Rules

USA Hockey Rules

The Nutmeg State Games will use USA Hockey Age Classifications for the 2025-2026 Season to conduct the tournament.

The game format will be as follows:

  • Preliminary & Medal Rounds - 3 Periods - 12 minutes each.

    • 3 minutes for warm-ups and 3 minutes between each period

  • Points will be awarded according to the game's result - 2pts for a win, 1pt for a tie, 0pts for a loss.

In the event a game is tied at the end of regulation:

  • Preliminary Round: Each team will be awarded a point after regulation, and the game will be recorded as a tie

  • Play In & Medal Round: A five-minute four-on-four overtime period shall be played. Teams will not change ends. Should the score remain tied after overtime, there shall be a five (5) player shootout.

All coaches are responsible for assuring that all players are properly equipped.

  • Teams are to provide their practice pucks.

  • Teams will be allowed a maximum of 20 players and four coaches on the official roster.

  • Any player or coach ejected from a game may not participate in the team's next game.

  • Timeouts - No timeouts in Preliminary Round Games. Play-IN and Medal Round Games: 1 per game per team.

  • Home and Away teams will be determined each game by a coin toss conducted by the game official or Nutmeg State Games event staff.

Reference:

  • Please note
    • Tag-up Off Sides and Icing while a team is short-handed is NOT allowed at level - This will follow the 2023 USA Rules
    • All face-offs after a penalty will be conducted in the Offending team's end-zone face-off location.
    • Mite Full Ice Level will follow the same rules as Squirt Full Ice Level
  • If any player receives five penalties in a single game. They will be assessed a game misconduct
  • U10 (1:30 minute minors and 5:00 major penalty)
  • U12, U14 and U18/19 (1:30 minutes minors and 5:00 major penalty)
  • Misconduct Penalty: 10 minutes
  • Game Misconduct: Ejection from game; Suspension from next game scheduled

Forfeiture Policy

Because all competition brackets are ROUND ROBIN formats, a team may not intentionally forfeit a contest, even though the game may have no consequence on the tournament's seeding after round-robin play.  Any team intentionally forfeiting a contest will be disqualified from further competition, and the remaining teams will be re-seeded.

TIE-BREAKER Information

Two-Team Ties: In the event of a two-way tie in the standings, the following tiebreaker system will be used (in order) until the tie is broken

  1. Head to Head record
  2. Total Points
    • 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, 0 points for a loss
  3. Goals allowed
  4. Goals scored
  5. Coin toss

Ties Involving Three or More Teams: In the event of a tie amongst three or more teams, the tie-breaking system (above) will be used (in order) until the highest-seeded team is determined. Once the highest seed is determined, the remaining tied teams will RESTART from the BEGINNING of the tie-breaking system.

All teams are required to provide an official Score Keeper as part of their roster. We strongly recommend that the Score Keeper be an adult and must be present at each contest. The home team (determined by a coin toss before each game) will be the official scorekeeper for that game, with the visiting team also keeping the score as a secondary or backup scorebook. The official Score Keeper will sit with the administration and volunteers at the scorer’s table or tent during the contest. The Score Keeper is now part of your roster and will be treated as a team member. 

Athlete Code of Conduct

  • No alcoholic beverages or illegal substances are permitted in the possession of athletes.
  • Behavior on and off the competition field by anyone associated with the Games must follow the highest standards.
  • Using foul or abusive language violates the Code of Conduct.
  • All athletes must respect the decisions of the officials and umpires during and after competitions.  Any harassment will constitute a violation of the Code of Conduct.
  • Unruly behavior by spectators towards players, coaches, volunteers, and/or officials will not be tolerated.  Such behavior may result in the dismissal of the offending spectator from the competition site.
  • Any participant’s behavior deemed violating the Code of Conduct, as decided by the Nutmeg State Games administrative staff, subjects the competitor to expulsion from the Games.
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