Event Rules

  1. The Alberta Challenge will be played under the official Hockey Canada Rules, with the exception of Hockey Alberta regulations and/or rules adopted by Hockey Alberta.
  2. Tie games shall not be broken in round-robin play.
  3. Game Time
    1. The length of all games will be 3 – 20 minute, stop-time periods with the ice being resurfaced between each period.
    2. All teams will play 4 games in a modified round robin format.
    3. 2 points will be given for a win, 1 point for a tie, and 0 points for a loss.
    4. Teams will be given a five-minute warm up period prior to each game, which begins at the scheduled game time.
  4. In the event teams are tied for a playoff position, here is how the Tie Break will work:
    1. If two teams are tied:
      1. The team with the most wins in the round-robin gains the highest position.
      2. The winner of the round-robin game between the two teams gains the highest position.
      3. If the two teams are tied after i and ii have been applied, then the team with the best goal average gains the highest position. The goal average of a team is to be determined by the total number of goals for divided by the total number of goals for and against (NOTE: All round-robin games are included). The highest percentage gains the highest position.
        Example:  For = 10 goals           Against = 4 goals

        10 = 10 = .714
        10+4 = 14
      4. If the two teams are still tied after i, ii and iii have been applied, the team with the least number of minutes in penalties, throughout all of the round robin games, gains the highest position.
      5. If the two teams are still tied after i, ii, iii and iv have been applied, the team that scored the first goal in the game between the two tied teams gains the highest position.
      6. If the two teams are still tied after i, ii, iii, iv and v have been applied, a single coin toss will determine which team gains the highest position.
    2. If three teams or more are tied, the games AMONG THE TIED TEAMS ONLY will be used in the tie breaking formulas i and ii below.
      1. The team with the most wins would gain the highest position.
      2. If teams are still tied after i 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 by the total number of goals for divided by the total number of goals for and against.
        1. If all three percentages are different for the three teams that are tied, then first, second and third place are all decided with the highest percentage gaining first place and the lowest percentage gaining third place. The tie breaking procedure will not go back to two teams tied.
      3. If two teams or more are still tied after i and ii have been applied, the team to qualify would be the team that received the least number of minutes in penalties throughout all of the round-robin games.
      4. If three teams are still tied after i, ii and iii have been applied, a coin toss will determine the highest position(s).
        1. For the coin toss involving three teams tied, all three teams will each toss a coin. The team that tosses the first “odd” coin is declared the first place position of the three tied teams.
        2. The two remaining teams will now toss a single coin with one of the teams declaring either “heads” or “tails”. The team that declared the toss and is successful would then be declared the second place team.  If the team that declared the toss is unsuccessful, that team is placed third.
  5. In the case of tied games on Sunday:
    1. If at the end of the three regulation 20 minute periods the score is tied, the following shall take place:
      1. Referee will allot a 2 minute break. Ice will not be resurfaced, teams will not change ends.
      2. The puck shall be faced-off at centre and the play shall continue with a 10-minute sudden victory 3 vs. 3 overtime period.
      3. If the score is still tied after the ten minute sudden victory overtime period, the teams would participate in a Shoot-out. Home team will shoot first in the shoot-out. Teams will assign 3 shooters per team.
      4. If there is a difference in the amount of goals scored between the two teams after 3 shooters per team, the team with the highest total wins the game (i.e.: Team A scores 2 goals, Team B scores 1 goal–Team A wins).
      5. If after 3 shooters the score is still tied each team will identify one more shooter and the shoot out will continue with a sudden victory format. This means if one team scores the other must as well in order to keep going (i.e.: Team A scores, Team B scores – Identify Another Player Each and Continue); or (i.e.: Team A misses, Team B scores – Team B wins).
      6. All eligible players (excluding goaltenders) on the team must shoot before a player takes a second turn.
    2. Any overtime period or shoot out shall be considered part of the game and all unexpired penalties shall remain in force.  A player with unexpired time on a penalty after the overtime period is not eligible for the shoot-out.
    3. If either team declines to play in the necessary overtime period or periods or shoot out, the game shall be declared a loss for that team.
  6. In the Semi-Final games, the team which finished highest in the final round robin standings shall be the home team.  The home team in the final game shall be determined by a coin toss.
  7. Each team will be allowed 1 – 30 second time out per game (including overtime).