Rules

The tournament is played according to the Finnish Ice Hockey Association (SJL) junior rules and regulations, as well as the SJL competition rules, with the exceptions mentioned below. The tournament organizer has not insured the players or team officials.

Players born in 2018 or later are eligible to participate. Any overaged players must be agreed upon separately with the tournament organizer. If multiple teams from the same club participate, the teams must be equal in strength.

Number of Players

Games are played with a 3+1 vs. 3+1 lineup.

Playing Area

The rink is divided into three sections using easily removable and portable cross-ice dividers. Three matches are played simultaneously in the rink. The arena’s official player benches are used as substitute benches.

Game Time

Each match lasts 20 minutes (running time). The tournament management reserves the right to change the game time for justified reasons. If a team is not on the ice and ready to start according to the schedule, a forfeit win of 5–0 is awarded to the opponent.

Line Changes and Shift Length

Line changes are signaled by a buzzer every 2 minutes, at which point play is automatically whistled dead, regardless of the situation on the ice. After the change, the game instructor restarts play either with a quick face-off or play continues "on the fly" with the puck in the neutral zone.

All players on the team must be given equal ice time throughout the match.

Starting Play

When the goalie freezes the puck, the official blows the whistle, and the attacking team must retreat a fair distance from the opponent's goal. The goalie or game instructor puts the puck back into play. If the puck goes over the cross-ice divider, the instructor restarts the game on the fly without a separate face-off. At the start of the game, after a goal, or after an official's whistle, play restarts with a face-off at the center of the zone.

Game Instruction and Jury

The tournament organizer is responsible for game instruction (officiating) and the result service.

Penalties

In the event of a foul, the game instructor stops the play and explains the infraction to the player. For repeated or clearly intentional fouls, the player is removed from the ice for the remainder of that shift.

DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS REGARDING INTENTIONAL HARM OR ATTEMPTED HARM
If a player intentionally harms or attempts to harm another player during a match, the official may issue a match penalty. In cases of severe or repeated intentional harm, the official and the tournament manager may jointly issue a 1–2 game suspension or disqualify the player from the tournament.
 

Disputes

In case of disputes, a team has the right to submit an inquiry to the tournament jury. The inquiry must be made in writing to the tournament manager within 15 minutes of the end of the match.

Points and Standings

• Win: 2 points
• Draw: 1 point
• Loss: 0 points

If a placement game ends in a draw, the winner is decided by a shootout with three shooters, followed by a "sudden death" format. Every skater must participate in the shootout before the same player can shoot again.

If two or more teams end up with equal points in the group stage, their ranking is determined in the following order:

1. Points
2. Points in head-to-head matches
3. Goal difference in all group matches
4. Goals scored in all group matches
5. Draw (Lottery)

The tournament organizer reserves the right to change tournament arrangements based on the number of participants.

The matches will also be broadcast on Leijona-tv.