Esso Golden Ring

Tournament Rules

General Rules

1. The Official Rules of Ringette Canada will apply.

2. Teams must be ready to go on the ice ten (10) minutes before game time. Teams not iced within two (2) minutes of the referee's whistle being blown to start the game will forfeit the game. However, the game will be played as an exhibition.

3. Score sheets are to be picked up at the control desk of the arena. They are to be completed and signed by the coach at least fifteen (15) minutes before game time and returned to the control desk.

4. In the case of conflict in uniform color, the VISITING team must change their uniforms.

5. There will be at least a two (2) minute break between halves.

6. In medal games, the higher place team shall be HOME.

7. Teams must declare goaltender(s), captains and alternate captains on the gamesheet by indicating (G), (C), (AC).

8. Teams MUST declare affiliated players on game sheets by indicating (AP) on the game sheets for which those players are used. It is the responsibility of the team to ensure that both "Ringette Alberta" and "Esso Golden Ring Tournament" affiliated player rules are followed.

9. Length of Halves shall be 15 minutes for Tween and younger (except bunny), and 20 minutes for Junior and older.

10. Good sportsmanship will be stressed throughout the tournament.
Any TEAM accumulating MORE THAN 30 Penalty Minutes in any ONE GAME, shall see the head coach or acting coach from that game suspended for their next tournament game.
(No grievances will be accepted)
A MATCH penalty will automatically result in suspension from all subsequent tournament games.

11. Game scores will be displayed on the time clock, posted in arenas, and recorded for tie breaking procedures, with a MAXIMUM SEVEN GOAL difference.

12. Any team wishing to file a protest may do so by submitting their request in writing, along with $250, to the East Twin Control Centre. Notification of a protest must be received within one hour of the incident occurring to enable sufficient time to deal with the protest.
A grievance committee will meet to deal with any protests received. (If the protest is upheld the $250 will be refunded).
No game protests involving referee judgment will be accepted.
THE REFEREE'S DECISION SHALL BE FINAL.

Player Affiliation Rules

For ALBERTA Teams:
Affiliate players must be registered on your TRF (team registration form) as per the Ringette Alberta Operating Policies and Procedures.

When using affiliate players, players "dressed" and listed on the game sheet shall be:

A. A maximum of 17 regular players if the only affiliate player "dressed" is a goaltender

B. A maximum of 12 players if any affiliate players other than a "dressed" affiliate goaltender is listed.

C. A maximum of 5 affiliate players in any one game

For OUT-OF-PROVINCE Teams:

A. A team may have affiliated with it, a player(s) in a lower level of the same age group and or player(s) of the same level in a lower age group from within the same community or boundary. (For example, a Junior "A" team may have affiliated with it, Junior "B" players or Tween "A" players. However, a Junior "B" team may NOT have a Tween "A" player affiliated with it)

B. No more than five (5) affiliated players per game.

C. The team using the affiliated player must have written permission from the coach of that players regular team (without this permission the affiliated player will be deemed ineligible). We must also have a copy of the affiliate players regular team provincial registration.

For ALL Teams:
Gamesheets are checked at the control centre for proper use of affiliated players. Teams are required to strike the names of players who are not participating in a game from the gamesheet to ensure proper verification. When using an affiliate the name(s) of the player(s) and their jersey number must be written in the appropriate space on the gamesheet (at the bottom of the team roster under "AFFILIATES")

The Maximum number of players listed on a gamesheet:
When using no affiliates................................................... 18 players
When using affiliate(s) as skater(s) only........................ 12 players
When using affiliate skater(s)
plus an affiliate goalie....................................................... 13 players
When only using an affiliate goalie................................. 18 players
NOTE: "players" includes goaltenders, skaters and affiliates.

Modifications for the Bunny & Novice Divisions

No BUNNY or NOVICE player is to be credited with more than three (3) goals in any tournament game.
Goals scored in excess of this by any player shall not be recorded on the game sheet, shall not be posted on the score clock, and shall not be counted in the final score at the end of the game.
In the interest of sportsmanship it is strongly recommended that coaches manage their team (ie. position changes) to ensure players do not consistently score more than the allowable three goals per player per game.
There are no points, semi finals or finals for the bunny, novice or novice A divisions. It is strictly a friendship series where all participants will receive a medal.
The structure is a random round robin. There shall be no overtime (a tie is a tie).

In the Bunny Division ONLY:
A. Anyone who participates on-ice during a bunny warm-up is required to wear CSA-approved protective head gear.
B. Scores in the bunny division shall be posted on the score clock with a maximum five (5) goal spread.
C. Periods in bunny games are 18 minutes in length with 2 minute straight or running time shift, at which time the buzzer will sound for a shift change.

TOURNAMENT RULES for TIE BREAKING

Round Robin Team Standing Rules

POINT STRUCTURE - Teams receive two (2) points for a win, one (1) point for a tie, and no (0) points for a loss. At the completion of round robin play, teams will be ranked according to the total points in all games played.
Breaking of Ties in Team Standings
Note: Regardless of game score, only a SEVEN goal difference will be credited in applying these rules.

When two or more teams have an equal number of points after round robin play, the teams will be ranked according to the following rules:

A. In cases where the tied teams have played an equal number of games against each other, the winner of more game(s) between each other during the round robin will be declared the highest position.

B. If still tied, teams shall be ranked according to the difference between goals for and against in games between the tied teams in round robin play. The team with the highest positive difference shall be ranked highest, the team with the second highest positive difference shall be ranked next, the team with the third highest positive difference shall be ranked next, etc.

C. If still tied, teams shall be ranked according to the least goals against in games between the tied teams in round robin play. The team with the least goals against shall be declared the highest position, the team with the second least goals against shall be next, the team with the third least goals against shall be next, etc.

D. If still tied, teams shall be ranked according to the difference between goals for and against in all games played in the round robin. The team with the highest positive difference shall be ranked highest, the team with the second highest positive difference shall be ranked next, the team with the third highest positive difference shall be ranked next, etc.

E. If still tied, teams shall be ranked according to the least goals against in all games played in the round robin. The team with the least goals against shall be declared the highest position, the team with the second least goals against shall be next, the team with the third least goals against shall be next, etc.

F. If still tied, teams shall be ranked according to the highest ratio of goals for divided by the sum of goals for plus goals against for games between the tied teams in round robin play. The team with the highest ratio shall be ranked highest, the team with the second highest ratio shall be ranked next, the team with the third highest ratio shall be ranked next, etc.

G. If still tied, teams shall be ranked according to the highest ratio of goals for divided by the sum of goals for plus goals against for all games played in the round robin. The team with the highest ratio shall be ranked highest, the team with the second highest ratio shall be ranked next, the team with the third highest ratio shall be ranked next, etc.

H. If still tied, teams shall be ranked according to the least total penalty minutes for all games played in the round robin. The team with the least penalty minutes shall be declared the highest position, the team with the second least penalty minutes shall be next, the team with the third least penalty minutes shall be next, etc.

I. If still tied, teams shall be ranked according to the time required to score their first goal for all games played in the round robin. The team scoring the earliest goal shall be ranked highest, the team scoring the second earliest goal shall be ranked next, the team scoring the third earliest goal shall be ranked next, etc.

J. If still tied, teams shall be ranked by a coin toss.

NOTE: Each step of the tie breaking rules shall apply to all teams involved in the tie.
ie. according to rule B, the White team has a difference of 5 goals, the Red team has a difference of 3 goals and the Blue team has a difference of 2 goals. White team shall be ranked highest, Red team next and Blue team shall be third among these tied teams.
If three (3) or more teams are involved in the tie, the tie breaking procedure shall only revert to A if teams are still tied after the application of subsequent rules. ie. according to rule B, the White team has a difference of 5 goals, the Red team and the Blue team are still tied at 3 goals difference. White team shall be ranked highest, revert to rule A to break the tie between the Red & Blue teams.

"WILD CARD" teams are determined by using the round robin standings (and tie breaker rules if required) to find the highest place team who did not qualify as 1st or 2nd in their pool.

Breaking of Tie Scores in Tournament Games

If a ROUND ROBIN game is tied at the end of regulation time, each team will be awarded (1) one point.
If a game is tied at the end of the second half of a quarter, SemI or Final game, the teams will immediately play a five (5) minute stop-time SUDDEN VICTORY period (the first team to score will be declared the winner). Possession of the ring will be decided by a coin toss.
If no goals are scored in the first overtime period, a second overtime period five (5) minute stop-time SUDDEN VICTORY period will be played. For the second overtime period teams will play "four on four" (plus a goaltender). Possession of the ring will be decided by a coin toss.
If no goals are scored in either overtime period, the team who scored the first goal of the second regulation period shall be declared the winner.
If no goals were scored in the second regulation period, the team who scored the last goal of the first regulation period shall be declared the winner.
If no goals were scored in the game, rules for the breaking of ties in team standings shall be used to declare the winner.

NOTE: Penalties assessed in regulation or overtime play shall carry-over to the next period.

Time-Outs:
Each team is entitled to:
ONE 30-second timeout per regulation game
ONE additional 30-second timeout in overtime.