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Rules
Gameplay
2025-26 Rule Changes
- Teams at the Youth 15-Only and above and Girls 16U and above can ice the puck while playing shorthanded.
- Teams at the Youth 15-Only and above, and Girls 16U and above, are allowed to play with Delayed/Tag-up Offsides.
Act of God (Game Delay Policy)
Should an “act of god” happen that delays the game for 30 minutes or more, the game may be called and the score remains as is. The game must be in the second period or later. This could be due to power failure, weather, broken glass, serious injury, or anything else based on the tournament directors discretion.
Playing Rules
USA Hockey Sanctioned Tournament - USAH requires that our tournament be registered and that all participating teams, players and coaches be USA Hockey/Canadian Amateur Hockey Assoc/IIHF registered.
The sanction number for the is TBA.
Game Lengths
| Age Level | Periods | Period Length |
|---|---|---|
| Youth 18U | 3 | 15 Minutes* |
| Youth 16U | 3 | 15 Minutes* |
| Youth 15O | 3 | 15 Minutes* |
| Youth 14U | 3 | 15 Minutes* |
| Youth 13U | 3 | 15 Minutes |
| Youth 12U | 3 | 14 Minutes |
| Youth 11U | 3 | 14 Minutes |
| Youth 10U | 3 | 14 Minutes |
| Youth 9U | 3 | 13 Minutes |
| Youth 8U | 3 | 13 Minutes |
| Girls 19U | 3 | 15 Minutes* |
| Girls 16U | 3 | 15 Minutes* |
| Girls 14U | 3 | 14 Minutes |
| Girls 12U | 3 | 14 Minutes |
*Ice cuts every 2 periods
Penalties
USA Hockey rules and penalties shall apply to all games. Penalties shall be 1:30 Minor Penalties, 4:00 Major Penalties, and 8:00 Misconducts. It is the responsibility of each coach to read the score sheet after each game and to ensure that suspended players are advised of their suspension and not permitted to play in the next game.
Running Clock
If a 7 goal spread exists at ANY point during the 2nd period, running time will ensue. If at any point the lead is cut to 4 goals in the 2nd period, the clock will stop again.
If a 5 goal spread exists at the start of the 3rd period, or at any time during the 3rd period - running time will ensue. If at any point the lead is cut to 2 goals, the clock will stop again.
The clock will stop to register any penalties, and resume running as soon as the penalty is posted on the clock.
Start Times
Teams / Officials must be ready to start games up to 15 minutes early. Games may start earlier than 15 minutes before the scheduled start time at the Tournament Director’s discretion.
Timeouts
NO Timeouts for preliminary and consolation games. One 60 second timeout per team is permitted in all playoff / elimination games.
Tournament Structure
Advancements
Playoff team seeding will be listed on the schedule shortly after the final division game is completed.
Division Formats
Division formats will be announced at a later date.
Overtime/Shootout
No tie games. A winning team must be declared.
Preliminary Games
- 3-player shootout
- Sudden death shootout*
Playoff/Elimination Games
- Goaltenders switch ends
- One 3-minute period of 3-on-3 play
- 3-player shootout
- Sudden death shootout*
*No shooter may shoot twice before every player on the bench has shot once. Players serving a penalty at the conclusion of the game may NOT shoot in the shootout.
Tiebreaker Rules for Team Seeding
Tiebreaker Disclaimer
At any point in the tiebreaker process, if one tied team defeated all other tied teams in preliminary play, that team is seeded first among the tied teams. Conversely, if one tied team lost to all other tied teams, that team is seeded last among the tied teams.
Tiebreaker A: Two Teams Tied
When two teams have equal points, seeding is determined in the following order:
- Head-to-Head
- Goal Quotient = Goals For / (Goals For + Goals Against)
- Fewest Goals Against
- Fastest Goal
- Coin Flip
Tiebreaker B: Three or More Teams Tied
For a three or more team tie, head-to-head will be used if two teams have the same goal quotient (if applicable).
- Goal Quotient = Goals For / (Goals For + Goals Against)
- Fewest Goals Against
- Fastest Goal
- Coin Flip
Results
All games will be posted on the Matthew Tkachuk Cup Schedule page.
Scoring
All divisions will be scored:
- 3 points – Regulation win
- 2 points – Shootout win
- 1 point – Shootout loss
- 0 points – Regulation loss
Officials
Off-Ice Officials
Each team competing in a given game shall provide a penalty box attendant for their team's penalty box.
In the event that parents are running the game clock, then the penalty box attendants are not required unless penalty boxes cannot be accessed from the score clock area.
On-Ice Officials
All games for all age divisions shall be assigned at least two referees.
For Bantam Major, Midget, Girls 16U and Girls 19U, a three-ref system MAY be used WHEN APPLICABLE. Only USAH officials will be used for the tournament.
Medical Personnel, Trainers and Emergency Protocols
200x85 Tournaments require ice arenas to have a venue-specific emergency action plan for our hockey events. Due to limitations of availability, 200x85 does not require certified athletic trainers at those venues.
Many teams have started to provide athletic trainers as part of their team staff for full-contact playing divisions (13U and older). All Ontario teams, for example, are required to have a certified trainer on their bench or coaching staff.
We encourage teams, at their discretion, to provide athletic trainers if possible.
200x85 also recommends that any team or club with its own athletic trainer require the trainer to provide their own general liability insurance.
For any and all host facilities, the tournament protocol for medical emergencies is to follow the arena's action plan.
If a player is in need of medical attention, site directors can help provide the closest immediate care facility or emergency room hospital.
In severe instances, 911 is recommended for paramedics to arrive as early as possible.
Scoresheets
It is the responsibility of each team to provide scoresheet labels for your team roster prior to each game and to make appropriate changes/notations to the scoresheet.
It is also your responsibility to pick up your copy of the scoresheet after EVERY GAME from the rink director’s table.
Equipment
Jerseys
For ALL games; home team listed shall wear its white/light colored jersey and the visiting team listed shall wear its colored/dark jerseys.
Mouthguards
All players, including goalkeepers, in the 12U through 18U classifications are required to wear a colored (non-clear) mouthguard.
Hockey Canada rules do not mandate the wearing of a mouthpiece at any age classification where a full facemask is required. Therefore, Hockey Canada registered teams are not required to wear a mouthpiece while playing in the United States.
Neck Guards
Neck guards are required by USAH. All players must wear a neck laceration protector with no alterations.
Discipline
Coaches, Parents & Other Team Personnel
Coaches, parents and other team or association personnel may be suspended or expelled from participation in the event, including all games and removal from the rink premises, for conduct deemed by the Tournament Director to be detrimental to the best interests of youth hockey. Such conduct shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
- Fighting or inciting others to fight.
- Obscene language, conduct or behavior.
- Language, conduct or behavior intended to intimidate others.
- Refusal and/or failure to immediately heed a directive from a referee, from authorized rink personnel, or from the Showcase Director.
On-Ice Team Conduct
200x85 is committed to ensure greater safety and inclusiveness in hockey by identifying and addressing these issues with any player, coach or parent, in compliance with USA Hockey rules.
ANY alleged discrimination complaint will have a mandated written report and will be addressed immediately with team officials and turned over to the Affiliate President, Chair of Rules & Ethics, and Chair of Suspensions.
Player Suspensions and Expulsions
Any player who receives a major penalty for fighting, or a game misconduct of any kind, in a game, shall automatically be suspended from the balance of that game and his next game.
USA Hockey Official Playing Rules shall govern the assessment of penalties. At the conclusion of each game, the coach of each team shall be responsible for reviewing the score sheet (front and back) to determine whether any player or team official has been suspended or disqualified from participating in any future game.
The tournament director has no authority to overturn any penalties, misconducts, or suspensions issued by the certified on-ice officials.
Protests
A game, including its outcome, may not be protested based on the judgments or “calls” made by an on-ice official. Video evidence cannot overturn any goal or non-goal call.
The scoresheet is final. A game, including its outcome, may be protested based on the opponent’s use of an ineligible player, or on a gross violation of rules or of protocol that clearly has an impact on the game and that injures to the detriment of youth hockey.
PROTESTS MAY ONLY BE RECEIVED FROM THE TEAM’S HEAD COACH, MANAGER OR CLUB DIRECTOR.
Racial Slurs
Anyone penalized under Rule 601 (e.3) will receive a match penalty, which carries a five-minute penalty, disqualification from that game, and suspension from further participation until such time the governing Affiliate has conducted a hearing to review the matter. Affiliates have up to 30 days to investigate and conduct a hearing and the offending individual(s) is subject to further discipline.
Our affiliate protocol indicates that if an accused racial slur is not heard by the on ice officials, the team staff should make the officials aware of the slur, the officials then must address the accusation with the opponents coaches and at the conclusion of the game, issue an incident report with the accusations. The tournament does not have the ability to suspend or penalize a player or team for alleged and accused statements unless this is documented with the referees/scoresheet.
The use of hateful language is a hurdle to creating a welcoming environment for families that want to be involved in our sport. Eradicating this kind of behavior from our game is critical as we continue to make a positive impact on society through hockey.
Rosters & Eligibility
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