Big Bear Hockey Classic Tournament Official Rules

Game Format

5 Minute Warm-Up (pucks will be provided)

Three 17 Minute Running Time Periods

Stop Time in Last 2 minutes if score differential is 2 goals or less

Rules of Play

Blue Line Icing

Slapshots will be allowed in upper & middle divisions only

Tag-Up Offsides

No Checking Allowed

Each team will have one 30 second timeout (only to be used in the 3rd period)

Penalties

Penalties will be served in the penalty box and time will start at the drop of puck. Time will run during stoppages of play.

Penalty Shot/Power Play Cards

  • Each team may purchase one $25 Power Play card and one $25 Penalty Shot card for each game and each card may only be used for that game.

  • Both the PP and PS card may only be used/presented during a stoppage in play. The card must be presented to the referee by the captain (or designee). Referee will then hand to the scorekeeper.

  • If both teams present the card at the same time, the home team will get to use their card first. This will be up to the discretion of the referee(s). 

  • The team presenting the Power Play card can select any player from the opposing team (aside from the goalie) currently on the ice to serve the penalty.

  • The team presenting the Penalty Shot card can choose any of their players (goalies included) to take the penalty shot. 

  • The clock will run during all of this, unless it is in the final 2 minutes of a 2-goal (or less) game. 

  • PS/PP cards will NOT be available for the 3 championship games.

  • If the game ends and a team still has a card or cards remaining, they may not use it for a different game. 

  • In order to speed up the games, we will be implementing the "chase/live play" format for all PS cards. 

    • The player taking the PS will take the puck from the center ice dot (like a normal penalty shot), with all of the other 9 skaters on the blue line behind the shooter. 

    • Once the shooter reaches the blue line with the puck, the play is "live" and all of the other 9 skaters on the ice can "chase" down the shooter. 

    • If the shooter scores, the play is dead and there will be a face-off at center ice. 

    • If the shooter does not score on the PS, the play is live and both teams will carry on as normal. 

    • If a team chooses to have their goalie take the PS, the teams can agree to waive the chase/live PS during this scenario only.

Zero Tolerance for Fighting or “Cheap Shots”. Both will result in tournament ejection.

Refs

Each game will have at least 1 referee (2 schedule for each game currently)

No abuse of officials will be tolerated

Tournament Format

Standard round-robin format

Ties at the end of regulation will result in a tie.

Ties at the end of the championship and 3rd place games only will have a 5 minute sudden death overtime period, followed by a 3 person shootout, followed by a sudden death shootout until a winner is determined.

Round Robin Tie-Breakers

1. Head-to-Head Result

2. Most Wins

3. Goal Differential (GD)

4. Goals For (GF)

5. Goals Against (GA)

6. Goal Differential in Games Between Tied Teams

7. Coin Toss