams gains the higher position.
f) If the two teams are still tied after 1)a, 1)b, 1)c, 1)d, and 1)e have been applied, a single coin toss will determine which team gains the higher position.
Three or More Teams Tied
Note: The three-team tiebreaker is used to determine the seeding of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd seed. If any step in the tiebreaker only seeds one team, that team assumes that position. The three-team tiebreaker will continue to determine the seeding of the two remaining teams. At no time will teams using this formula go back to the two-team tiebreaker
 
 
2) If three teams or more are tied, the head to head record between tied teams will determine who advances. If the tied teams have not all played each other, proceed to 2a.
a) The team with the most wins would gain the highest position.
b) If teams are still tied after 2) a. has been applied, then the team with the best goal average gains the highest position. The goal average of a team is to be determined in the following manner: total number of goals for divided by total number of goals for and against.
NOTE: All round robin games are included
Example: For = 10 goals Against = 4 goals
Therefore Goal Average Percentage = 10 (Goals For) divided by 10+4 (Goals For plus Goals Against) = .714
NOTE: The highest percentage gains the highest position(s).
The exercise of 2)b establishes the team or teams with the highest position(s) by percentage. These teams will advance. If there are still teams tied, they go to the next step. They do not go back to the “Two Team Tiebreaker”. Example;

1. Team A - .714 = 1 seed - Advances. Team B - .500 = 3 seed - Does not advance. Team C - .650 = 2 seed - Advances.
2. Team A - .714 = 1 seed - Advances. Team B - .500 = Still tied with team C - go to next step 2)c. Team C - .500 = Still tied with team B - go to next step 2)c.
3. Team A –. 650 = Still tied with team B – go to next step 2) c. Team B - .650 = Still tied with team A – go to next step 2)c. Team C - .500 = Does not advance.

c) If teams are still tied after 2)a, and 2)b, the team with the fewest goals against (all round robin games played) will gain the highest position.
d) If teams are still tied after 2)a, 2)b, and 2)c, the team with the most goals for (all round robin games played) will gain the highest position.
e) If teams are still tied after 2)a, 2)b, 2)c, and 2)d, have been applied, the team to qualify would be the team that received the least number of minutes in penalties throughout all the round robin games.
f) If teams are still tied after 2)a, 2)b, 2)c, 2)d, and 2)e, have been applied, a coin toss shall determine the winner. In a three team coin toss, the odd team gains the highest position.