Capital City Pre-Season Classic Rules

1. Tournament games will begin on Friday no earlier than 5:00 PM.
2. Games, to include championship games, will end on Sundays no later than 7:00 PM
3. All Game Officials are USA Hockey certified.
4. All teams are guaranteed a minimum of 4 games for tournament 
participation.
5. USA Hockey playing rules are in effect.
6. Game Clock: All games will use the "Stop Clock" system. Games will consist of three 12-minute periods.
7. Early Starts: Games may start up to 15 minutes earlier than posted start time. The tournament committee reserves the right to start a game up to 15 minutes early if the previous game ends with time remaining in its designated game slot. Teams must be standing by to enter the rink once the "Zamboni Doors" are closed after the ice is resurfaced. 
8. Game Clock Management: If remaining time is an issue at the start of the third period ... the referee will put half of the time remaining in the time slot. If time becomes an issue again in the 3rd Period, the Off Ice Official (Clock Manager) will notify the Referee that the game will go to a "Running Clock" in order to meet game curfew requirements. During the running time the clock will only stop in the event of an injury or a team elects to use their time out.
9. "Mercy Rule": The referee will "run the clock" in the event of six goals or greater spread. The clock will remain "running" until the spread is reduced to 3 goals or less. During the running time the clock will only stop in the event of an injury. 
Conduct of Games
10. Warm-Up: 3 minutes (total) prior to start of the game. If a team is late getting on the ice, they WILL NOT receive additional time for warm-ups. Teams that enter the ice after the allotted warm-up time has expired will receive an automatic bench minor penalty for delay of game.
11. Time Outs: 1 per game (30 seconds)
12. Penalty Time Assessments (in minutes):
    1. Minor penalty: 1:30
    2. Major Penalty: 4:00
    3. Misconduct: 8:00
13. Period Break: 1 minute "Break" in between periods
14. Determining Playoff & Championship Participants
    1. In preliminary round, points will be awarded based on 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, no point for a loss.
    2. In a championship game involving winners of two semi-finals, the team with the best record in preliminary round will be designated the home team.
15. Playoff/Championship round, the following "Tie Breakers" will be used in the following order
    1. Head to Head Competition
    2. Most wins
    3. Greatest GF-GA Ratio: (GF-GA)/GA
    4. Fewest Penalty Minutes
    5. Most periods won
16. Overtime in Playoff & Championship Games
    1. In the event of a tie at the end of regulation game time in championship/playoff games the following will apply: 

       1.  “3 Minute Overtime Period" of 4-on-4 hockey (sudden death)
       2. "3 Minute Overtime Period" of 3-on-3 hockey (sudden death)
       3. "5 Player Shootout" ...
    2. In the event of a tie after the initial shootout the shootout will continue one on one until a winner is determined. No players may shoot for a second time until all players have shot once.

Team Requirements

1. Ensure all players have Home (light color) and Away (dark color) jerseys.
2. Ensure your team is dressed and ready to start a game 15 minutes prior to start time.
3. Team Representatives must have copies of USA Hockey T-1 team rosters.
4. Ensure Coaches, parents and players are familiar with the USA Hockey Zero Tolerance Policy and the Spectator’s Code of Conduct. This information is available in this tournament program and will be visibly displayed during the tournament.