MOUNTAIN STATES GIRLS HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFFS February 23 25, 2018 The Edge Ice Arena 6623 South Ward Street Littleton, Colorado 80127
Tournament Handbook 2018 Mountain States Girls Hockey League Playoffs Team Handbook Table of Contents Introduction:... 3 General Information:.. 4 Game Schedule:.. 5 Team Requirements:... 6 Credentials:. 8 Exhibits: Exhibit A MSGHL Rules and Regulations.. 9 Hotel information 12 2
Introduction Team Manager s Information for Qualifying Teams To: Managers and Coaches of MSGHL teams qualifying for the state tournament From: Scott Harris (Tournament Director) Re: Pre-Tournament Information and Procedures Date: February 12th, 2018 On behalf of the MSGHL Board of Directors, welcome to you and your team to the 2018 Mountain States Hockey League Playoffs to be played at the Edge Ice Arena. It is necessary that each team complete certain preliminary procedures so the tournament may operate as efficiently as possible. Detailed information about such procedures will be found in this handbook. Please review this information carefully prior to your arrival. It is vital that all required forms be e-mailed (preferred) or faxed to the designated personnel according to the schedule indicated in the document Pre-Arrival Time Line. Feel free to make extra copies of all documents included in this handbook. Information regarding tournament hotels and other pertinent details are included in this handbook. Please distribute it to all persons who will be accompanying your team. Please e-mail the following information to Scott Harris @ rainsflo@aol.com as soon as possible: 1) Mascot Logos and Team Picture (.jpg,.tif,.gif.,.bmp., wmf) 2) Roster of girls that qualify and will attend the play-offs. 3) Team Manager s Name 4) Team Manager s Home Phone, Work Phone, Cell Phone, and all pertinent e-mail addresses Thank you for your help in assuring the success of our district tournament. If you have any questions, please contact us via email to Scott Harris @ rainsflo@aol.com 3
General Information Tournament Divisions There will be 3 divisions in the league play-offs. The U19 division will be the top 6 teams after regular season play. The U16 division will be the top 6 teams after league play. The 12U division will be the top 6 teams after regular season play. Teams are ranked on Sport Nogin with the following criteria: - Number of points earned in league play - Number of wins in regular season play - Head to head against tied teams - Goal differential in head to head games between tied teams - Goal differential of tied teams for the season Playing Site All games will be played at The Edge Ice Arena, 6623 South Ward Street, Littleton, Colorado 80127. Sport Ngin All games will be posted on Sport Ngin at the conclusion of the game. Awards Team banners will be distributed to the first and second place team in each division. Skate Sharpening Skate sharpening will be available for a small fee in the pro shop at The Edge Ice Arena. Skate sharpening is also available at Players Bench, 2690 East County Line Road, Littleton, CO 80126. Gate Fees There are no gate fees associated with this tournament. Tournament Apparel Tournament apparel will be available for pickup and customization (player number, champion) Saturday and Sunday, at The Edge Ice Arena. Locker room procedures At the MSGHL Championship Tournament the league will ensure that proper protocol is followed and that each member Association is following their own required USA Hockey SafeSport Locker Room Guidelines in accordance with CAHA requirements. Hotel Security It is the policy of USA Hockey, Inc. and therefore the Mountain States Girls Hockey League s, that officials of each team are responsible for all matters regarding the behavior and conduct of all persons associated with their team. 4
TEAM REQUIREMENTS The following items are MANDATORY for all teams participating in the 2018 Mountain States Girls Hockey League Playoffs (these mandatory items are covered further within this section). The 2017-2018 USA Hockey Annual Guide, the Rocky Mountain District Policies and Procedures Manual, the Colorado Amateur Hockey Association Rules and Regulations and the Mountain States Girls Hockey League Rules and Regulations were used in compiling this section of the team handbook. A. Coaching Education Requirements All participating coaches (head and assistants) must have the proper CEP level of coaching certification and Age Specific Modules to participate in the MSGHL tournament. B. Tournament Director Scott Harris, tournament coordinator for the MSGHL shall be the tournament director for the 2018 Mountain States Hockey League Playoffs. C. Team Entry Fees 2018 Mountain States Girls Hockey League Playoffs - $1050 per team, payable to the MSGHL, mail payment to: Karl Borski, MSGHL Treasurer, PO Box 5003, Eagle, CO 81631. Teams bringing checks for their association (multiple teams) must accompany the first team playing. Teams will not be allowed on the ice with out this payment first. D. Number of Players A maximum of twenty (20) players, including goalkeepers, shall be permitted to play in a game. The maximum number of players, excluding goalkeepers, shall not exceed eighteen (18). All teams are requested, but not required, to arrive at the Tournament with two (2) qualified goalkeepers. Teams that are unable to arrive with a backup goalkeeper shall be permitted, with the approval of the Tournament Directors and MSGHL officers, to use a substitute goalkeeper from a lower level team within the same association. If this option is not available, a substitute goalkeeper shall be provided by one of the other participating teams subject to the approval of the Tournament Directors and MSGHL Officers, and the team from, which the goalkeeper is borrowed. The goalkeeper who has been replaced must return and participate in the tournament as soon as she becomes available. The substitute goalkeeper shall only be permitted to participate in a game if the original goalkeeper is injured, ill or unable to participate. E. Playing Rules The official USA Hockey Playing Rules shall be used. No protests of playing rules shall be permitted. F. Operation of Games Each team will provide a penalty box keeper. All teams will be required to provide a score keeper for a minimum of two games. Sign up schedule to be released upon final seeding for tournament play. 6
G. Uniforms All teams entered must be properly uniformed. Unless otherwise agreed upon by the teams and the Tournament Director, the home team shall wear light/white jerseys and the visiting team shall wear dark/colored jerseys in all games. H. Mountain States Girls Hockey League Playoffs - Game Formats This is a round robin tournament. As such, after round robin play wherein each team plays 4 teams, reseeding will occur. The final top two seeds in each division will play for the championship of that division. I. Time of Periods (all stop time in minutes) and Ice Clean Requirements 1, 2, 3 PENALTIES Class Period Overtime* Minor Major Miscndt. 12 & Under 12 5/10 2 5 10 16 & Under 14 5/10 2 5 10 19 & Under 15 5/10 2 5 10 *Championship games will utilize two (2) 5-minute overtime period, and then proceed to a shootout if a winner has not been determined. Each game leading up to the championship game will be played in one hour or 1 ¼ hour increments of time. U19 age division will play 15 minute stop time periods. U16 will play 14 minute stop time periods and U12 division will play 12 minute stop time periods, both using the CDYHL curfew rule. There will be a 3-minute warm-up before the start of each game, with one minute between periods, and one minute to clear the ice after each game. The ice shall be cleaned before each game. J. Referees The two-person system shall be used. All referees and linesmen shall be assigned by CIHRA rink representatives. All referees and linesmen must hold at least a Level 2 classification. All referees and linesmen are required to wear only the USA Hockey crest on their referee sweaters. K. Discipline Committee (1) The Discipline Committee shall be composed of the board of the MSGHL. (2) The committee shall be responsible for deciding any action, suspensions or otherwise, to be taken against a player or team official receiving a gross misconduct penalty. Match penalties will fall under the authority of CAHA. Game Misconduct Penalty appeals are not allowed. L. Disputes/Operation of Tournament (1) The Referee or Linesman with the highest level of classification shall act as the final arbitrator in all disputes involving the interpretation of playing rules. (2) For any other decision, other than playing rules interpretation, with regard to the operation of the tournament (including Zero Tolerance, Tournament play or conduct not in the best interest of hockey), the Tournament Directors and MSGHL Officers shall have the final authority. (3) MSGHL officers, in all matters pertaining to tournament play, shall have the authority to adjust matters at any time in the best interests of the tournament. 7
Credentials General Comments: All players, in order to be eligible for the MSGHL State Tournament, must have played in 50% of the teams league games this season. If before, during, or after the tournament, the Tournament Directors become aware of and later determines that a player or players is/are ineligible, said player(s) shall be ruled ineligible for any/all remaining games, and the team using the ineligible player(s) will forfeit any/all games in which the player(s) participated. If it is proved that the team s coach and/or manager was/were aware of the situation, said coach and/or manager will be reported to USA Hockey for possible disciplinary action. Team Credential Requirements ALL TEAM MANAGERS MUST ARRIVE 1 HOURS PRIOR TO THEIR FIRST GAME FOR CREDENTIALING BY THE MSGHL BOARD WITH THEIR TEAM NOTEBOOK. The following information must be available for presentation at check-in to the tournament: 1. Certified Team Registration/Roster (T-1), which has been approved by the CAHA Affiliate Registrar... 8
Exhibit A Mountain States Girls Hockey League 2018 Tournament Rules Current USA Hockey rules shall govern hockey play except as modified by the MSGHL documented below. Tournament games will be conducted as follows: 1. All games for U12 division shall be played within a 60 minute allocated game schedule. The games shall be formatted for three (3) 12-minute stop clock periods. All games for U16 and U19 divisions shall be played within a 75 minute allotted game schedule. The U16 games shall be formatted for three (3) 14 minute stop clock periods and the U19 games shall be formatted for three (3) 15- minute stop clock periods. In the event of a 6 goal differential, the game will become a run clock. If the losing team reduces the goal differential to less than 6 goals, regular clock stop procedures will be reinstated. 2. There will be a 1 minute break between periods for all games. Minor penalties shall be assessed at 2 minutes upon the offending team. Please refer to the updated USA Hockey Playing Rules regarding Major and Game Misconduct rules. 3. Each team will have a 3 minute warm up period, which will begin as soon as the officials enter the ice. 4. The clock shall stop for all penalties. 5. Each team will be allowed a single 1 minute timeout per game, which can be called only when play is stopped. 6. A limited amount of extra ice has been built into the tournament schedule. It is anticipated that all games will be completed in the allotted 60/75 minute game schedule. The tournament reserves the right to impose a curfew based on unexpected events such as officiating issues, player injury, failure of rink facilities, etc. 7. Fighting will result in suspension from the tournament, in accordance with USA Hockey s ZERO TOLERANCE policy, along with the assignment of maximum penalty minutes to the offending team. Each team shall arrive at the rink at least 45 minutes prior to game start. Games may start early if ice is available and therefore teams should be dressed and ready to take the ice at least 10 minutes prior to scheduled game start time. A forfeit shall be declared if one if the teams are unwilling or unable to play at their designated time or up to 10 minutes early due to ice availability. A team must have 6 players to be eligible to play a game. If a team does not have 6 players, a forfeit shall be declared. The team that declares or requests the forfeit will be required to pay a fine of $200 to the league. Each team must bring home (light colored) and away (dark colored) jerseys to each game. The tournament schedule will designate the jersey to be worn. 9
Exhibit A Mountain States Girls Hockey League 2018 Tournament Rules Games for seeding may end in ties. Championship games shall not end in a tie. If a championship game is tied at the end of regulation time, the following rules shall apply: 1. Two 5 minute stop time, five on five, sudden death overtime shall be played. 2. If the game remains tied after the two overtime periods, a shootout shall decide the outcome. Each team shall provide the referee with a list of five shooters and a goaltender from their roster. Shooters shall alternate taking penalty shots at the opponent s goaltender. The team with the most goals after 5 shots shall be declared the winner. The home team decides who will shoot first. Note: 1) Any player whose penalty has not been completed when the overtime period ended, or who receives a penalty during a shootout procedure, is not eligible to be one of the players selected to participate in any portion of the shootout procedure. 2) The goalkeepers may be changed after each shootout round. 3. If the game is still tied after above procedure, the shootout becomes sudden death and shall continue using a different shooter than the original 5 shooters designated until all players (excluding goalies) on the team with the smallest skating roster has taken a shot (shooters can repeat after the smallest roster has been exhausted). Each team shall shoot the same number of shots, i.e. if the 6 th shooter on team 1 scores and the 6 th shooter on Team 2 does not, then Team 1 shall be declared the winner. For each game, 2 points shall be awarded for a win, 1 point shall be awarded for a tie, and 0 points shall be awarded for a loss. Forfeits shall cause the non-offending team to be awarded a 1-0 victory. After all scheduled games have been completed by each team, teams shall be seeded based on point standings. There will only be a championship game in a five and six team division. In a four team division, there will be a consolation game and a championship game to meet the 4 game guarantee. Tie breaking rules to determine who advances to the championship game will be determined as follows: If two or more teams have an equal number of points, their position in the standings shall be determined by the following tie breaking format. If one tie breaker establishes a position for one or more teams, each team is placed in the applicable position. Once a team is placed, the remaining tied teams shall start the tie breaking process over again according to the tie breaker formula below. 1. If 2 teams are tied points acquired in head to head competition. If more than 2 teams are tied if one of the tied teams has won games over all other tied teams then that teams advances. If no team has done this then proceed to next tie breaker. 2. Most points acquired against common opponents. 3. Highest goal differential (goals for minus goals against) for all games played (max 5 goals per game for calculation purposes). 4. Highest finishing order in the MSGHL regular season 10
Exhibit A Mountain States Girls Hockey League 2018 Tournament Rules All protests and grievances brought forth by a player or coach shall be ruled on by the protest/grievance committee of the MSGHL board. This committee reserves the right to make the final decision regarding the interpretation of tournament rules and shall act in the best interest of the players, coaches and the game in general. Spectators will not be permitted to engage in protest, rather, must present their grievance to a team coach, who will determine whether a formal protest as per above is warranted. All final rulings by the protest/grievance committee are not subject to appeal. No protests shall be allowed for: 1. Referee s judgment calls on the ice, and off-ice official s actions. 2. Interpretation by officials of the playing rules. 3. Misunderstanding of the tournament rules as specified in the tournament package. Issues related to officiating are not subject to the jurisdiction of the protest/grievance committee. 11
The following hotels are near the Edge Ice Arena. No group blocks have been set up. Call the hotel directly. Towne Place Suites 10902 Toller Drive Littleton, CO 303-972-0555 Includes hot breakfast. Holiday Inn Express 12683 West Indore Place Littleton, CO 720-981-1000 Includes breakfast Homewood Suites 7630 Shaffer Pkwy. Littleton, CO 720-981-4763 Includes breakfast. Hampton Inn 7611 Shaffer Pkwy. Littleton, CO 303-973-2400 12