The tournament rules of the EIHC Tournaments are similar to the tournament rules of the IIHF Championships.
These rules are based on the IIHF Rule book, IIHF Case book and IIHF Sport Regulations.
THREE POINT SYSTEM FOR EIHC TOURNAMENTS
For all EIHC Championship competitions, points shall be awarded as follows:
• 3 points for the winning team at the conclusion of regulation time
• 1 point for both teams at the conclusion of regulation time if the game is tied
• An additional point earned for the team winning the game in a 5-minute overtime period, or the Penalty-Shot Shootout Procedure if the teams are still tied following conclusion of the overtime period
• 0 points for the team losing the game in regulation time
TIE BREAKING SYSTEM FOR EIHC COMPETITIONS
The tie-breaking system for two teams with the same number of points in a standing will be the game between the two teams, the winner of the game taking precedence. Due to the fact that the three-point system does not allow a game to end in a tie, then the following tie breaking procedure is applicable when three or more teams are tied in points in a Championship standing. Should three or more teams be tied on points, then a tie breaking formula will be applied as follows, creating a sub-group amongst the tied teams. This process will continue until only two or none of the teams remain tied. In the case of two remaining tied teams, the game between the two would then be the determining tie-breaker as the game could not end as a tie. In the case of none of the teams being tied, the criteria specified in the following respective step applies.
Step 1: Taking into consideration the games between each of the tied teams, a sub-group is created applying the points awarded in the direct games amongst the tied teams from which the teams are then ranked accordingly.
Step 2: Should three or more teams still remain tied in points then the better goal difference in the direct games amongst the tied teams will be decisive.
Step 3: Should three or more teams still remain tied in points and goal difference then the highest number of goals scored by these teams in their direct games will be decisive
Step 4: Should three or more teams still remain tied in points, goal difference and goals scored then the results between each of the three teams and the closest best-ranked team outside the subgroup will be applied. In this case the tied team with the best result (1. points, 2. goal difference, 3. more goals scored) against the closest best ranked-team will take precedence
Step 5: Should the teams still remain tied, then the results between each of the three teams and the next highest best-ranked team outside the sub-group will be applied.
Step 6: Should the teams still remain tied after these five steps have been exercised then Sport considerations will be applied and the teams will be ranked by their positions coming into the Championship (i.e. seeding).
The EIHC Tie Breaking System will be used to resolve ties before the end of the Preliminary Round. In the case where two teams are tied and they have not yet played against each other, and in the case where three or more teams are tied and not all mutual games have been played within the sub-group, the following criteria will be used to break the tie:
1. Fewest number of games played
2. Highest Goal Differential (GF-GA) in all games
3. Highest number of Goals For (GF) in all games
4. Highest tournament seeding entering the tournament In the case of three or more tied teams, this process will continue until only two teams remain tied. The game between the two remaining tied teams would then be the determining tiebreaker. If the two remaining tied teams have not played each other then the tie break will be determined by re-starting the process only for these two teams. 2
OVERTIME OPERATIONS
Overtime – Operations for a Round Robin or for a Preliminary Round Game: If at the end of the three (3) regular twenty (20) minutes periods in a single Round Robin championship or the Preliminary Round of a top category championship and the two playing teams are tied, the teams will then play a ‘sudden death’ overtime period of not more than five (5) minutes with the team scoring first declared the winner. The overtime period shall be played with each team at a numerical strength of three (3) skaters and one (1) goaltender.
The overtime period will commence following a three-minute intermission during which time a shovelling of the ice surface by arena personnel will be performed utilizing the same procedure as during television time-outs. Once the intermission has been completed, the clock will be reset to 5:00 minutes and the overtime period will begin immediately. Teams will not change ends. The players will remain at their respective player benches during the 3-minute intermission in which the shovelling of the ice surface takes place. Goaltenders must go to their respective players’ benches during this rest period, however, penalized players must remain on the penalty bench. Should a penalized player exit the penalty bench, he shall be returned immediately by the game officials with no additional penalty being assessed, unless he commits an infraction of any other rule. Teams are not permitted to return to the dressing room during this time.
Penalties:
When regulation time ends and the teams are 5 on 3, teams will start the overtime period with 5 on 3. Once player strength reaches 5 on 4 or 5 on 5, at the next stoppage of play, player strength is adjusted to 4 on 3 or 3 on 3, as appropriate. When regulation time ends and teams are 4 on 4 teams will start overtime 3 on 3. Once player strength reaches 4 on 4, at the next stoppage player strength is adjusted to 3 on 3 as appropriate. If at the end of regulation time teams are 3 on 3, overtime starts 3 on 3. Once player strength reaches 4 on 4, 5 on 4 or 5 on 5, at the next stoppage player strength is adjusted to 3 on 3 or 4 on 3 as appropriate. At no time will a team have less than three players on the ice. This may require a fourth and/or fifth skater to be added in the event penalties are assessed. If a team is penalized in overtime, teams play 4 on 3. If both teams are penalized with minor penalties at the same stoppage of play (with no other penalties in effect), teams will continue to play 3 on 3. In overtime, if a team is penalized such that a two-man advantage is called for, then the offending team will remain at three (3) skaters while the non-offending team will be permitted five (5) skaters. At the first stoppage of play after the two-man advantage is no longer in effect, the numerical strength of the teams will revert back to 4 on 3 or 3 on 3, as appropriate.
PENALTY-SHOT SHOOTOUT PROCEDURE
If following the completion of regulation time in any EIHC Championship game and the score of the game is tied, the teams will then play an overtime period with a maximum duration and number of players as specified in the IIHF Sport Regulations with the team scoring first declared the winner. If no goal is scored in the overtime period then the EIHC Penalty-Shot Shootout Procedure will apply. The following procedure will be utilized:
1. Shots will be taken at both ends of the ice surface. The 14-meter wide longitudinal centre section of the rink, between the Face-Off Spots in the neutral and end zones, will be dryscraped by the ice-resurfacing machine prior to the Penalty-Shot Shootout during the time required to organize the program accordingly.
2. The procedure will begin with five (5) different shooters from each team taking alternate shots. The players do not need to be named beforehand. Eligible to participate in the Penalty-Shot Shootout will be the four goalkeepers and all players from both teams listed on the official game sheet except as specified in article 3 below.
3. Any player whose penalty had not been completed when the overtime period ended is not eligible to be one of the players selected to take the shots and must remain in the penalty box or in the dressing room. Also, players serving penalties assessed during the PenaltyShot Shootout must remain in the penalty box or in the dressing room until the end of the procedure.
4. The Referee will call the two captains to the Referee Crease and flip a coin to determine which team takes the first shot. The winner of the coin toss will have the choice whether his team will shoot first or second.
5. The goalkeepers shall defend the same goal as in the overtime period and may remain at their goal creases while the opposing team is taking a shot.
6. The goalkeepers from each team may be changed after each shot.
7. The shots will be taken in accordance with Rule 63 of the IIHF Official Rule Book.
8. The players of both teams will take the shots alternately until a decisive goal is scored. The remaining shots will not be taken.
9. If the result is still tied after all shots by each team the procedure shall continue with a tiebreak shoot-out by one player of each team, with the same or new players with the other team starting to take the tie-break shots. The same player can also be used for each shot by a team in the tie-break shoot-out. The game shall be finished as soon as a duel of two players brings the decisive result.
10. The Official Scorekeeper will record all shots taken, indicating the players, goalkeepers and goals scored.
11. Only the decisive goal will count in the result of the game. It shall be credited to the player who scored and to the goalkeeper concerned.
12. If a team declines to participate in the Penalty-Shot Shootout, the game will be declared as a loss for that team and the other team will be awarded 3 points for a win. If a player declines to take a shot it will be declared "no score" for his team.
