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:

  • 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 result of the game - 2pts for a win, 1pt for a tie, 0 pts for a loss

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

  • Preliminary Round: Each team will be awarded a point at the conclusion of 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 the overtime period 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 own practice pucks.

  • Teams will be allowed a maximum of 18 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. Included medal round games.

  • 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.

Scorekeeper:

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 (which will be determined by a coin toss before each game) will be the official score keeper for that game with the visiting team also keeping score as a secondary or back up score book. 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 member of your team. The Score Keeper will be responsible for keeping track of pitch counts for both teams.

Reference:

  • Please note
    • Tag-up Off Sides and Icing while a team is short-handed is NOT allowed at level - This will follow the 2025 USA Rules
    • All face-offs after a penalty will be conducted in the Offending teams end-zone face-off location.
    • Mite Full Ice Level (if offered) will follow the same rules as Squirt Full Ice Level
  • If any player receives 5 penalties in a single game. they will be assessed a game misconduct
  • Minor Penalties: 1:30
  • Major Penalties: 5 minutes
  • Misconduct Penalty: 10 minutes
  • Game Misconduct: Ejection from game; Suspension from next game scheduled and 10 minutes. 

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 (which will be determined by a coin toss before each game) will be the official score keeper for that game with the visiting team also keeping score as a secondary or back up score book. 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 member of your team. 

Forfeiture Policy:
Due to the fact that 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 seeding of the tournament at the conclusion of round robin play.  Any team intentionally forfeiting a contest will be disqualified from further competition and the remaining teams will be re-seeded

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 any person’s associated with the Games must follow the highest standards.
  • Use of foul or abusive language constitutes a violation of 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 in violation of the Code of conduct, as decided by the Nutmeg State Games administrative staff, subjects the competitor to expulsion from the Games. Expulsions could extend to permanent ban dependant upon the circumstance.
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