Maine Pond Hockey Classic

Tournament Format

• Play is 4 on 4 hockey with no goalies.
• Rink size is 60' x 120'.
• Each team is guaranteed 4 games. (3 Pool play + Championship Play)
• The division championship rounds will begin Sunday.
• Championship play will be a single elimination format (all Championship play games are Sunday)

General

• All players must be fully registered before entering the rink.
• Only registered players and MPHC officials and volunteers are allowed on the rinks.
• The consumption of alcohol at the tournament site is strictly prohibited, as mandated by State and Local regulations. (Alcohol will be served at the tournament social, which is held off site)

Equipment

• All players must wear helmets and hockey skates. Additional Protective equipment is strongly recommended.
• No goalie equipment is permitted.
• All teams must have matching light and dark jerseys. 

Player Eligibility

• Players must be 18 or older, photo ID will be required to confirm age. 
• Players may only play on one team for the tournament.
• Players will all recieve a 'tournament badge' during player check-in. Players must keep their badge with them for check-in at each contest. Players without this credential are not allowed to play.
• Roster substitutions must be made by the start of each teams first game. To make a substitution you must inform the tournament director. 
• No other substitutions throughout the tournament are allowed.

Scoring and Refereeing

• All games are running time and substitutions can be made during play (players leaving the game must be at their bench area before new skater can engage in play) or while a puck is out of play.
• There will be one off-ice pond official to monitor play (scoring, time, puck reset, and arbiter of major infractions and disputes). The off-ice official WILL NOT call minor infractions or penalties. It is the responsibility of the Team Captains to manage and control their players during the flow of the game.
• There are no overtime periods in regular play. All ties at the end of regulation will be decided by next goal wins. During championship games, teams will play a 3-minute overtime. The team that scores the most will be declared the winner. If the score remains tied at the end of the 3 minutes, play will continue unabated and the first team to score wins.
• All teams will advance to elimination play (Championship Rounds). Seeding shall be determined by win/loss record. In the event of a tie, the tie breakers that will be used are in this order; total goals, goals against, (if still tied) coin flip.)

Game Play

• All games are 30 minutes in length with two 15-minute halves.
• Teams skate 4 players at a time. But may have up to 7 players.
• The AWAY has first possession of the puck to start the game; the HOME team starts the second half with the puck. 
• If a puck goes out of bounds, the last team to touch it loses possession. During restart, the defender must give his opponent two stick lengths of space.
• Players should not pursue puck out of play. Officials will have extra pucks and immediately spot a puck for play to continue. Volunteers will collect pucks out of play. 
• There are no off-sides or icing calls.
• Goals must be scored from the attacking side of center ice.
• Teams MUST give their opponents ½ ice after a goal is scored or an infraction takes place. Team with the puck must move it quickly so the game is not delayed. The defensive team can engage the team with the puck once all of its players have “tagged up” at center ice and the offensive team begins moving puck up the ice.
• A player may not patrol or remain stationary directly in front of the goal.
• A defender may deflect the puck in the crease area, but the defender must do so while continuing to move through the crease area, which is defined as a box extending 4 feet in from of the goal mouth.

Penalties and Loss of Possession

• Penalties will be called for rule infractions. Penalties are called on honor system. A minor penalty will result in awarding possession of the puck to opposing team.
• Referees will have the discretion to also award a "penalty shot" to the opposing team when a minor penalty is flagrant and/or a team is consistently playing in a reckless manner.
  • Penalty shot will be taken from center ice and must be attempted within 30 seconds of the penalty being called. Anyone on the opposing team can take the shot. The team that is awarded the penalty shot will also be given possession of the puck following the penalty shot attempt (regardless of the outcome of the shot)
• Any major penalty, which includes any action that could possibly injure another player (Fighting), will result in the offending player being ejected from the tournament. The team that received the ejection will play the remainder of the game short-handed (3 vs. 4). Off-ice Pond official will determine major penalties. This rule will be strictly enforced!
• Abuse of officials will be considered a major penalty. This includes yelling, swearing, or arguing about calls.
• No checking is allowed. Such action will result in a minor penalty unless deemed serious enough to be a major.
• No slap shots allowed. Such action will result in a minor penalty.
• Contacting the puck with a stick above the waist will result in a loss of possession.
• Raising the puck intentionally will result in a loss of possession.
• Players cannot fall or lay on the ice in an effort to protect the goal area. Such action will result in a minor penalty. Players cannot lay their sticks down to protect the goal area. Such action will result in a minor penalty.
  • Any shot that is blocked by such actions will result in an automatic goal.