TOURNAMENT RULES FOR EIHC TOURNAMENTS
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 TOURNAMENTS 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 Game Winning Shots 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 TOURNAMENTS
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
tournament standing.
Should three or more teams be tied, then a tie breaking formula will be applied as follows,
creating a sub-group amongst the tied teams:
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 the teams still remain tied then the better goal difference in the direct games amongst
the tied teams will be decisive.
Step 3:
Should the teams still remain tied 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 then the results between each of the three teams
and the closest best-ranked team outside the sub-group 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.
This process will continue until only two teams remain tied. The game between the two
remaining tied teams would then be the determining tie-breaker as the game between these
two teams could not end as a tie.
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.
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.
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.
OVERTIME OPERATIONS
If in an EIHC game, the game is
tied at the end of regulation time, a five-minute overtime period shall be played immediately
after an intermission of three minutes. The teams will defend the same goals as in the third
period. The game will end when the five minutes has expired or when a goal is scored; the
scoring team will be declared the winner. If no goal is scored in the overtime period then the
Game Winning Shots Procedure will apply.
All overtime periods of any EIHC game shall be played with each team at the numerical strength
of four (4) skaters and one (1) goalkeeper. Specific rules for this procedure are as follows:
1. If a team is penalized in overtime, the teams will play 4-on-3. Coincidental penalties do
not affect the on-ice strength when assessed in overtime.
2. 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 a fifth skater.
3. At the first stoppage of play after the two-man advantage is no longer in effect, the
numerical strength of the team will revert back to either a 4-on-4 or a 4-on-3 situation,
as appropriate.
4. If there is a manpower advantage situation, which carries over from regulation time to
overtime, the above criteria will be applied at the start of the overtime. Accordingly, if at
the end of the regulation time, the teams are 5-on-4, overtime begins at 4-on-3.
5. When the regulation time ends with an on-ice manpower strength of 5-on-3, teams will
commence the overtime with a strength of 5-on-3. With the expiration of penalties, due
to continuous action, player strength may get to 5-on-5 or 5-on-4. At the first stoppage
of play following, player strength must be adjusted to 4-on-4 or 4-on-3.
6. If at the end of regulation time teams are 3-on-3, overtime starts 3-on-3. Once player
strength reaches 5-on-4 or 5-on-5, at the next stoppage player strength is adjusted to
4-on-3 or 4-on-4, as appropriate.
7. If at the end of regulation time teams are 4-on-4 with a player or players in the box
serving non-coincidental penalties, overtime starts 4-on-4 and players exit the penalty
box as normal to 5-on-4 or 5-on-5. At the first stoppage of play, teams are adjusted to
4-on-3 or 4-on-4, as appropriate.
GAME WINNING SHOTS PROCEDURE
If following the completion of regulation time in any EIHC Tournament game and the score of such a game is tied, the teams will then play a 4-on-4 overtime period with the team scoring first declared the winner. If no goal is scored in the overtime period then the Game Winning Shots Procedure will apply. The following procedure will be utilized:
1. Shots will be taken at both ends of the ice surface. The longitudinal centre section of
the rink will be dry-scraped by the ice-resurfacing machine prior to the Game Winning
Shots during the time required to organize the program accordingly.
2. The procedure will begin with three different shooters from each team taking alternate
shots. The players do not need to be named beforehand. Eligible to participate in the
Game Winning Shots 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 imposed during the
game winning shots 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 Referee will advise the two captains which end of the rink will be utilized. The
goalkeepers shall defend the same goal as determined by the Referee.
6. The goalkeepers from each team may be changed after each shot.
7. The shots will be taken in accordance with rule 509 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 3 shots by each team the procedure shall continue with a
tie-break 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 game winning shots procedure 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.
