Minor Hockey Week 2025 Game Format and Rules

The MHW tournament  playing rules shall be those provided in the Hockey Canada Official Playing Rules Book.

Please note: Coaches may need to referee the games if no referee is available, so please have one coach from each team with skates and a whistle available for every game in the event the officials are not there.  

Each ice slot is 75 minutes ( 60 minutes for mini ice) therefore, we need to be mindful of the time to complete all activities. We urge parents to get players to the rink in a timely manner. Every round robin game will consist of the following:

• 3 Minutes for warm up. Please have the timekeeper set the clock at the game start time
• Pre-select your WBHL Pro Shop  Racers (1 per team) and have them line up on the  centerline opposite sides as soon as the 3-minute warm up is complete
• 55 Minute Game (shorter on the mini ice) - Please Follow MHW Rules and Game Format Below
• 5 minutes for Boston Pizza Shootout
• After the shootout, teams will shake hands and line up on the blue line for awarding MVP and Heart & Hustle.

GAME Format

U7 & U9 Round Robin Games & Medal Games

• Each team will have Volunteers to quickly set up the rink divider boards prior to warm up.  
• U9 will utilize both sides of the divider while U7 with smaller teams will only utilize one side
• Home team provides an Official Scorer; only the time and Buzzer will be used (No Score on the boards)
• Warm-up starts with 3 minutes on the clock. At the buzzer, teams have one minute to clear the ice and get skaters lined up for the race.

WBHL Pro Sho Race occurs after warm-up and before puck drop.

1. Home team supplies the race winner's prize to the timekeeper box before warm-up.
2. After a 3-minute warm-up, selected players line up on the red line for a one-lap race.
3. Referee or Coach starts the race with a whistle.
4. After the race, the ref will signal the beginning of the game.
5. The first player to cross the redline will be determined the winner by the referee

• After Race the game will proceed with two periods of 21 Minutes  all running time.
• Between Periods U7 Teams shall switch the direction of play, U9 Away teams will Swap ice surfaces to the other side.  
•  Immediately after the Game the Officials will set up the ice for the Boston Pizza Shootout with 5 Minutes put on the clock.

• Boston Pizza Shootout occurs immediately after 3rd period

• Each team hands the linesman 5 pucks to drop on the blue lines.
• Goalies go to opposite ends.
• Timekeeper sets 5 minutes on the clock
• First player steps onto the ice at the whistle and takes a shot.
• If the first player scores, the second player can't step on the ice until they return to the bench.
• If the first player misses, the second player steps on the ice to receive a pass.
• Continue until one team reaches 5 goals or the buzzer goes. The team with the most goals at the buzzer wins.

• Following the Shootout players will shake hands and line up to receive the Heart and Hustle and MVP Awards to be handed out by coaches.

• * Note - for 60 minute ice slots the periods shall be shortened in length to 16 minutes, and warm up shall be shortened to two minutes.
• On Medal Day - Only The manager may step on the ice  for the medal ceremony and to take a team picture, All players must keep their helmets and gloves on for the picture.   No other parents are permitted on the ice.

U11 to U18 Round Robin and Special Games

• Home team provides both an Official Scorer and an official Timekeeper/Announcer.
• Warm-up starts with 3 minutes on the clock. At the buzzer, teams have one minute to clear the ice and get skaters lined up for the race.
• After Race the game will proceed with three periods: 15 minutes for the first, 20 minutes each for the second and third, all running time. 
• Round Robin Games may end in a tie,  Immediately after the Game the Officials will set up the ice for the Boston Pizza Shootout with 5 Minutes put on the clock.
• Following the Shootout players will shake hands and line up to receive the Heart and Hustle and MVP Awards to be handed out by coaches.

WBHL Pro Sho Race occurs after warm-up and before puck drop.

6. Home team supplies the race winner's prize to the timekeeper box before warm-up.
7. After a 3-minute warm-up, selected players line up on the red line for a one-lap race.
8. Referee or Coach starts the race with a whistle.
9. After the race, the ref will signal the beginning of the game.
10. The first player to cross the redline will be determined the winner by the referee

• Boston Pizza Shootout occurs immediately after 3rd period

• Each team hands the linesman 5 pucks to drop on the blue lines.
• Goalies go to opposite ends.
• Timekeeper sets 5 minutes on the clock and resets goals to zero.
• Shootout goals recorded on the clock only, not on the game sheet.
• The BP Shoot Out Winner to be noted on the game sheet
• First player steps onto the ice at the whistle and takes a shot.
• If the first player scores, the second player can't step on the ice until they return to the bench.
• If the first player misses, the second player steps on the ice to receive a pass.
• Continue until one team reaches 5 goals or the buzzer goes. The team with the most goals at the buzzer wins.

• Heart & Hustle and MVP Awarded immediately after handshake

• Coaches agree on MVP and Heart & Hustle selection process before the game.(who is selecting the players)
• Players line up on their blue line at the end of the game.
• Coaches award MVP and Heart & Hustle to selected players.
• Stick-tapping for all participants.
• Players exit the ice.

unforeseen circumstances: i.e Fire alarm, or Power outages.

If the game is in the final period and an unforeseen event happens, the score at the time of the event will count as the final. If the event happens before the final period, we will try as best as possible to reschedule the game at a later date but if that can not be done the game will be considered a tie.

Ranking of Teams (U11, U13, U15, U18):

• The home team manager must email three pictures (Home Side, Away Side, Full Sheet) of the game sheet to mhwgs@fmmha.com  and their applicable division director immediately after the game.
• Points: 2 for a win, 1 for a tie, 0 for a regulation time loss, 1 additional point for Boston Pizza Shootout Win.
• Tiebreaker sequence:

1. Most wins.
2. Goal differential (goals for vs. goals against).
3. Fewest penalty minutes.
4. Head-to-head record of tied teams.
5. Flip of a coin.

• Determination of "Home Team" (Gold and Bronze Medal Games):
• The team with the highest pre-Semi Finals ranking (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th) becomes the home team in the respective Gold and Bronze medal games.
• In the case of a 7 team division (U13 Level C):

1. The 1st-place team gets a bye to gold.
2. 2nd vs. 3rd—winner to gold, loser to bronze.
3. 4th vs. 5th—winner to bronze.
4. 6th and 7th get consolation ice.

Semi Final and Final Games Format:

• There will be no Race or Shoot out in these games

• 3 Minute Warm Up, players will immediately line up on blue line for playing of O’Canada (Medal Games Only)
• Hockey Game shall consist of the first and second period as 15 minutes Runtime, the third period as 12 minutes Stop time.  
• All semi-finals and finals must have a winner, therefore if there is a tie at the end of the 3rd Period, teams will immediately line up for a 3 minute sudden death RUNTIME overtime. (3 on 3)   
• If the game is still a tie the game will continue in the sudden death shootout format until a winner is determined.
• Shootout Rules:

• Coach to select the first 3 players.
• Shootout begins with the home team shooting first, followed by the opposing team and they will alternate shots.
• Shooter goes to the blue line and will shoot upon the official’s signal.
• Goals will be added to the timeclock
• If after the first 3 shooters from both teams shoot and there is still a tie, the format will continue in sudden death.  
• NOTE: Shooters alternate until ALL PLAYERS HAVE HAD A TURN TO SHOOT. COACHES MAY NOT ASK A PLAYER TO SHOOT A SECOND TIME UNTIL ALL PLAYERS HAVE HAD A TURN (IF APPLICABLE.)

• Immediately Following the Game Players will Line up for Handshake and then head to the blueline for the Medal Ceremony.

• No one is allowed on the ice for pictures if the game goes to overtime.
• If time permits, only the team manager may come onto the ice for pictures (No Parents are allowed)
• All players U13 and below must keep their helmets and gloves on while on the ice, even while posing for pictures.

 Respect in Sport  

We encourage you to cheer for your team and have a good time, however, we want to remind everyone of Respect in Sport. If there are any questions or concerns, please reach out to your division director.!

Remember this tournament is run strictly by volunteers who have dedicated a lot of their time organizing this.  Referees are doing their best and may miss things. Please DO NOT yell at referees, they could be someone’s child too.