London Junior Mustangs Early Bird Tournament Rules and Regulations
1. Body Checking - Body checking is not permitted in this tournament in divisions U10- U13.
2. Rosters & Registration
Team Travel Permits and Approved Rosters are to be emailed to our tournament registrar – Suzanne Whitmore- [email protected] - by September 1, 2025
Affiliated players must be registered before the first game and may only play for one team in the tournament. Affiliated players can only play for another team if their team has been eliminated AND they can not play more than 3 games in a day (unless approval received from Tournament Chair). Please notify Tournament officials prior to using a player who has played on another team in the tournament.
ALL TEAMS REQUIRE A CERTIFIED COACH AND TRAINER ON THE BENCH FOR ALL GAMES.
A maximum 19 players including up to 2 goalies in full uniform and team officials (up to a MAXIMUM OF 5) will be permitted in the player’s bench area during game play. Official game day roster cannot exceed the original official roster.
U18 A maximum 20 players including up to 2 goalies in full uniform and team officials (Up to a MAXIMUM OF 5) will be permitted in the player’s bench area during game play.
3. Game Sheets
This tournament utilizes digital game sheets. Each team is responsible for always having their official roster on hand for inspection. Coaching staff are to upload/input their full roster and complete the digital game sheet in advance of each game at the tournament office to approve player & staff roster details, game times and possible curfew information.
Teams must ensure that any suspension is accurately documented on all game sheets.
4. Playing Rules
Playing rules and tournament regulations are those of Hockey Canada, the Ontario Hockey Federation, and the Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario. The following rules will also apply:
Teams must have two sets of game Jerseys. The team listed as home team will wear dark coloured jerseys. Teams listed as away, or visitor will wear light coloured jerseys. In the event of a colour conflict or dispute, the tournament official present reserves the right to make the final decision.
Except for the first game of the day, TEAMS MUST BE READY TO START THEIR GAME 15 MINUTES BEFORE the scheduled game time. Buffers have been built into the schedule and games will start early when possible. All teams first game of the tournament will not start early.
Only arena personnel, referees, convenors, and timekeepers will be allowed inside/behind the area of the timekeeper’s box.
5. Tournament Game Play
Teams will shake hands before each game including the championship series.
Warmup Length: 3 minutes
Period Length: 10-10-15 "Preliminary Round", / stop time. No Overtime, No Timeouts.
Quarter Finals, Semi Finals & Finals will be played 10-15-15.
Playoff OT Period Length: 5 minute / Run time. No overtime in Preliminary Round play.
6. Five Goal Differential Rule
If there is a 5-goal spread or greater in the 3rd period in any games (including semi-final and final games), the clock will be allowed to run. If the spread becomes less than 5 goals, the clock will revert to stop time.
● Minor penalties and Major penalties assessed during run time will remain as 2-minute minors and 5-minute majors. Players can only return to ice during regular game play and can’t leave the penalty box between whistles. (must wait for the puck to be dropped)
7. Scoring
2 points – Win / 1 point – Tie / 0 points – Loss
Maximum goal difference recorded to be displayed or for the GFH % will be 6.
8. Time outs
Preliminary Round: Time outs are not permitted in Preliminary Round play.
Playoff Games: One 30 second timeout per team.
9. Playoff & Championship Qualification
Qualification for play beyond the Preliminary Round into the Playoff games will depend on division format and the number of teams in each division. Divisions will play Preliminary Round games and the teams advancing to the playoffs will be determined by greatest number of points earned in the Preliminary Round and tie breaker rules (below). Teams losing a playoff game will be eliminated.
10. Preliminary Round Tie Breaking Rules
a. Team with best record (most wins count first) gains higher position.
b. Head-to-head record between tied teams (applies to 2 teams only: if more than 2 teams involved, GFA% applies)
c. GFA percentage of all games played within the Preliminary Round or Qualifying Round.
d. Lowest number of goals against incurred within the Preliminary Round or Qualifying Round.
e. Highest number of goals for scored within the Preliminary Round or Qualifying Round.
f. Fewest Pims.
g. Coin toss.
Tournament Director has final say on tie breakers – no verbal appeal or protests allowed.
11. Overtime for Playoffs
Quarter Finals, Semi Finals & Finals will be played 10-15-15.
1. All overtime periods are sudden victory.
2. All overtime periods will be five-minute Run Time. THERE ARE NO CHANGES ON THE WHISTLE
• 1st overtime period – 3 players plus a goalie. (3v3)
• 2nd overtime period – 2 players plus a goalie. (2v2)
• 3rd overtime period – 1 player plus a goalie. (1v1)
• 4th overtime period – 1 player and no goalie. (1v1 with no goalies)
3. All penalties incurred will be served to the minimum of one player plus a goalie.
• 1st overtime period – a penalty is assessed during 3v3 - the powerplay will be 3v2.
• 2nd overtime period – a penalty is assessed during 2v2 - the powerplay will be 2v1.
• 3rd overtime period – a penalty will result in a penalty shot. Faceoff will go back to center ice following shot (1v1).
• 4th overtime period – a penalty will result in a goal be awarded and the game concluding (1v1 with no goalies).
12. Game Officials
All games will be officiated by registered HOCKEY CANADA, OHF and ALLIANCE HOCKEY officials. Referees shall judge all goals from the ice. The Tournament Conveners will not discuss referee decisions.
Only team officials are permitted in the Tournament Offices. Absolutely no team official receiving a GM or GRM penalty shall be permitted to enter the Tournament Offices until the GM or GRM penalty and/or any suspensions incurred because of the infraction have been served in their entirety. Failure to follow this rule will lead to an automatic suspension for the remainder of the Tournament.
13. Protests
Protests must be filed by team officials in writing with a $250.00 non-refundable fee per protest to the arena Tournament office within one hour after the end of the game.
The decision by the Tournament Rules Committee will be final and may not be protested. It should be noted that a Referee’s decision is final and may not be protested unless it concerns an interpretation of the rules as outlined in the Hockey Canada rulebook.
14. Each team must provide a roster on all AP’s for the home team.
15. Any player cannot play for more than one team in the tournament.
Please Note:
- Any player who receives a Fighting Major or a match penalty will be suspended for the duration of the tournament.
- Only arena personnel, referees, convenors, and timekeepers will be allowed behind the area of the timekeeper’s box
- If any player must leave the playing surface or bench to return to the dressing room for any reason (illness, injury, equipment issue, suspended from play) the player MUST BE accompanied back and into the room by a team official.
- Rules subject to change prior to tournament at the discretion of the Tournament Committee
Please direct any questions to the Tournament director:
Rebecca Werden email: R[email protected]