Official Tournament Guidebook

Official Tournament Guidebook

1.Tournament Contact Information...... 3

2.Check-In Process...... 4

3.Awards Ceremony...... 5

4.Tournament Rules...... 6

5.Other Questions...... 11

1.Tournament Contact Information

Rick Nadeau, Tournament Director

(212) 465-5845 |

Brian Miller, General Manager of Floyd Hall Arena

(973) 746-7744 |

Jody Haliskoe, General Manager of Danbury Arena

(203) 794-1704 |

Official Tournament Website

Floyd Hall Arena Website

Danbury Arena Website

2.Check-In Process

  • General Tournament Policies
  • All teams must be paid in full prior to taking the ice.
  • Game rosters may consist of no more than 12 positional players and 1 goaltender (13 player maximum).
  • All players in the 21 & Older Division must be age 21 or older as of March 1, 2012.
  • All players in the 30 & Older Division must be age 21 or older as of March 1, 2012.
  • Players who have competed at the Major Junior, NCAA Division I level or any form of professional playing experience are ineligible.

The list of qualifying leagues includes:

Major Professional

National Hockey League

Minor Professional

American Hockey League

ECHL

Central Hockey League

Southern Professional Hockey League

Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey

Federal Hockey League

Major Junior

Ontario Hockey League

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

Western Hockey League

**Players who have competed in European professional leagues are also ineligible**

  • Photo ID must be displayed when checking in
  • Only those players that were originally registered and rostered with the team may participate.
  • There will be no player substitutions allowed once the tournament begins.
  • The following materials must be submitted when checking in:
  • A signed copy of the Skate to the Garden waiver.
  • An acknowledgement that you received the tournament guidebook.
  • Teams will then be directed to the appropriate dressing rooms by a Skate to The Garden staff member.
  • Please do not bring valuables to the rink.

  • Floyd Hall & Danbury Arenas
  • Spectators
  • Teams are allowed to bring spectators to both facilities
  • Spectators are expected to abide by the following rules:
  • Spectators shall not interfere with the event, the athletes in any way.
  • Spectators are not to throw any object(s) on the ice before, during, or after the game.
  • Spectators shall refrain from using foul/offensive language, fighting, obscene gestures, throwing objects and engaging in other behavior detrimental to the experience of other guests.
  • Spectators are not allowed on the ice, in the player benches, or in the team’s locker rooms.
  • Spectators shall comply with requests from arena staff regarding arena operational and emergency procedures.
  • Spectators are required to follow all other rules otherwise posted by the Floyd Hall & Danbury Arenas.
  • Any spectator notin compliance with these rules may be asked to leave the venue.

  • MSG Training Center
  • No spectators will be allowed inside the MSG Training Center without proper approvals from the Rangers Tournament Staff.
  • Players are not to leave the confines of the rink or enter any unauthorized areas of the facility.
  • Smoking and tobacco products are prohibited in the MSG Training Center.
  • Madison Square Garden
  • All tournament participants and up to a maximum of (8) guests for each member of the Championship Team will be allowed to watch the final game at Madison Square Garden.
  • A list of invited guests must be submitted to the tournament staff no later than 9:00 AM on Tuesday, March 20, 2012.
  • All spectators must arrive at the MSG Mall North Entrance by 3:00 PM on Wednesday, March 21, 2012.
  • Spectators must have an official guest pass in order to enter the building. Passes will be provided to each participant in the tournament, as well as (8) additional passes to each member of the Championship Team.
  • Players and spectators are only allowed in authorized areas of the facility.
  • Spectators are not allowed beyond the designated seating areas of Madison Square Garden.
  • Smoking and tobacco products are prohibited at Madison Square Garden.

3.Awards Ceremony

  • Each tournament participant will receive a special Awards Ceremony invitation to attend prior to the Rangers vs. Detroit game on March 21, 2012.
  • The Reception & Awards Ceremony is scheduled from 6:00 to 6:45 PM in the Theater Lobby at Madison Square Garden with doors opening at 5:00 PM.
  • Only tournament participants are eligible to attend and must have an invitation and photo ID to gain admission.
  • Additional details regarding the Awards Ceremony will be provided via email at a later date.

4.Tournament Rules

  • Equipment
  • The following equipment is required in order to participate:
  • Ice Hockey Skates
  • Ice Hockey Pants
  • Ice Hockey Helmet (HECC certified)

** Full or half shields are recommended but not required **

  • Shoulder Pads (recommended but not required)
  • Shin Pads
  • Elbow Pads
  • Ice Hockey Gloves
  • Ice Hockey Stick
  • Protective Cup
  • Game Format
  • Each game will have two 20-minute running time periods
  • The centerline will not be used for offside (2 line pass is legal)
  • The final two minutes of the second period will be stop time if the score is within two goals
  • Injury stop time will also be assessed at the referee’s discretion
  • There will be a 3-minute warm up before the game (clock starts when the doors for the ice resurfacer are closed) and a 2-minute intermission between periods
  • Each team is allotted one 30-second timeout per game.
  • The ice will only be resurfaced prior to the start of each new game.
  • The ice will not be resurfaced for intermissions or shoot-outs.
  • A 2-referee system will be used for all games.
  • There will be no icing.
  • Tie Breakers
  • During the Preliminary Round Robin, Pool Winners will be decided by the following criteria in this order:
  • Most points
  • Head-to-Head record
  • If a tie still exists then the following tie-breakers will be used in this order:

Least amount of Goals Allowed

Most amount of Goals For

Highest Goal Differential

Least total penalty time of the team

  • If a tie still exists, then the winner of the pool will be determined by a coin flip
  • Points
  • A regulation win will result in 3 (three) points for the winning team
  • A regulation loss will result in 0 (zero) points for the losing team
  • A shootout win will result in 2 (two) points for the winning team
  • A shootout loss will result in 1(one) point for the losing team
  • Ties
  • If a game ends in a tie, the winner will be determined by a 3-player shoot-out
  • The Home reserves the right to either shoot first or defer to the Visiting team
  • If the game is still tied after 3 players shoot, the winner will be determined by a 1-on-1 sudden death shoot-out
  • All members of the team must shoot once before a player may shoot a second time
  • Playoff Round
  • The top team from each bracket will advance into the Playoff Round
  • During the Playoff Round only the winning teams will advance

  • Rules and Regulations
  • This is a no-checking tournament
  • USA Hockey Adult Hockey rules will apply
  • Players are expected to abide by the code of conduct as outlined in the USA Hockey Rulebook
  • Fighting will not be tolerated in any form
  • Any player assessed a major penalty for fighting will be ejected from the tournament and no replacement player(s) will be allowed
  • No player is allowed on the ice or in the player bench area until the ice resurfacer doors are closed
  • Any player who skates under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be ejected immediately and will forfeit their entry fee
  • Penalties
  • There will be no coincidental penalties
  • Play may go down to 2-on-2, with penalties assessed
  • All penalties will be served with stop time
  • Minor Penalties
  • Minor penalty is 1.5 minutes
  • A double minor penalty (3 minutes on the clock) will be assessed if an official feels that an infraction is more severe than a minor penalty, but does not warrant a major and a game misconduct. Any penalty can be issued as a double minor.
  • Major Penalties
  • Major penalty is 5 minutes
  • A major penalty (5 minutes on the clock) will be assessed for any deliberate infraction that results in an injury or is determined by an official to be so violent that a double minor is deemed insufficient
  • Misconduct Penalties
  • Misconduct penalty is 10 minutes
  • A misconduct penalty (10 minutes with nothing on the clock) will be issued if an individual has done something that requires an individual to be penalized without penalizing the team. This is an excellent method to deal with issues such as taunting or behavior approaching abuse of official. Officials do not have to call a minor penalty in order to issue a misconduct penalty.
  • Any penalty assessed during or after the post-game handshake will be a game misconduct
  • Any penalties assessed resulting in more than 2 players in the penalty box at any one time will be served on the game clock upon expiration of prior penalties, so that no more than 2 penalties are being served concurrently
  • All players assessed with penalties will sit in the penalty box until expiration of their penalty time on the clock
  • If a player leaves the bench during an altercation that player will receive a game misconduct
  • A game ejection will be assessed to a player whose conduct is deemed detrimental to the safety of other players or a travesty of the game. A minor or double minor penalty may or may not be issued with a game ejection. A game ejection does not entail an additional game suspension. It is a method by which an individual can be removed from a game in order to diffuse a potentially dangerous situation
  • All penalties assessed will be served with stopped time
  • No hits or blows to the head of any kind will be tolerated. Any player found guilty of such an offense may be immediately ejected from the tournament.
  • Please refer to the USAH Rulebook for more information on penalties (
  • Line Changes
  • Line changes may only be performed "on the fly", after goals, penalties and pucks out of play
  • Line changes will not be allowed during play stoppages
  • Failure to comply with these rules will result in:
  • First offense – a warning from the referee
  • Second offense – a 1.5 minute bench minor for delay of game will be assessed to the offending team

  • Other Rules
  • Water/Sports Beverages
  • Teams are responsible for providing their own water/sports beverages
  • Please remove all bottles from the bench and locker room at the conclusion of each game
  • Alcoholic Beverages
  • No alcoholic beverages are to be brought into the Arena from the outside
  • Teams may not bring beer and/or any other alcoholic beverages to the locker room
  • Appeals
  • In the event there is a disagreement, teams reserve the right to file a protest
  • All protests must be filed during the game or immediately at its conclusion
  • A 3 member judging panel will review all cases and make a ruling that is binding and final
  • Injuries
  • All injuries on the ice must be reported to the Arena staff
  • Players that refuse to be evaluated by medical personnel can be disqualified from the tournament ifMSG staff deems the player is too injured to continue in the tournament
  • Substitute players may be allowed but only at the sole discretion of the judging panel

5.Other Questions

  • Q: Can I store my equipment at the participating facilities?
  • A: No. No gear or equipment is allowed to be left in any of the facilities or locker rooms overnight – or following the preliminary round games.
  • Q: Will tape be provided?
  • A: No. All players are responsible for bringing their own tape and accessories to all of the venues.
  • Q: Can I get my skates sharpened at Floyd Hall or Danbury Arena?
  • A: Yes, the arena has a pro shop where you can get your skates sharpened for an additional cost. There will be no sharpening or pro shop available at the Training Center or at MSG.
  • Q: Will pucks be provided?
  • A: Yes, MSG will supply all pucks needed for all of the games, regardless of the venue.
  • Q: Will I need to bring a dark/white jersey?
  • A: No, Skate to the Garden will provide you with a jersey for your use for the duration of the tournament. The jersey is yours to keep at the conclusion of the tournament.
  • Q: Will I have my choice of jersey number?
  • A: Yes. However, Tournament jerseys will be numbered 1-13 so the choice of number will be limited to jerseys provided.
  • Q: Can I take photos at the games?
  • A: Yes. We encourage all spectators to take cameras with them to the arena so they can capture their favorite hockey players in action!
  • Q: Is there a mercy rule?
  • A: No. Each game will played in its entirety regardless of the score