Ayr Hockey Challenge Tournament Rules & Regulations 2026
General:
Hockey Canada rules, OHF and OMHA as well as International Silver Stick regulations shall apply to all teams. Please note that teams from outside the OMHA are only required to wear mouth guards if that is a requirement of their governing body.
Tournament participants and spectators are required to adhere to all facility protocols while attending any arena during the tournament. Failure to respect these protocols will result in a loss of privileges.
The Tournament Director / Committee, or the designated representative shall have complete authority with respect to the interpretation and/or application of the tournament rules and regulations. All decisions by Referees, Tournament Director / Committee, or the designated representative shall be considered final and binding on all parties.
There are no appeals or protests allowed at this tournament. Any concerns or issues are to be addressed with the Tournament Director.
There is ZERO tolerance for any sort of abuse of the tournament convenor(s), volunteers or Officials. Such abuse will be reported to OMHA and the offending team’s Board of Directors. Coaches are responsible for the actions of their staff, players and family members.
Registration:
All teams are required to present an approved electronic roster and travel permit prior to participating in their first game.
Please note that all bench staff participating with a team MUST be on an approved electronic roster. If a substitute team official is required, a copy of the approved electronic roster they are on must be presented prior to game time.
Any player participating in the tournament must be electronically rostered as a full-time player or as an approved Affiliated Player (AP) as per OMHA Manual of Operations 5.2.
Note: Though it is found to be accepted practice in some HL/LL leagues, free substitution WILL NOT be allowed for goaltenders in any case. Any substitute player must be an approved AP.
OHF and OMHA rules will apply to the use of ineligible officials or players.
Games:
The Tournament Committee is requesting assistance from players and officials to keep the dressing rooms tidy at the end of each game. Please encourage your players to use the waste containers.
Team officials are requested to do an inspection of their dressing rooms immediately before entering and after their players have left. Please report any damage or untidiness to the Tournament Director / Committee Member immediately. Offending teams are responsible for any costs associated with damage or untidiness.
Teams are to be ready to play ten (10) minutes prior to their scheduled game time. Be prepared to begin your game early when necessary to keep the tournament on schedule.
The tournament will utilize the OMHA 'straight time rule'. When any team is ahead by five (5) or more goals in the third period, the tournament will utilize 'straight time' or 'run time'. During this time, any penalties will be 3 minutes running time. In this situation the game will proceed under 'straight time' unless the gap is reduced to three (3) goals (example a 6-1 score becomes a 6-3 score), at which point the clock will revert to stop time.
At each stage of the tournament, all teams have one (1) thirty (30) second time out per game available. Time out will not reset in the event of overtime.
U9LL, U11B & U15B – 8 Team Divisions
During the round robin phase of the tournament, teams are awarded points based on 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, 0 for a loss.
Round robin & semi-final game times are 10-10-10 with a 3-minute warm up. Final games are 10-10-10 with a 3-minute warm up.
After the completion of round robin play, the two (2) teams with the highest points total in each pool will advance to the semi-final games.
Tie Breaking U9LL, U11B & U15B – 8 Team Divisions
In the event of a tie in the round robin phase of the tournament, please refer to the following tie breaking rules:
If two (2) teams are tied in points, the following tie breaking rules will apply:
1. Head-to-head record involving the two teams (if applicable), then
2. Team with the highest percentage goal differential GF/(GF+GA)%
3. Team with the least goals allowed against advances, then
4. Team with the most goals for, then
5. Team with the least penalty minutes, then
6. Team with the earliest goal scored against their opponent in their first scheduled round robin game, then
7. Coin Toss
If (3) or more teams are tied in points, the following tie breakers will apply:
1a. Team with the highest percentage goal differential [GF/(GF+GA)%
2a. Team with the least goals allowed against advances, then
3a. Team with the most goals for, then
4a. Team with the least penalty minutes, then
5a. Team with the earliest goal scored against their opponent in their first round robin game, then
6a. Coin toss
Note: In the case of three or more teams tied, the steps will apply to all teams till an advancing team is determined, then the remaining teams will begin again at 1a.
U13B (12 Team Division):
During the round robin phase of the tournament, teams are awarded points based on 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, 0 for a loss.
Round robin & semi-final game times are 10-10-10 with a 3-minute warm up. Final games are 10-10-10 with a 3-minute warm up.
Once each team completes their round robin games, the 1st place team in each pool will advance to the semi-final round. A single wildcard team will be chosen from the remaining teams.
Note that the wildcard team will be seeded 4th place and visiting team in the semi-final game.
The wildcard team will be determined by the most accumulated points out of the remaining teams.
If any number of teams are tied in points, please see Tie Breaking U11 HL/LL to Determine Ties within Pools, Wild Card Team and Team Seeding (12 Team Division).
Once four (4) semifinal teams are determined, the three first place teams will be seeded 1,2,3 based on most points accumulated during the round robin phase. In event of a tie, please see Tie Breaking U11 HL/LL to Determine Ties within Pools, Wild Card Team and Team Seeding (12 Team Division).
Tie Breaking U13B Division to Determine Ties, Wildcard Team and Team Seeding (12 Team Division):
If two (2) teams are tied in points, the following tie breaking rules will apply:
1. Head-to-head record involving the two teams (if applicable), then
2. Team with the highest percentage goal differential GF/(GF+GA)%
3. Team with the least goals allowed against advances, then
4. Team with the most goals for, then
5. Team with the least penalty minutes, then
6. Team with the earliest goal scored against their opponent in their first scheduled round robin game, then
7. Coin Toss
If (3) or more teams are tied in points, the following tie breakers will apply:
1a. Team with the highest percentage goal differential [GF/(GF+GA)%
2a. Team with the least goals allowed against advances, then
3a. Team with the most goals for, then
4a. Team with the least penalty minutes, then
5a. Team with the earliest goal scored against their opponent in their first round robin game, then
6a. Coin toss
Note: In the case of three or more teams being tied, the steps will apply to all teams till an advancing team is determined, then the remaining teams will begin again at 1a.
Tie Breaking Semi-Final and Final Games:
If tied after regulation time ends, a 5 minute, 4 on 4 sudden victory overtime period will be played. If still tied after the overtime period, the best of three shoot-out will commence.
Shooters must be indicated in order of appearance on the form provided prior to game time. If a player listed for the shootout is suspended or seriously injured during the game, the coach will indicate an alternate shooter in that skater’s position.
Shoot-out is the best of 3. Each team will shoot simultaneously.
If, after each team's initial three shooters are still tied, shoot-out continues with simultaneous shots until one team leads after a round.
Shooters may not repeat until all skaters have been used (goalies cannot be selected). Hockey Canada/OMHA Penalty Shot Rules will be the guideline for execution of shots.
A player ejected from the game or has not fully served a penalty prior may not return for the shoot-out.
Determination of the Home Team in Final Games:
The home team in the final games will be determined as follows:
The team with the highest total of game wins in the round robin and semifinal games combined.
In the event of a tie, the home team shall be determined by:
1. Team with the best winning percentage in the round robin
2. Team with the highest percentage goal differential [GF/(GF+GA)%]
3. Team with the least goals allowed against advances, then
4. Team with the least penalty minutes, then
5. Team with the earliest goal scored against their opponent in their first-round robin game, then
6. Coin toss