RULES

Sanction Number- TBA SOON

Eastern Exposure Hockey is governed by the rules of USA Hockey, and it is the responsibility of each player, coach and team manager to be familiar with these rules and ensure all participating players and coaches are registered with USA hockey for insurance purposes.

Tournament/ Showcase Management

The Tournament/ Showcase Management shall be responsible for resolving all inquires or disputes regarding off-ice rule application or interpretation, player eligibility, disciplinary action and any other procedural disputes. Eastern Exposure Hockey supports the USA Hockey zero tolerance initiatives for verbal abuse of any player, official, parent or spectator. The Tournament/ Showcase Management or arena staff reserves the right to remove any violator from the premises. He/she will not overturn any dispute concerning rules and/or the judgment applied by on-ice officials. All decisions of the Tournament/ Showcase Management are final.

TRAVEL PERMIT—For teams outside the USA, the tournament will require an official executed travel permit from Hockey Canada

USA HOCKEY/ HOCKEY CANADA ROSTER SUBMISSION — A USA Hockey Official Team Roster Form (1-T) approved by the District or Associate Registrar or Hockey Canada Certified Player Roster approved by the governing Canadian federation is required for all participating teams and shall be proof that all participating teams are properly registered and all participants are playing in the appropriate age classification and level. Official USA Hockey rosters or Hockey Canada rosters must be submitted to Eastern Exposure Hockey at least 10 days before the event start date.

TEAM PLAY ROSTER : Rosters submitted must match the team’s verified/approved USA Hockey Official Team Roster (1-T) or Hockey Canada Certified Player Roster. No changes will be permitted. Rosters are frozen on the first day once the puck drops for the first game.

All players are 2008 birth year or younger unless otherwise approved by tournament management.

HOME TEAM/ AWAY TEAM – as determined by the Showcase schedule. Home will wear dark color

MOUTH GUARDS— All players are required to wear a colored, non-clear (Rule 304F) mouth guards (Squirt players excepted as per USA Hockey), or as per their Organization’s directive (per out of country teams).

ICE CUT—An ice cut will follow at the end of every game. All games will start on clean ice.

READY TIME—All teams must be ready to play 15 minutes prior to their scheduled start time.

TIMEOUTS—There are NO timeouts for Showcases. For Tournaments, there are NO timeouts until Saturday PM "Playoff Games". A timeout is 30 Seconds

WARM UP: three (3) minutes. Teams are to provide their own pucks

LATE TO ICE—If a team is late getting on to the ice for warm-up, they can be assessed a 2:00 penalty for delay of game.

MERCY RULE—Play clock will go to running time if goal differential is 6.

ICING—Per the new 2023-2024 USA Hockey regulations

CHECKING—Per USA Hockey regulations checking is permitted at Bantam and older.

PENALTIES—Minor 1:30 minutes, Major 4:00, Misconduct 10:00

FIGHTING—Fighting is strictly prohibited. Any player involved in a fight may be dismissed at the discretion of tournament management and referees. If a game is interrupted by on ice fighting between players and /or bench staff, then the clock will continue to run. Games times will not be restored until the whistle has blown on the play that immediately follows the on-ice fight. Minutes lost will not be restored.

GAME PLAY in a Tournament Situation

Three 15-minute periods, no ice clean.

3-minute warm-up before each game.

Round Robin(play down) games will be scored with:

2 points for a win

1 point for a tie

0 points for a loss

Standings and Playoff Seeds will be determined by (in order) :

1)Most Points

2)Head to Head(this will only be considered if all tied teams have played each other)

3) Most Wins

4) Goal differential (total goals for - total goals against. Up to a max + 6) The max goal differential attainable per game is +/6

5) Least goals against overall

6) Coin Toss

Playoff Rules in a Tournament Situation

Semi-Final and Final games will be three 15-minute stopped time periods. 

Each team will be allowed (1) :30 second timeout in playoff games only

If playoff game is tied after regulation, we will go to Overtime/Shootout

Overtime/Shootout

For OT - Teams will skate 3-on-3 for 1 x 5 minute sudden death period.

If a team is assessed a penalty; teams will skate 4-on-3 for the length of the penalty. Once the penalty is over, the game will proceed with 4 on 4 play until a whistle blows the play dead. Teams will then revert back to 3 on 3 hockey.

If there is no winner during the overtime period, a shootout will determine the game winner.

Shootouts will be 5 players as designated by each coach

Home team will have choice of shooting first or second

If teams remain tied after the first 5 rounds, in turn, the shootout will go player by player until a winner is determined. (Winner is determined when a team scores and the other team does not)

All players must take part in the shootout before a player can shoot again

2022 Divisional Format

COVID-19 Contingency Plan

In the unfortunate event of one or more teams cancelling just before or
during the tournament due to pandemic related issues, Exposure Hockey
will make every effort to adjust the schedule for those teams impacted by
the cancellation. Adjustments to the schedule will be made SOLEY at the
discretion of Exposure Hockey.

If Exposure Hockey is unable to adjust the schedule, the team who cancels
will see their score recorded as a 1-0 forfeit, with their scheduled opponents
awarded a 2-point victory in the results and standings, along with a +1 goal
differential. We understand the potential implications of this, and will work
to avoid it, but a solution to everyone’s satisfaction and/or that impacts
many more teams may not be possible on short notice. We have structured
our divisions to try to minimize these potential impacts.

If the team who cancels is in an 8-team division, they will be designated
the 8th place in the standings, and the 1st place team will get a bye in the
playoff quarterfinals.

Exposure Hockey may try to find a fill-in opponent for one or more games
so the remaining team(s) will have actual games to play during the round
robin schedules, but these results will not count towards the tournament
standings or impact the tournament or playoff structure in any way.

Referee Contingency Plan

As most of us are aware, there is a significant shortage of referees and game
officials across the country right now. Exposure Hockey has coordinated
carefully with local referees -in-chief and schedulers to have complete
game coverage, and we are hopeful for no disruptions. 

In the event of a shortage of game officials, we may have to play a game with
only one official. These games will go on as scheduled and count as normal.
In the event of a lack of at least one game official for whatever reason, the
game will be cancelled. If possible, with available sources, ice times, and
within the structure and timeframe of the tournament, Exposure Hockey
*may* attempt to reschedule the game at a time and location acceptable to
BOTH teams and SOLEY at the discretion of Exposure Hockey.

If the game is cancelled and not rescheduled, the game will be recorded
as a 0-0 tie in the tournament results and standings. We understand the
potential implications of this, and will work to avoid it, but a solution to
everyone’s satisfaction and/or that impacts many more teams may not be
possible on short notice

COVID-19 REFUND POLICY

Event Cancelation

If Exposure Hockey is prevented by circumstances outside of its control from hosting an event due to a restriction on sports imposed by emergency governmental order or if Exposure Hockey cancels an event in its sole discretion, all teams registered-paid to play will receive a portion or full registration fees paid to Exposure Hockey. Refunds will be paid in the same form of payment that was made by the team.  Credit cards will be refunded the amount, minus the processing fee

Miscellaneous

Eastern Exposure Hockey will not be responsible for any injury to teams and/or team members and/or supporters. This includes arena(s), school property, hotels, and anywhere else teams and supporters travel throughout the weekend.

The Eastern Exposure Cup Agreement shall be executed-acknowledged prior to the start of the Tournament/Showcase. Failure to sign the release form results in removal from the Tournament / Showcase.

Eastern Exposure Hockey will not be held responsible for any lost or stolen items.

Locker rooms and all areas of the arena and property are to be left in spotless condition.Failure to abide by this can result in dismissal of the tournament. If you see an area in poor condition, please bring it to the attention of Eastern Exposure Hockey promptly.

Tournament / Showcase personnel and team representatives ONLY are allowed on the bench and in locker room areas. Parents are not permitted in the locker room area or on the team bench at any time.

A refund for the Tournament/ Showcase for any reason, is solely at the sole discretion of Eastern Exposure Hockey. There is no refund guarantee for any circumstances.

Photo/Video/Social Media Consent

By allowing your program to play in the Eastern Exposure Cup and officially acknowledging the rules and regulations for this event, your entire team(s) gives consent for photographs to be taken, consent for video to be recorded of all activities related to the Eastern Exposure Hockey, the Eastern Exposure Cup Tournament/ Showcase games, Skills weekends and Tournament/ Showcase gatherings. Eastern Exposure Hockey Group has the right to use all media assets collected for publicity purposes: on the Eastern Exposure website, in brochures, flyers and news releases, as well as Social media posts and presentations to future prospective program participants. By signing Eastern Exposure Hockey Groups consent form at registration, you shall understand that you will receive no compensation for such uses. We retain the right to have any photographs discontinued from use in any or all of Eastern Exposure Hockey Groups venues upon request, and if, at any time, you wish photograph(s) to be discontinued from any of the above, it is your program-individuals responsibility to contact the tournament director, Matt Miles, ( 802-595-0860 or mattmiles@eehockeygroup.com) to make this request in writing.

As a group you must confirm and understand all of the items in this document and ensure every program member and participant understands the same.