TOURNAMENT HOSTING GUIDE

Transcription

1 T OURNA ME NT HOS T I NGGUI DE

2 TOURNAMENT HOSTING GUIDE TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Tournament Sanction Process Letter from Tournament Chairperson 3 How to Apply for a Tournament 4 Responsibilities of Host Centre 5 Tournament Check List 6 Tournament Sanction Application Process 7 Tournament Regulations, Policies and Bulletins OMHA Tournament Regulations 12 Non-sanctioned League Teams entering OMHA Tournaments 17 Mouth Guard Policy 19 Body Checking in Recreational Hockey 20 Definition of Leagues and Teams 22 Alliance Select Hockey Participation 23 Alliance MD Hockey Participation 24 USA Hockey Participation 26 Tournament Suspensions 27 Appendixes Appendix A Hockey Canada Action Bulletin re: Outlaw Leagues 29 Appendix B - Tournament Results for Alliance MD Teams 31 Appendix C - Tournament Suspensions Form HL/LL/RS/MD 32 Appendix D - Tournament Suspensions Form Rep 33 Appendix E USA Hockey Participant Registration Verification 34 Appendix F USA Hockey Age Classifications 35 Appendix G Hockey Canada Teams playing in the United States 37 Notes 40 2

3 LETTER FROM TOURNAMENT CHAIRPERSON Your Regional Director requires the following information at least fifteen (15) days prior to the start of your tournament: 1. Schedule of all games to be played as part of the tournament. 2. List of competing teams. 3. A copy of the tournament rules. Within 30 days after the completion of the tournament, send to your Regional Director: 1. Travel permits for all teams participating in the tournament. 2. Official Rosters for all teams participating in the Tournament. 3. Completed game sheets for all games played. 4. Original copy of Suspension List (previously faxed at end of tournament). As per the OMHA Tournament Regulations, the OMHA office requires Reconciliation of your tournament via the OMHA Portal within 30 days of the completion of your tournament. The following is to be sent to the OMHA office for tournament reconciliation: 1. Reconciliation Form submitted electronically via the OMHA Portal. Provide payment as indicated on the reconciliation form via credit card at time of submission or cheque to the OMHA office. 2. Alliance MD form (if applicable). It is extremely important to reconcile all tournaments regardless if a refund or remittance is required, as failure to do so may negatively affect approval of sanctioning future tournaments. For cancelled tournaments return the entire tournament package in order to receive your refund. NOTE: No refunds will be issued if not submitted within 30 days after the completion of your tournament. Sincerely, Greig Baxter Tournament Chair 3

4 INTRODUCTION The Ontario Minor Hockey Association Tournament Information Package is a resource to assist Tournament Directors to prepare and effectively manage an OMHA tournament. The information offers a basic understanding of the sanctioning process along with relevant policies and procedures. Should there be any revisions or updates to this Tournament Information Package, the OMHA will provide them to Tournament Directors and Member Associations. For further information please contact: Marilyn Newstead, marilyn.newstead@omha.net, (905) HOW TO APPLY The Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) requires an Application for a Tournament Sanction Permit with payment submitted to the OMHA for sanction approval and listing on the OMHA website. Tournament applications are submitted electronically using the Tournament Application System via the OMHA Portal. Payment may be made by credit card via the Portal or by submission of a cheque to the OMHA office. ALL CENTRES Prior to submitting the Tournament Sanction Permit, please ensure the following: All information as specified on the document is complete including all addresses, postal codes and phone numbers. Include the names of all arenas that will be utilized for the tournament. Do not indicate various or TBA. Pay Sanction Fees by credit card at time of submission of application via the E-Payment Gateway or send a cheque for Sanction Fees to the OMHA office immediately after application submission. Tournament cannot be approved until payment is received. Electronic submission indicates the authorization of the Centre President and Centre Contact as noted on the application. W.O.A.A. CENTRES Complete the application for a Tournament Sanction Permit via the OMHA Portal. Payment must be forwarded by cheque to the W.O.A.A. along with a copy of the Tournament Sanction Application for approval. W.O.A.A. Centres cannot pay by credit card via the Portal. Once approval has been granted by the W.O.A.A., the application will then be forwarded to the OMHA office for posting on the OMHA website. 4

5 RESPONSIBILITIES OF HOST CENTRE The Centre Contact/Tournament Director will receive the Tournament Information Package and game sheets for all sanctioned tournaments. The Sanction Permit is also available via the OMHA Portal for printing by the Centre if additional copies are needed. RESPONSIBILITIES Verify the details of the Sanction Permit are correct. At least fifteen (15) days prior to the start of the tournament forward the required documents to your Regional Director as outlined in the Letter from the OMHA Tournament Chairperson. Display the Sanction Permit in a visible location in every Arena. A player who receives a match penalty in the tournament must not play any further games in the tournament and the Regional Director must be informed IMMEDIATELY of the match penalty. Following the final game of the tournament, Fax the tournament Suspension Form to your Regional Director IMMEDIATELY. Complete the Tournament Reconciliation via the Portal within 30 days of the end date of the tournament. If there is a balance owing, send a cheque to the OMHA office for the amount indicated on the Reconciliation Form. If claiming a refund for unplayed games, the unused game sheets may be kept by the Host Centre and no longer have to be sent to the OMHA office. DO NOT send the Reconciliation to your Regional Director Forward all completed game sheets, travel permits and rosters to your Regional Director after end of the tournament. 5

6 TOURNAMENT CHECKLIST Verify that Sanction Permit is correct. Print sufficient copies for the number of arenas being used. Sanction Permit is to be posted prominently during the tournament at each arena. Send the following items to your Regional Director: Before Tournament Tournament Rules List of Competing Teams Invitation sent out (Invitational Tournaments) Tournament Schedule After Tournament Travel Permits Completed Game Sheets Official Approved Team Rosters Suspension List Submit Tournament Reconciliation or Cancellation Form via OMHA Portal within 30 days. Send payment for excess games to the OMHA Office. 6

7 TOURNAMENT SANCTION APPLICATION PROCESS 1. Under the Centre tab, click Tournament Sanction to invoke the application system. A list of your Centre s existing applications will be displayed. 2. Click the New button to start a new tournament sanction application. 3. Status of each tournament sanction application is shown here: Submitted, Paid, Approved, and Reconciled. 4. Tournament Chairperson contact information is mandatory. 5. Arena names must be entered for all venues. Various or TBA are not acceptable and the tournament cannot be approved until actual venues are specified. 6. Be sure to enter the Date and Time of First/Last game is entered in the following format: 06-Jan :00 AM. It is recommended that you do not use the calendar at the side of the date format. 7. Enter all information in each section of the tournament application. In the division and categories section, click on the icon to start that section. Use the drop down boxes to choose your divisions, categories and number of games. For example if there are 15 games for the Peewee division and the tournament is open to HL and LL, start by clicking on the green add icon, choose from the drop down box Peewee, then House League from the category drop down box and enter 15 for the number of games to be played.. Click Save at the far right after of each line as it is added. To add Peewee Local League, repeat the same process, but enter zero (0) as the number of games, because they have already been included in the 15 total games. Similarly, for a Rep tournament, with 12 Midget games and 12 Bantam games that include C, DD, D, AE4, AE5 categories, follow the same steps. Add the ten lines, enter twelve (12) games beside the C category for each division, then zero (0) games beside each of the DD, D, AE4, AE5 categories as shown in the example below. Follow the same process for each tournament until all divisions and categories have been added. If it is a Rep tournament, be sure to check the Body-checking box for the Juvenile, Midget and Bantam categories, as it is not automatically added. A sample of a completed Division/Category section is shown below: 7

8 8. Total sanction fees will be automatically calculated based on # of games, out of branch and international selections. 9. When all information has been added, click the Save button at the top of the page. 10. Once the tournament has been saved, the Submit button will appear at the top of the page. Click on Submit 11. When the tournament sanction application is submitted by the Centre, the system will automatically go to the E-payment Gateway page and payment for the tournament sanction fees can be made by credit card if preferred. *WOAA Centres do not have the option to pay by credit card. If your Centre prefers to pay by cheque, click on the Back button. The tournament application has been submitted and you will be returned to the application page. Send a cheque for the amount of the sanction fees to the OMHA office. Please be sure to write your tournament sanction number(s) on the face of 8

9 the cheque. If there is more than one tournament, payment for all of tournaments can be included on one cheque. Once payment has been received, the approval process will take place, an confirming approval of the application will be sent, and the tournament will be posted on the OMHA website. ADDITIONAL STEPS FOR SUBMISSION OF TOURNAMENT SANCTION APPLICATIONS BY WOAA CENTRES: 1. Complete the online application for the tournament as per the tournament sanction application process, save and then submit electronically to OMHA 2. Print a copy of the application using the print icon found at the top of the application page. 3. Send the printed copy and a cheque for the total sanction fees to: Linda Espensen, WOAA Office, 49 Alfred St West, Wingham ON, N0G2W0 4. Upon receipt of the paperwork and cheque at the WOAA office, the application will be approved by WOAA, and OMHA notified that the tournament can now be posted on the OMHA website. 5. Please do not delay in sending the paperwork and cheque, as your tournament is not visible to other Centres until it has been approved and posted. 9

10 TOURNAMENT RECONCILIATION PROCESS All tournaments must be reconciled within 30 days of the completion of the tournament. Cancelled tournaments also must be reconciled. Following the completion (or cancellation) of the tournament, complete the following steps: 1. Login to the Portal, click on the Centre tab, then Tournament Sanction in the drop down box. 2. In the listing of tournaments for your Centre, click on the sanction number for the tournament that you want to reconcile. 3. Once that tournament page has opened, click on the "Reconcile" button at the top right. In the pop-up box, choose "Reconcile" if the tournament was played or "Cancel" if the tournament was cancelled. 4. Scroll down to the divisions/categories section. 5. In the column labelled "Actual Games", enter the number of actual games played for each division/category. The system will automatically calculate the amounts for you. If the tournament was cancelled the system will automatically enter zero (0). 6. If there were teams entered from outside of OHF or International teams (USA etc), please be sure to complete the Interbranch tournament section and the International tournament section by placing a checkmark in the check box and the actual number of out of branch (non OHF) or International teams. 10

11 7. Once all of the actual games played have been entered, click on "Submit" at the top of the page. A notification is sent to OMHA advising that the tournament has been reconciled. 8. If the balance is $0, the reconciliation is complete. 9. If a balance is owing, send a cheque to the OMHA office for the amount owing. Full reconciliation will not occur until this cheque has been received. If there is a refund owing, the refund will be processed by OMHA and mailed to the Centre. 10. WOAA Centres Print a copy of the tournament reconciliation from the Portal and mail to the WOAA office. If a balance is owing, include a cheque for the amount owing payable to WOAA. If there is a refund owing, the refund will be processed by WOAA and mailed to the Centre. 11

12 19.1 HOSTING REGULATIONS OMHA TOURNAMENT REGULATIONS a) Sanction fees for all tournaments will be $5.00 per game. In addition to this fee, the following Hockey Canada fees and Regulations will prevail: i) for each inter-branch tournament, there shall be a sanction fee of $50.00 plus a $10.00 fee for each team from outside the host branch. ii) for each international tournament, there shall be a sanction fee of $100.00, plus $50.00 per team (including teams from the USA) from outside Hockey Canada and $10.00 per team from outside the host branch. For each international tournament, there shall be a sanction fee of $100.00, plus $50.00 per team (including teams from the USA) from outside Hockey Canada and $10 per team from outside the host branch. b) Teams applying to participate in tournaments outside the OMHA jurisdiction must request a Travel Permit via the OMHA Portal from the OMHA Executive Director. Such request shall be accompanied by a fee of $ c) All tournament applications must be received in the OMHA office no later than sixty (60) days prior to the date(s) of the tournament. Applications for all tournament permits must be submitted for approval to the Executive director, OMHA. d) Applications for pre-season OMHA tournaments scheduled prior to September 15th must be submitted to the OMHA Tournament Chairperson prior to the OMHA Annual General Meeting for sanctioning approval by the OMHA Tournament Committee. e) The following Hockey Canada Regulations will be mandatory and all international tournaments must be sanctioned by the Hockey Canada Minor Hockey Council at each Hockey Canada Annual Meeting for the following season. An application form must be first submitted by the local association requesting the tournament sanction, and all applications must be approved by the OMHA before submission to the OHF. A deposit equal to the minimum sanction fee must accompany the application. 12

13 f) OMHA Sanctioned Tournaments may not offer cash prizes to any participating Minor Hockey Team. This does not include any bursaries, scholarships or a participating team s reduced or subsidized tournament entry fee. Cash incentives may not be paid directly to the participating team, but may be paid in care of the team by cheque to the teams local Minor Hockey Association or Governing Body. g) A sanction permit will be issued only to the Minor Hockey Association which is the recognized governing body in a Centre which is affiliated with the OMHA. All tournament registration fees must be made payable to the Minor Hockey Association obtaining the OMHA sanctioning. The OMHA reserves the right to request a profit and loss statement from any OMHA sanctioned tournament at the request of the OMHA Board. All requests for tournament permits or special permission must be handled by the local association contact person. Sanction fees and a copy of the tournament Rules must accompany a letter of application which must be submitted to the OMHA Executive Director. At least fifteen (15) days prior to the start of the tournament a list of the competing teams, a copy of the tournament Regulations, a copy of the invitation being sent out, and a tournament schedule must be submitted to the Regional Director. h) The OMHA will supply game reports (sheets) and Sanction Permits for all sanctioned tournaments. i) The approved Hockey Canada, OMHA, USA Hockey or IIHF recognized playing certificates / approved electronic rosters for the current playing season must be produced. j) Match penalties and other disciplinary matters are to be reported to the Regional Director immediately, by telephone, by the referee involved, who will then forward the game sheet along with his written report. k) The remaining game sheets are to be sent to the Regional Director immediately following completion of the tournament. l) A Sanction Permit may be withdrawn from any tournament that accepts an entry from a team, or players that are under suspension or are not approved by the OMHA. Once the sanction permit is withdrawn all OMHA teams or affiliated teams will not be allowed to play in the unsanctioned tournament. 13

14 m) All tournament games must comprise 3 stop time periods scheduled as per OMHA Regulation 10.2a) & 10.2b). However when any team is ahead by five or more goals in the third period the tournament will have the option of utilizing straight time. In this situation the game will proceed under straight time unless the gap is reduced to three goals, at which point the clock will revert back to stop time. The only time the clock would be stopped during time is if an on-ice injury should occur. All penalties are running time. These situations must be clearly stated in the tournament rules. n) Where any team plays three (3) games in one (1) day, the maximum time of any game must be as per OMHA Regulation 10.2b) (1st and 2nd periods - 10 stop; 3rd period- 15 stop). o) No entry shall be accepted from any team in any other Member Partner of the OHF (NOHA, Alliance or GTHL), Hockey Canada or foreign hockey bodies without the written permission of the President or Secretary of that organization. This written permission must be available for inspection by any Regional Director or OMHA Convenor, at any time during the tournament and be mailed to the Regional Director upon completion of the tournament. No tournament may accept any OMHA team unless the tournament application includes an approved Travel permit obtained from the OMHA Portal. p) In every game played in a sanctioned tournament, on-ice officials will be assigned in compliance with all applicable sections of Regulation 18 governing on-ice officials. q) Failure to comply with Tournament Regulation 19.1p) may result in withdrawal of the Tournament Sanction Permit. r) The Regional Director will appoint a Tournament Convenor for each Sanctioned Tournament. It will be the responsibility of the Tournament Convenor to visit his assigned tournament to ensure that the OMHA Tournament Regulations are being complied with. Tournament Chairperson/Director must co-operate and comply with any request of the Tournament Convenor. 14

15 19.2 PARTICIPATING REGULATIONS a) OMHA affiliated teams or players must not take part in any tournament unless such tournament has a sanction permit from the OMHA or unless the team has permission from the OMHA. Teams shall not participate in concurrent tournaments. The Manager and Coach of teams participating in concurrent tournaments, non-sanctioned tournaments, or entering such tournaments without written OMHA permission shall be suspended for eight (8) games or thirty (30) days whichever comes first. b) For the purpose of this Regulation, concurrent tournaments are separate tournaments in which some or all of the games are played during the same time span. Any team must have completed or have been eliminated from one tournament before being eligible to participate in another tournament within the same time span. c) The Manager and Coach of any team having applied and being accepted in one or more concurrent tournaments who fail to cancel their application for one (1) or more of the tournaments at least twenty (20) days prior to the start of the tournaments, will be automatically suspended for eight (8) league games or thirty (30) days of the playing season. d) The Manager and Coach of any team once accepting an invitation to a tournament who fail to notify the Tournament Director that they cannot meet their obligation to the tournament at least twenty (20) days before the tournament, or who withdraw during the tournament, will be suspended for eight (8) league games or thirty (30) days of the playing season. See Regulation 19.2 f). e) A Centre hosting an OMHA sanctioned tournament, once having received a completed application from a team, must notify, in writing, said team of acceptance or non-acceptance twenty (20) days prior to the commencement of the tournament. Should it be necessary to cancel a tournament, notification to all teams must be made twenty (20) days prior to the tournament date. A copy of the notification(s) must also be sent to the Regional Director in the area. Failure to do so may result in the Centre being subjected to disciplinary action and/or monetary action by the OMHA. f) All tournament permits are granted with the understanding that they are not to interfere with OMHA Playdowns and group play. Any team, Novice and above, upon winning their quarter final series shall not be eligible to play in any tournament until they have completed their OMHA Playdowns. Any such team that has paid an entry fee to an OMHA tournament shall have their money refunded. This will be strictly enforced by the Regional Director or his designate. g) Any team required to withdraw from a tournament because of a failure to meet league commitments shall not be entitled to a refund of any tournament fees paid. Refer to OMHA Regulation 13.6 b). 15

16 h) OMHA teams, players, Coaches, Managers or Trainers taking part in unsanctioned tournaments without permission will be subject to disciplinary action. i) A team in a sanctioned tournament shall be permitted to use only those players whose eligibility is supported by an approved Hockey Canada, OMHA, USA Hockey or IIHF recognized playing certificates of the current playing season. OMHA teams may also use certified photocopies. j) All teams must have approved electronic rosters prior to participation in OMHA sanctioned tournaments. k) Team officials who fail to produce an approved electronic roster and allow a player to participate shall be suspended for a minimum of eight (8) league games or thirty (30) days whichever comes first. l) No team or player shall play more than three (3) games on one day. m) OMHA teams may not enter tournaments nor embark on exhibition tours of foreign countries without receiving permission of Hockey Canada through the OHF and the OMHA office. Application for such permission must be made at least sixty (60) days in advance of the departure date W.O.A.A. REGULATIONS a) All tournaments in the W.O.A.A. territory must be sanctioned by the OMHA. Tournament applications must be forwarded to the OMHA through the W.O.A.A. Executive Administrator. W.O.A.A. approval must be obtained before the OMHA Executive Director can issue a permit. Sanction fees must be forwarded to the OMHA with the application. b) All tournament game sheets are to be forwarded directly to the W.O.A.A. Executive Administrator (this is an exception to Regulation 19.1k) by the Tournament Director within seven (7) days after completion of the tournament. A financial statement of income and disbursements must be forwarded to both the OMHA Executive Director and W.O.A.A. Executive Administrator along with all other schedules and team lists. Match penalties and other disciplinary matters are to be reported to the W.O.A.A. Executive Administrator immediately, by telephone, by the referee involved, who will then forward the game sheet along with his written report by the next mail. Failure to comply with all tournament Regulations and all OMHA Regulations will result in refusal of future Tournament Sanctions Permits and possible disciplinary action. 16

17 NON-SANCTIONED LEAGUE TEAMS ENTERING OMHA SANCTIONED TOURNAMENTS For the Hockey Canada Action Bulletin, please refer to Appendix A. Recently there has been an increase in the number of instances of Non-Sanctioned league teams attempting to enter an OMHA Sanctioned tournament, particularly teams associated with the Ontario Rep Hockey League and AAU. As a tournament host, all Centres must exercise extreme caution that tournament entry applications are not accepted from any team associated with non-sanctioned leagues such as the AAU, ORHL, MAYHL, and GNAHL. In addition, OMHA teams may not participate in tournaments hosted by the AAU or any of its member branches. Please be fully aware that these organizations and leagues are not recognized by Hockey Canada or USA Hockey. The initial responsibility for acceptance of teams to play in a tournament hosted by an OMHA Centre lies with the Centre and its Tournament Director. Care must be taken to insure that each team entered has a valid Travel Permit and Official Roster issued by their Member Association primarily OMHA, GTHL, Alliance Hockey, ODHA, HEO, Hockey Quebec and Hockey USA. Tournament Regulation 19.1 g) Hosting Regulations states At least fifteen (15) days prior to the start of the tournament a list of the competing teams, a copy of the tournament Regulations, a copy of the invitation being sent out and a tournament schedule must be submitted to the Regional Director. Adherence to the time frames indicated in Regulation 19.1 g) is mandatory in order that the Regional Director may review the travel permits and rosters to ensure that no nonsanctioned league teams have entered the tournament. Hockey Canada offers the best development programs worldwide. It has invested significant resources in the development of officials, coaches, administrators and players countrywide. We have a committed strategy toward a cohesive long term athlete development model. These Non-Sanctioned organizations do not support the development of these programs. Further, they operate in a vacuum, with no consideration to the impact of their programs on minor, junior, senior, adult recreational hockey, female hockey, officiating development, coaching development or administrator development in Canada. These Non-Sanctioned leagues instead choose to utilize the resources already developed by Hockey Canada and its member Branches. Hockey Canada and its member Branches view all leagues that operate outside the auspices/sanctioning of Hockey Canada programs to be classified as Non-Sanctioned 17

18 leagues. This does not include summer hockey leagues/teams, adult recreational hockey leagues/teams, high school hockey, and/or hockey schools. Recent publications have announced a partnership of two such outside organizations; the Canadian Independent Hockey Federation (CIHF) and the US based Amateur Athletic Association (AAU). The CIHF operates teams in the Toronto, Golden Horseshoe, Oxford County, Waterloo and Orillia areas under the name Ontario Rep Hockey League. The AAU has branches in Texas, Illinois and most recently Michigan and New York State. The Michigan Amateur Youth Hockey League (MAYHL) and the Greater Niagara Amateur Hockey league (GNAHL) both claim to offer sanctioned competition levels ranging from House League through to Rep (B AAA), as well as international tournaments. Following is a list of leagues/teams known to be operating as Non Sanctioned Leagues with no affiliation to Hockey Canada or USA Hockey. Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) North American Select Hockey Addison Grizzlies Boston Islanders Clarence Stallions Compuware Downriver Warriors Heartland Nationals International Stars Knights Hockey Niagara Lakeview Hawks Lakeview Warriors Mighty Buffaloes Motor City Wolves Pittsburgh Jets Regional Express Rochester River Monsters Ontario Rep Hockey League North American Independent Hockey Federation 99 Hockey (Knights Hockey) Belfry Hockey Brant Phantoms Burlington Cougars Burlington Rangers Burloak Bears Cambridge Eagles Cambridge Outlaws Cambridge Pirates Cambridge Rebels Cambridge Renegades Carlisle Chill Conacher Hockey Halton Ravens Hamilton Aces Hamilton Bruins Hamilton Steelcats KBX Selects Kitchener Kingsmen London Cobras London Red Circle Oakville Spitfires Peel Predators Royal City Kings Sault Ste. Marie (The Soo) Simcoe County Kings The Beast TNC Hockey Toronto Tri City Kings 18

19 MOUTH GUARD POLICY The Ontario Minor Hockey Association has a mandatory mouth guard policy for all OMHA Registered Players. All OMHA players must wear a mouth guard for all OMHA sanctioned events. It should be noted that teams from outside the OMHA are only required to wear mouth guards if that is a requirement of their parent body. Currently, OHF Member Partner teams registered with the Alliance, NOHA and the GTHL are not required to wear mouth guards. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact Ian Taylor, Executive Director of the OMHA.

20 OMHA POSITION ON BODY CHECKING IN RECREATIONAL HOCKEY Effective the season the Ontario Hockey Federation [OHF] determined that Body Checking would be removed from all age divisions of House League and House League Select hockey. At the OMHA Board of Directors meeting of February 22, 2015, a motion was approved that effective the season, Body Checking would be removed from all OMHA recreational programming. Effective with the season, the OMHA commenced a two year pilot project removing Body Checking from recreational hockey. This pilot will affect the Bantam, Midget and Juvenile divisions in those categories where Body Checking may remain, i.e. Local League (LL), and Minor Development (MD). The OMHA seeks to provide programming to achieve objectives consistent with Hockey Canada s Long Term Player Development (LTPD) model, and provide players with opportunities within the recreational stream of hockey best suited to their development. Any questions pertaining to the Pilot should be directed to your OMHA Regional Director. The Member Association will determine the stream(s) in which it will participate. As such, it is incumbent upon Member Associations to consult with their respective membership in determining the placement of their recreational teams. SUMMARY OF PROGRAMMING Competitive Stream Body Checking permitted Bantam and above Representative Hockey (AAA to D including AE) Residency compliant Recreational Stream Body Checking is not permitted at any level House League Rostered Select* Local League Not residency complaint Residency compliant* Not residency compliant Minor Development (MD) Residency compliant 20

21 *Exception to eligible by residence per, OMHA Residence Regulation 3.3, will be granted to players that have participated in a Centre s House League or Local League programming for a minimum of two (2) consecutive seasons. These players will be eligible to be rostered on a Roster Select team in that Centre. Notes: i. OMHA Centres and leagues will have the opportunity to determine which of these opportunities are best suited to the needs of their respective membership. ii. The term Select League Teams and the programming to which it refers will no longer be used. Teams/players previously identified in this category would be classified as Minor Development (MD). Current Program Design New Program Design Residency Compliant Features In- House House League No Change MD Effective 2015/2016 Competition with other Centres* Body Checking Bantam and Above No body checking Rostered Select* No Change * Effective No body Local League 2015/2016 checking * Exclusive of tournament / exhibition play IMPLEMENTATION Eligibility to apply for Minor Development (MD) Program Designation would be contingent on the following criteria: a. Base category of AAA, AA or A b. Must field Minor and Major teams in each division c. Must provide programming in Recreational Stream 21

22 OMHA DEFINITIONS OF LEAGUES AND TEAMS OMHA MANUAL OF OPERATIONS REGULATION 1.0 DEFINITIONS House League refers to a group of teams that compete regularly in a recreational league within a Centre. Local League refers to a group of teams from a number of Centres which compete regularly in a recreational league. Minor Development Team is a team from a AAA, AA or A Centre that participates at a level above House League but lower than Representative and is comprised of players who are eligible for the Centre by age and residence as per OMHA residency Regulation 3.3. Minor Development players shall not be rostered to a House League team. Rostered Select Team refers to a team comprised of players selected from affiliated House League or Local League teams in a Centre. They must be eligible by age and residency and may compete in exhibition and tournament games as per the Regulation while continuing to play for their House League or Local League team. *Exception to eligible by residence per, OMHA Residence Regulation 3.3, will be granted to players that have participated in a Centre s House League or Local League programming for a minimum of two (2) consecutive seasons. These players will be eligible to be rostered on a Roster Select team in that Centre. 22

23 ALLIANCE SELECT HOCKEY PARTICIPATION IN OMHA TOURNAMENTS AND EXHIBITION GAMES The OMHA and Alliance, through the process of Facilitation, agree to allow Alliance Select Hockey teams to participate in OMHA sanctioned non-body checking exhibition games and tournaments. Definition - Alliance Select Hockey A House League Select team is a team formed from an affiliated House League and made up of players selected from teams in the affiliated House League. Players must participate in their respective association s House League Program to be eligible for House League Select teams. Participation on an Alliance House League Select team is non-residential compliant. It is the responsibility of the OMHA tournament chairperson to obtain a list of non-resident players on an Alliance Select Team Roster and with that information to make an informed decision regarding both acceptance and categorization of the Alliance team. The applying team is required to provide the information to the tournament chairperson. Note: All Alliance Select Teams are Non-Body Checking from Novice to Midget As per OHF Policy: OMHA centres/associations hosting a tournament at Bantam hockey division or above that permits body checking, and accepts teams from Alliance Hockey which are not eligible to body check, must make the division of the tournament in which those teams are participating non-body checking. The OMHA Tournament Organizers have the option to accept or refuse a non-body checking team. In the contrary any OMHA MD teams applying to Alliance Hockey tournaments should do so with the understanding that they would be non-body checking tournaments from Novice to Midget. Should there be any questions related to this, please contact your OMHA Regional Director. 23

24 ALLIANCE MD HOCKEY PARTICIPATION IN OMHA TOURNAMENTS AND EXHIBITION GAMES The OMHA and Alliance continue to permit, through the process of Facilitation, the participation of Alliance MD teams in OMHA sanctioned tournaments and exhibition games subject to Member Partner respective regulation or policy and acceptance of team entries by the OMHA Centre and/or Tournament Host. In an effort to address the equality of all teams entering OMHA sanctioned tournaments, the OMHA, with cooperation of the Alliance, has established an OMHA category that is to apply to MD teams from each Alliance Centre. This categorizing by the OMHA will be monitored during the season and any warranted adjustments will follow in the next season or as may be deemed warranted and accepted by Facilitation during the current season. With the introduction of MD teams in the OMHA, there is a possibility that some OMHA MD teams might be competitive with some Alliance MD teams. This might especially be the case at Novice where the Alliance Centre enters three (3) or more MD teams at that division, or at Minor Atom and above where the Alliance Centre enters two (2) or more MD teams at any division or sub-division. Generally, these Alliance MD teams are included in the column headed OMHA Category A/E Group 2. The difficulty in trying to address the equality of teams with OMHA MD is that the new OMHA MD teams have not yet played many of those Alliance MD teams. Centres will need to decide if they want to play and to help us gain experience through team participation. Under the Terms of facilitation, All Alliance MD Associations will be permitted to compete in OMHA Sanctioned Tournaments at categories as outlined on the attached chart. Should there be any questions related to this, please contact your OMHA Regional Executive Member. Note: Alliance MD Teams Participating in OMHA Tournaments. Please use the form under Appendix B, which will be used to help monitor game results where Alliance MD Teams are participating in OMHA Tournaments. The OMHA and Alliance continue to support the participation of Alliance MD teams in OMHA sanctioned tournaments and exhibition games. In an effort to address the equality of all teams entering OMHA sanctioned tournaments, the OMHA, with cooperation of the Alliance, has established an OMHA category that is to apply to MD teams from each Alliance Centre. Please help us by communicating this to your OMHA Tournament Contact person. 24

25 IDENTIFICATION OF MINOR DEVELOPMENT (MD) ALLIANCE TEAMS OMHA Category AA/A Novice Teams Only OMHA Category A/E Group 1 OMHA Category A/E Group 2 Brantford 99ers Tier I Brantford 99ers Novice Tier II to Midget *Brantford 99ers Tier III Burlington Red Tier 1 Burlington Bulldogs Red and White *Burlington Black Cambridge Black Tier I Cambridge Red Novice to Midget *Cambridge White Hamilton Huskies Blue Tier 1 Kitchener Red Tier I Hamilton Huskies Black and Green Novice Hamilton Huskies Red, White and Blue Minor Atom to Midget *Hamilton Huskies Red *Kitchener Jr. Rangers Black London Bandits Tier I North London Tier I Kitchener Jr Rangers Blue and White Novice Kitchener Jr. Rangers Red and Blue Minor Atom to Minor Midget *London Bandits Tier III *North London Tier III Oakridge Tier I London Bandits Novice to Midget *Oakridge Novice Tier III Sarnia Tier I North London Novice II to Midget *Sarnia Novice Tier III Stratford Tier I Oakridge Novice II to Midget St. Catharines CYO Novice to Midget West London Tier I Sarnia Novice Tier II to Midget *Stratford Novice Tier III Waterloo Gold Tier I Stratford Novice Tier II Stratford Minor Atom to Midget Waterloo White and Black Novice to Midget West London Novice II to Midget *Waterloo Novice Red *West London Novice Tier III *Woodstock Novice Tier III Woodstock Minor Atom to Midget *indicates 7 yr old team, if playing in a Novice Tournament should be AE Tier Group 2 25

26 USA HOCKEY PARTICIPATION IN OMHA TOURNAMENTS AND EXHIBITION GAMES For more information on verifying participant registration, age classifications and bodychecking and protective equipment policies, please refer to Appendix E, F and G. The OMHA and USA Hockey continue to permit the participation of USA Hockey teams in OMHA sanctioned tournaments and exhibition games subject to Member Partner respective regulation or policy and acceptance of team entries by the OMHA Centre and/or Tournament Host. Should there be any questions related to this, please contact your OMHA Regional Executive Member. 26

27 TOURNAMENT SUSPENSIONS Please be reminded that it is the responsibility of the Director of any Tournaments that your Association hosts to ensure the reporting of all Suspensions for every Tournament, as indicated in the current OMHA Tournament Package (page 37, forms on Page 41&42). This includes all Suspensions, regardless of whether or not there is carry-over of sanctions beyond the scope of the Tournament. Please direct any inquiries with respect to this to your Regional Director for clarification. The Tournament Suspension form is to be completed by the OMHA Host Association IMMEDIATELY following the conclusion of the tournament. For the season, two new forms are to be used one for HL/LL teams and a separate one for REP teams. Report all match penalties to the Regional Director IMMEDIATELY following the game in which it was called, in addition to including it on the Tournament Suspension form. The form must be faxed to your Regional Director. 8.1 GENERAL INFORMATION A player or team official under suspension as a result of a match penalty shall be suspended for a number of OMHA games or calendar days, and shall not take part in any games, including exhibition or tournament games, during the terms of suspension. Exhibition and tournament games do not count towards the games to be served as a result of a match penalty. 8.2 SERVING SUSPENSIONS Any team official or player assessed a one, two, or a multiple of automatic game(s) suspension, as a result of penalties incurred in a league game or league Playoff game, shall commence his suspension in the next scheduled league or league Playoff game his team plays. He may play in OMHA Playdowns, exhibition, or tournament games his team plays before his next scheduled league, or league playoff game. If their team is eliminated or withdraws from league and/or league Playoff games but is still eligible for OMHA Playdowns his suspension will be served in the first of such games his team plays. 27

28 APPENDIXES Appendix A Hockey Canada Action Bulletin re: Outlaw Leagues Appendix B - Tournament Results for Alliance MD Teams Appendix C - Tournament Suspensions Form HL/LL/RS/MD Appendix D - Tournament Suspensions Form Rep Appendix E USA Hockey Participant Registration Verification Appendix F USA Hockey Age Classifications Appendix G Hockey Canada Teams playing in the United States Notes 28

29 APPENDIX A HOCKEY CANADA ACTION BULLETIN RE: OUTLAW LEAGUES HOCKEY CANADA ACTION BULLETIN D ACTION Bulletin No.: A0945 To: Officers Junior Council Members (09/32) Branch Presidents Female Council Members (09/33) Council Representatives Senior Council Members (09/30) Branch Executive Directors HDC Council Members (09/26) Directors Branch Referees-in-Chief (09/26) Minor Council Members (09/34) Life Members Date: 21 May 2009 From: Ken Corbett, Chair of the Board & Bob Nicholson, President SUBJECT: OUTLAW LEAGUES LEAGUES OPERATING OUTSIDE THE AUSPICES OF HOCKEY CANADA Hockey Canada, its member Branches, Major Junior and registered Junior Hockey Leagues in Canada are concerned with the proliferation of leagues that operate outside the auspices of Hockey Canada. Hockey Canada offers the best development programs worldwide. It has invested significant resources in the development of officials, coaches, administrators and players countrywide. We have a committed strategy toward a cohesive long term athlete development model. These outlaw organizations do not support the development of these programs. Further, they operate in a vacuum, with no consideration to the impact of their programs on minor, junior, senior, adult recreational hockey, female hockey, officiating development, coaching development or administrator development in Canada. These outlaw leagues instead choose to utilize the resources already developed by Hockey Canada and its member Branches. The teams who make up these "leagues" operate in this fashion because they do not agree with the existing overall vision of Hockey Canada. They profess to have a better program yet often operate without a constitution, by-laws, create their own rule book and may not provide adequate insurance for their participants. Further, they offer the lure of "Rep" or "Junior" level competition when this is clearly not the case. 29

30 Hockey Canada, its member Branches, Major Junior Leagues as well as registered Junior Hockey Leagues wish to be exceedingly clear with our response to these programs. Definition: Hockey Canada and its member Branches view all leagues that operate outside the auspices/sanctioning of Hockey Canada programs to be classified as outlaw leagues. This currently does not include summer hockey leagues/teams, adult recreational hockey leagues/teams, high school hockey, and/or hockey schools. Sanctions 1) Any individual who participates (knowingly or otherwise) in "outlaw" programs after September 30 of the season in question ( the Cut-Off Date ) will lose all membership privileges with Hockey Canada for the remainder of that season, and may only reapply for membership with Hockey Canada after the end of that season. Participation in an outlaw program will be considered to have occurred if the individual takes part in one game (including an exhibition, tournament, league or playoff game) after the Cut-Off Date. If a participant makes the choice to participate in these outlaw programs, they must understand the ramifications of that choice and that the sanctions described in this paragraph will remain in effect even if the league or team folds, or the individual is released, suspended or fired. 2) Hockey Canada and its member Branches across the country will make every effort to ensure that local minor hockey and female hockey associations in areas where outlaw leagues exist are not supporting these leagues in any manner whatsoever. For greater certainty, supporting includes, but is not limited to, assisting an outlaw league directly or indirectly through advertisement, promotion, ticket sales, volunteer activities, assigning Officials, sharing resources or enabling such a league to participate in Hockey Canada sanctioned activities. We will withhold tournament sanctions and will preclude such associations from benefitting from any Hockey Canada/Branch/CHL sanctioned event by whatever means necessary, including the withdrawal of any such event from any community within the geographic boundaries of that association if need be to stress this point. This policy is aimed at those leagues that choose to operate outside the hockey structure established by Hockey Canada, its member Branches and the Canadian Hockey League. 30

31 APPENDIX B - TOURNAMENT RESULTS FOR ALLIANCE MD TEAMS 31

32 APPENDIX C - TOURNAMENT SUSPENSIONS FORM HL/LL/RS/MD 32

33 APPENDIX D - TOURNAMENT SUSPENSIONS FORM REP 33

34 APPENDIX E USA HOCKEY PARTICIPANT REGISTRATION VERIFICATION USA Hockey Teams Verification of Participant Registration The following clarification is provided regarding incoming teams from USA Hockey, with respect to verification of participant registration. USA Hockey has advised that the two documents necessary in validating a registered USA Hockey team are the Team Application and Official Team Roster. These two forms provide proof that the team and all members shown on the Roster are properly registered with USA Hockey. USA Hockey has received several inquiries from USA Hockey Teams participating in Canadian Tournaments indicating that the Tournament Organizers have requested player and team official Registration Cards prior to allowing the team to participate. Under the jurisdiction of USA Hockey, showing the Team Application and Official Team Roster is sufficient validation that the player is registered with that team and producing a Registration Card would not necessarily indicate that player is a registered member of that particular team. The bottom of the USA Hockey Roster indicates the following: The individuals printed on this form represent players and coaches that have been electronically registered with USA Hockey. Copies of IMRs/Cards are not required for these individuals. Please ensure that your Tournament Administrators, especially those on-site, are aware of the USA Hockey Regulations with respect to validating participating Teams from USA Hockey. 34

35 APPENDIX F USA HOCKEY AGE CLASSIFICATIONS New Age Classifications for USA Hockey Attached is a copy of the new USA Hockey Age Classifications for the season. Please note that USA teams entering in OMHA Tournaments must adhere to OMHA Age Classifications. Examples: At AAA, AA and A, a Minor Midget will be classified as a player born in 2000 & subsequent years (max. 15 years old) At BB & below, a Minor Midget will be classified as a player born in 1999 & subsequent years (16 years and below) A Midget will be classified as a player born in 1998 & subsequent years (17 years and below). A Juvenile will be classified as a player born in 1996, 1997 & subsequent years (18 years and below). Note: Any USA Midget teams with players born in 1996 must enter tournaments in the Juvenile division. 35

36 SEASON AGE CLASSIFICATIONS USA Hockey Playing Season: September 1, 2017 through August 31, 2018 YOUTH TEAMS DATE OF BIRTH AGE CATEGORY AGE DIVISION Years 18 & Under (Midget) Years 18 & Under (Midget) Years 16 & Under (Midget) Years 16 & Under (Midget) Years 14 or Under (Bantam) Years 14 or Under (Bantam) Years 12 or Under (Peewee) Years 12 or Under (Peewee) Years 10 or Under (Squirt) Years 10 or Under (Squirt) Years 8 or Under (Mite) No USAH registration fee 2011 and younger (6 & Under) 36

37 APPENDIX G HOCKEY CANADA TEAMS PLAYING IN THE UNITED STATES DATE: August 1, 2011 TO: SUBJECT: District Referees-in-Chief, Coaches-in-Chief, Risk Managers, Registrars, Affiliate Presidents Body Checking 12-&-Under and Protective Equipment Agreement Hockey Canada teams playing in the U.S. & USA Hockey teams playing in Canada Per a standing agreement between USA Hockey and Hockey Canada (HC), the following policy regarding playing rules and protective equipment is in effect. CANADIAN TEAMS PLAYING IN THE UNITED STATES All USA Hockey sanctioned 12-&-Under age classification games that are played in the United States are required to play under the Body Contact (Non-Check) Playing Rules. This includes all invitational tournaments sanctioned by USA Hockey and non-league games involving teams from each respective country. All U.S. bases games played in this age classification and younger shall also play under the immediate off-sides rule. In addition, all Canadian players much wear the following Hockey Canada mandatory equipment: 1. Hockey Skates (approved design for hockey) 2. CSA Certified Helmet (All age classifications 3. CSA Certified Face Mask (with color-coded CSA sticker per following chart) 37

38 Category Description Type CSA Sticker Color Full-face protectors Eye Protectors (visors) Players older than 10 years of age (other than goalkeepers) Players 10 years of age and younger (other than goalkeepers) Goalkeepers of all ages Players in the major junior age category and older (other than goalkeepers) B1 or 1 White A* Green B2 or 2 Orange B* Red D1, D2, or Blue D3 C* Purple C or 4 Yellow 4. BNQ Certified Throat Protector (For players in all Female and Youth classifications) NOTE: Hockey Canada rules do not mandate the wearing of a mouthpiece at any age classification where a full face mask is required. If a player on a Canadian team is not wearing the proper equipment, as outlined above, the player shall be sent off the ice and a warning issued to the coach of that team. Any subsequent violation for the same equipment by the same team shall result in a misconduct penalty being assessed to the offending player. In all instances where a Hockey Canada team is not wearing their proper mandated equipment, a game report shall be submitted by the Referee to the Proper Authorities. 38

39 Summary The standard insurance coverage will be considered to be in effect as long as the injured participant was wearing the proper protective equipment as mandated by the organization (HC or USA Hockey) with which he/she is registered. Please note that all other playing rules of the host country are in effect for games played in that country, except when U.S. teams are playing on U.S. soil in Canadian-based leagues using HC rules under league and direction, and vice versa. For additional information on playing rules in each federation, please visit: or cc: Associate Registrars Local Program Registrars 39

40 NOTES 40

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