AZ Invite Rules

AZ invite will be played under USA Hockey rules with the following additions:

1)     A player is assessed a game misconduct after 4 penalties.

2)     Coach receives a game misconduct when the team accumulates 12 penalties during the game.

3)     Icing during shorthanded situations IS ALLOWED.

4)     Delayed offsides IS ALLOWED.

5)     All bench personnel must have current USA Hockey membership & have achieved the USA Hockey minimum level of coaching education for the division in which he/she is coaching by 12/31 of the current playing season. They also must be background screened and SafeSport cleared for the 2023-2024 current season.

6)     The tournament director or a representative of the director, after consultation with the referee, may cancel any game in progress in any instance where he or she believes it necessary to protect the welfare of players or officials. In the event of such a cancellation, the tournament director or his/her representative shall determine the results of the game for tournament standings.

7)     Each team is required to supply an adult penalty box attendant.

8)     All players must wear all required equipment as approved by USA Hockey.

9)     At the conclusion of each game, the coach or manager of each team shall be responsible for reviewing the score sheet to determine whether any player or team official has been suspended or disqualified from participating in any future game or games. The tournament director will not overrule any on-ice decisions.

10) No hearings will be held for game misconduct or match penalties. All findings from any match penalty will be forwarded to the team's local governing body at the conclusion of the tournament.

11) The tournament director has final authority on all matters pertaining to tournament operations and playing rules.

Game Formats

• Games will consist of three fourteen (14) minute stop-time periods with a three (3) minute warm up period prior to each game, and a one (1) minute break between periods.

• Each team will be allowed one sixty-second (60 sec) time-out per game.

• Ice will not be resurfaced between periods in any game.

• Running time will commence in the third period if, at any time during the third period, there is a six (6) goal differential between the teams. If the goal differential becomes less than 6 in the third period, running time will cease.

• The home team will use dark/colored jerseys. If you do not have two sets of jerseys it is your responsibility to notify your opponent and the officials of any change.

Overtime Format for Round Robin Games

• In the event of a tie in a round robin game, the teams will be given a chance to play for a short sudden death overtime period. The first team to score in the sudden death overtime period wins the game. The game will end in a tie if no one is able to score during the sudden death overtime period.

• For a round robin game ending in a tie at the end of regulation time, the teams shall not change ends, and there will be a one (1) minute rest period after which play shall resume on a sudden victory overtime basis.

• The sudden death overtime period will be a four (4:00) minute running-time period.

• The sudden death overtime period will be played with four (4) skaters and a goalie for each team. (4 on 4)

• If the game is still tied at the end of the sudden death overtime each team shall be awarded 1 point.

Overtime Format for Semi-Final or Championship Games

• In the event of a tie in a semi-final or championship game, the teams will be given a chance to play for a short sudden death overtime period. The first team to score in the sudden death overtime period wins the game. The game will end in a tie if no one is able to score during the sudden death overtime period.

• For a semi-final or championship ending in a tie at the end of regulation time, the teams shall not change ends, and there will be a one (1) minute rest period after which play shall resume on a sudden victory overtime basis.

• The sudden death overtime period will be a four (5:00) minute running-time period.

• The sudden death overtime period will be played with four (4) skaters and a goalie for each team. (4 on 4)

• If the game is still tied at the end of the sudden death overtime, a shoot-out in accordance with the USAH Annual Guide will take place.

Tournament Scoring

• Two (2) points will be given for each win (regulation or ove1iime).

• One (1) point will be given for an overtime loss.

• One (1) point will be given for a tie.

• Zero points will be given for a regulation loss.

• The following Tie Breaking Rules will be used to determine the order of finish after round robin play:

Tie Breaking Rules

In the event of a two-way tie at the end of the round robin games, the following criteria will be used to determine a winner, listed in order of evaluation:

1)     Head-to-head record between all teams with equal points

2)     Most wins overall

3)     Overall Goal Differential (capped at a maximum of 6 per game)

4)     Fewest penalty minutes overall

5)     Quickest first goal scored in Tournament

6)     Coin flip

In the event of a three-way tie (or more) at the end of the round robin games, the following criteria will be used to determine a winner, listed in order of evaluation:

1)     Most wins overall

2)     Overall Goal Differential (capped at a maximum of 6 per game)

3)     Fewest penalty minutes overall

4)     Quickest first goal scored in the Tournament

5)     Coin flip

Rosters

• Players must appear on the tournament roster before the first game of your team. No players will be allowed to be added after that time.

• Players may play on only one team in the tournament unless prior approval has been granted by the tournament director.

• Players and coaches must be USA Hockey or Canada Hockey registered for the 2023-2024 season and must appear on an official USA Hockey 1-T roster or equivalent.

• The only persons allowed on the benches are eligible players in uniform and a maximum of four (4) registered team officials.

Locker Room Monitoring

 It is the policy of USA Hockey that all teams have at least one responsible adult (head/assistant coach or other approved team personnel) directly monitoring the locker room during all tournament events to ensure that only participants (coaches and players), and other approved team personnel are permitted in the locker room to supervise the conduct in and around the locker rooms at all times while participants are present and also make sure the locker room is appropriately secured during times when minor participants are on the ice. All responsible adults serving as locker room monitors should be gender correct and the co-ed locker room policy must be followed. Monitors must be screened per USA Hockey screening standards and USA Hockey SafeSport screened and certified. Unapproved, non-team personnel, including parents and family members are discouraged from entering locker rooms unless it is truly necessary.

Cell Phones & Other Mobile Recording Device

Per USA Hockey policy, cell phones and other mobile devices with recording capabilities, including voice recording, still cameras and video cameras, are not permitted to be used in the locker rooms. If phones or other mobile devices must be used, they should be taken outside of the locker room.