Rules

TOURNAMENT RULES
The tournament will be played in the AAA+, AAA, AA and A divisions.

The tournament follows the competition rules of the Finnish Ice Hockey Association, with the exceptions stated in these tournament rules. Each division consists of two (2) groups of four (4) teams. Exception is AAA+ division, where is two (2) groups of five (5) teams. After the group stage, playoffs and placement games will be played.

Determining the standings in the group (in the following order):
Points (2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie). If teams are tied on points, the ranking will be decided as follows:

1. Goal difference in group games
2. Goals scored in group games
3. Points from head-to-head games
4. Goal difference in head-to-head games
5. Goals scored in head-to-head games
6. Penalty minutes in group games
7. Drawing of lots

In continuation round games, excluding the final and the bronze medal game, if the game is tied at the end of regulation time, the winner will be decided by a shootout, starting immediately after the final whistle.
One shooter per team will shoot at the same end of the rink until a difference is made. The decision may therefore come already after the first pair of shooters. The team marked as the visiting team starts the shootout.

NOTE: A different shooter must be used each time until the entire roster has been used, excluding goaltenders.

In the final and bronze medal games, if the score is tied after regulation time, the winner will be decided by a shootout starting immediately after the final whistle. First, three players from each team will shoot. If the score is still tied, one pair at a time will continue until a difference is made. The team marked as the visiting team starts the shootout.

NOTE: A different shooter must be used each time until the entire roster has been used, excluding goaltenders.

• Celebrating goals is allowed only for players who are on the ice.
• No warm-up is allowed on the ice; the game starts immediately with the starting lineups.
• Timeouts are not used in the tournament.
• The length of a normal minor penalty is 1 minute. In the case of a game misconduct, the penalty length is 2 minutes.

Game duration and official time
The game time in the group stage is 2 x 15 minutes of effective playing time, with a maximum total game time of 50 minutes. When the total game time expires, the game ends and the current score stands. The game time in the final is 2 x 20 minutes of effective playing time, with a maximum total game time of 60 minutes. The intermission between periods is 2 minutes.

The tournament organizer has the right to shorten game durations if necessary to stay on schedule:
Group stage games to a maximum of 45 minutes. Placement games to a maximum of 55 minutes. In this case, the intermission is 1 minute.

• Timeouts are not allowed.
• If a team is late for the scheduled start time of a game, the game will be awarded as a 5–0 loss for that team.

Referees are appointed by the Vaasa Ice Hockey Referees’ Association (VJETK).

Player transfers between teams of the same club
A player may represent only one team during the tournament.

Exception: goaltenders may represent more than one team from the same club during the tournament.

Team jerseys
The team marked as the home team must wear dark jerseys, and the visiting team must wear light jerseys.

Exception: Sport may play all its games in black jerseys. This will be confirmed well in advance of the tournament.

Tournament jury and protests
All protests are handled by the tournament jury, whose decision is final. Protests must be submitted in writing within 10 minutes after the end of the game. The protest fee is 150 euros and will be refunded if the protest is upheld.

The jury consists of:
One referee appointed by VJETK
The tournament manager
One representative from each of the two teams involved in the protested game

In case of a tie vote, the vote of the referee appointed by VJETK decides.

Disciplinary actions
A match penalty given to a player or team official results automatically in exclusion from the tournament. A game misconduct penalty results automatically in a one-game suspension in the tournament.

Liability
The tournament organizers are not responsible for any accidents or damages involving participating teams. Team managers are responsible for ensuring that all players have valid insurance.

First aid
Teams are primarily responsible for taking care of their own players (such as medicines, thermometer, bandages, etc.). A healthcare professional with first aid training will be present at the tournament and can be called if needed.

Changes
The tournament management reserves the right to change schedules and game orders, and to interpret these rules.

Tournament awards
At the end of the tournament, medals will be awarded to the teams finishing 1st–3rd, and a trophy will be awarded to the winning team.

Right to change the rules
The tournament organizer reserves the right to change and interpret these rules at their discretion before or during the tournament.

The up-to-date rules will always be published on this page.