Puckhead Hockey Club Founder’s Cup 2027

PUCKHEAD HOCKEY CLUB FOUNDERS CUP TOURNAMENT RULES AND REGULATIONS INTRODUCTION The Puckhead Hockey Club Founders Cup Tournament is governed by Puckhead Hockey Club. All tournament games are played in accordance with the rules, regulations, procedures, and policies outlined herein. It is the responsibility of every player, coach, team representative, and participant to be familiar with these rules and regulations. Violations may result in disciplinary action, including suspension, disqualification from the tournament, and/or suspension from future Puckhead Hockey Club events. The primary goal of the Founders Cup Tournament is to provide a safe, competitive, and enjoyable hockey experience that reflects the values of Puckhead Hockey Club: sportsmanship, teamwork, respect, and community. TOURNAMENT AUTHORITY The Puckhead Hockey Tournament Staff shall have full authority regarding:

• Tournament operations • Player eligibility • Team assignments • Rule interpretation • Discipline and suspensions • Scheduling matters • Tournament standings • Dispute resolution

All decisions made by Puckhead Hockey Tournament Staff are final. Puckhead Hockey reserves the right to modify tournament procedures when necessary to address safety concerns, facility requirements, scheduling issues, competitive balance, or circumstances not otherwise addressed by these rules. TEAM ELIGIBILITY AND REGISTRATION

1. All participants must be properly registered through the official Puckhead Hockey website.
2. Registration through any other method will not be accepted unless specifically authorized by Puckhead Hockey Tournament Staff.
3. Teams shall be formed and assigned by Puckhead Hockey Tournament Staff after registration is completed.
4. Players may only appear on one tournament roster and may not participate for multiple teams.
5. No player additions, substitutions, or roster changes shall be permitted at game time without prior approval from Tournament Staff.
6. In the event of injury, emergency circumstances, or goaltender shortages, substitute player eligibility shall be reviewed and approved on a case-by-case basis by Tournament Staff.
7. All roster decisions and eligibility determinations are final.

TEAM CHECK-IN Each team representative is responsible for checking in with Tournament Staff for:

• Locker room assignments • Schedule updates • Suspensions • Tournament announcements • Other operational information

Tournament schedules, scores, and standings will be published through official Puckhead Hockey communication channels. LOCKER ROOMS AND DRESSING AREAS

1. Teams must use assigned locker rooms or dressing areas.
2. Locker rooms must be vacated within twenty (20) minutes following the conclusion of each scheduled game.
3. Teams are responsible for leaving locker rooms clean and free of trash, tape, food, beverages, and equipment.
4. Participants are responsible for any damage caused to locker rooms, dressing areas, or tournament facilities.
5. Puckhead Hockey and participating facilities are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged personal property.
6. Cell phones and mobile devices capable of recording photographs, video, or audio may not be used inside locker rooms or dressing areas.
7. If a mobile device must be used, it shall be taken outside the locker room.

UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT

1. Home teams shall wear BLUE Puckhead jerseys and matching socks if jerseys and socks are not provided.
2. Visiting teams shall wear RED Puckhead jerseys and matching socks if jerseys and socks are not provided
3. All jerseys must display a clearly visible player number corresponding with the official roster.
4. All required rink safety equipment must be worn at all times.
5. Participation in the tournament remains subject to all Puckhead Hockey Club membership terms, conditions, waivers, and releases.

BENCHES AND PLAYER AREAS

1. Only rostered players, coaches, and approved team personnel may occupy the players’ bench.
2. Teams are limited to four (4) team officials on the bench at any one time.
3. Ejected players may attend tournament games but may not occupy the bench area or surrounding restricted areas.
4. Spectators shall remain clear of player benches and penalty boxes.
5. Players may not enter the ice surface until: • Zamboni doors are closed • Nets are in place • Officials are present or approval has been given by Tournament Staff
6. Teams shall exit the ice immediately following the conclusion of play.

PENALTIES AND DISCIPLINE Penalty durations shall be:

• Minor Penalty – 2 minutes • Major Penalty – 5 minutes

Additional disciplinary rules:

• Fighting or abuse directed toward officials, scorekeepers, staff, or participants may result in immediate ejection. • Twelve (12) team penalties in a game will result in an immediate forfeiture. • Four (4) penalties assessed to the same player in one game will result in ejection for the remainder of that game and may result in additional disciplinary action. • Abuse of officials, serious misconduct, fighting, or dangerous behavior may result in tournament expulsion.

Puckhead Hockey reserves the right to review all major penalties, game misconducts, and gross misconducts and may increase disciplinary measures following review. BODY CONTACT No intentional body checking or predatory body contact is permitted. Any dangerous contact shall be penalized at the discretion of the on-ice officials and may be subject to further review by Tournament Staff. Any player who intentionally makes physical contact with an on-ice official shall be immediately expelled from the tournament. GAME FORMAT

• Four (4) guaranteed games • Three (3) fifteen stop-time periods • Three (3) minute warm-up • One (1) minute intermission between periods

If a game is conducted in an unsafe manner, officials may terminate the game and submit a report to Tournament Staff for review. MERCY RULE If the goal differential reaches seven (7) goals during the third period, the game shall immediately convert to running time. The clock will continue to run unless otherwise directed by the officials. Tournament Staff may also authorize running time if necessary to maintain the tournament schedule. PUCKHEAD RULE If a single player gets 3 goals in a game, any consecutive goal of theirs is credited to the opposing team. STANDINGS Round Robin Points:

• Win = 2 points • Tie = 1 point • Loss = 0 points

Teams shall be ranked according to total points earned. In the event of a tie in the standings:

• Two-Team Tie: Team with the greatest diversity of goal scorers advances. • Three-Team Tie: Team with the greatest diversity of goal scorers advances.

This tie-breaking procedure reflects the Founders Cup emphasis on team participation and balanced contribution. OVERTIME AND SHOOTOUTS Round robin games may end in a tie. Medal games cannot end in a tie. If a medal game remains tied after regulation, a shootout shall determine the winner. Shootout procedures shall follow the format established by Tournament Staff and outlined in these rules. ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY Puckhead Hockey maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding abuse directed toward players, officials, spectators, staff members, or facility personnel. Tournament Staff and facility management reserve the right to remove any individual displaying unsportsmanlike conduct, threatening behavior, abusive language, harassment, or other disruptive actions. ALCOHOL, DRUGS, AND WEAPONS Alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, weapons, firearms, explosives, and prohibited substances are not permitted on tournament premises except where specifically allowed by law or facility policy. Puckhead Hockey maintains a zero-tolerance drug policy. Any participant determined by Tournament Staff to be under the influence of illegal drugs may be immediately removed from the premises and expelled from the tournament. BEST INTEREST OF THE TOURNAMENT While every effort has been made to address foreseeable situations, circumstances may arise that are not specifically covered by these rules. In such cases, Puckhead Hockey Tournament Staff may interpret, amend, modify, or supplement tournament procedures as necessary to preserve safety, fairness, sportsmanship, and the overall success of the tournament. All decisions made by Tournament Staff shall be final.