Tournament Rules

Tournament Sanction Number
2025-2026-3161

TOURNAMENT RULES

1.  Follow the current PCAHA, BC Hockey and Hockey Canada Rulebooks.
2.  All players must wear BCH approved helmets, with face masks securely attached and chinstraps, properly fastened under the chin.
3. All teams must wear all approved equipment that is required by their own provincial / state governing hockey body.
4. Each team must provide the tournament committee with an official team roster prior to the start of the tournament HC or U.S. equivalent registration cards for all roster players must be available for review by the Tournament Committee at any time. The team roster may include affiliated players (with registration cards). The roster is frozen once the tournament starts.
5. The referee(s) and linesperson will be appointed to officiate each game by the referee-in-chief / Assignor.
6. U15 Flight ONLY and U17 Flight 1/2 will both play with Hybrid Icing.

Roster

1. Female U11 & U13 and Integrated U13 &U15: Each team roster may contain a maximum of 17 skaters and 2 goalies in uniform (which includes affiliated players), 3 coaches, 1 manager and 1 safety personnel.
2. Integrated U17: Each team roster may contain a maximum of 21 skaters and 3 goalies in uniform (which includes affiliated players), 3 coaches, 1 manager and 1 safety personnel.

Affiliate Players (AP’s)
Affiliate players are permitted as per PCAHA Rulebook (See Section 25-29). AP’s must be on the registered team roster.

Jerseys
The Home Team will be the second team listed on the Spordle schedule. The Home Team will be required to wear DARK colored jerseys and will be responsible to change sweaters if there is a color conflict while the visiting team will wear LIGHT jerseys.

Warm-Up Pucks
Teams from the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley region must supply their warm-up pucks. Travelling teams will have access to warm-up pucks provided at the Venue Host Desk. A team manager or coach must provide collateral (e.g., keys or ID) to borrow the pucks. Please check in with the Venue Host upon arrival to obtain them.

Dressing Rooms
The rooms will be available one hour prior to the schedule start of the game.

TOURNAMENT FORMAT
The tournament will guarantee each team a minimum of 4 games.

U11 Female Elite (4 Teams)
Teams will play a round robin, Semi-Finals, Bronze or Gold Final dependant on result of the semi-finals.

U13 Female Elite (6 Teams)
Teams will play three round robin games, then ranked 1st – 6th. Teams ranked 4th-6th will play in a “Play-In” game, winners will advance to the semi-finals against teams ranked 1st and 2nd, the two teams that do not advance will play in a consolation game. Teams in the same finals will advance to either the gold or bronze final.

U13 Flight 1 Integrated (8 Teams)
Two pools of four teams will play in four crossover round robin games. The top four seeded teams will advance to the semi-finals, 5th-8th play consolation, semi-final teams will advance according to the outcome of their game to gold or bronze final.

U13 Flight 2 Integrated (8 Teams)
Two pools of four teams will play in four crossover round robin games. The top four seeded teams will advance to the semi-finals, 5th-8th play consolation, semi-final teams will advance according to the outcome of their game to gold or bronze final.

U15 Flight 1 Integrated (5 Teams)
One pool of five teams will play 4 round robin games, the top two teams at the conclusion of the round robin will play in the finals.

U15 Flight 2 Integrated (8 Teams)
Two pools of four teams will play three round robin games, top four seeded teams will advance to the semi-finals, 5th-8th play consolation, winners of semi-finals will advance to the finals.

U17 Flight 1 Integrated (8 Teams)
Two pools of four teams will play three round robin games, top two teams from each pool will advance to the semi-finals, 5th-8th play consolation, winners of semi-finals will advance to the finals.

Game Lengths

U11 Female, U13 Female and U13 Integrated: Each game will consist of three 15-minute periods, no ice cleans; this includes a 5-minute warm-up. If a game is running late, the third period will be set at half of the remaining time left not necessarily 15 minutes.

Integrated U15 and U17: Each game will consist of three 20-minute stop time periods, with U15 with an ice clean in between the second and third periods and U17 with an ice clean after the first and second; this includes a 5-minute warm-up. If a game is running late the third period will be set at half of the remaining time left not necessarily 20 minutes. Where time dictates, the referee and tournament committee may eliminate the ice cleans. Play will then recommence after a two-minute rest period.

Tournament Points
Two points will be allocated to the winning team, one point for a tie and zero to the losing team.

Standings After Round Robin
Standings are based on points obtained.

Tie Breaker: 
Once the first seeded team is identified in the 3 or more-team tie breaker, the process begins back at the two-team format and is repeated until all ties are resolved. 

Example: 3 teams are tied. We use the 3-team tie break format to identify the top team. After that, the remaining 2 teams go back to the 2-team tie break format for their placing. 

When 2 teams are tied: 

1. Head-to-Head record 
2. Team with the greatest number of wins 
3. Team with fewest goals against 
4. Team with most goals 
5. Team with the least amount of penalty minutes 
6. Coin Toss 

When 3 or more teams are tied: 

1. Team with the greatest number of wins 
2. Team with fewest goals against 
3. Team with most goals 
4. Team with the least amount of penalty minutes 
5. Coin Toss 

Timeouts
No timeout in the round-robin or consolation games. Each team gets one 30-second timeout in all playoff games. Time outs cannot be used when the Mercy Rule is in effect.

OT Round-Robin Games
No overtime.

OT Playoffs & Championship Games
In the event of a tie at the end of regulation time, the teams will not change ends and, after a 2-minute break, will play a 5-minute sudden-death 3-on-3 overtime period. All play will be “stopped time”.

If no goal is scored during the 5-minute overtime period (or 10-minute overtime period in the Championship game), the game will be decided by an NHL-style shootout. Each team must select three different players to participate in the initial round of the shootout. If the game remains tied after the initial 3 shooters, a sudden death shootout will commence. Each team must use every player on the bench before allowing the first shooter to go again. Players will shoot alternately at each end until the match is decided. Players will shoot alternately at each end until the match is decided.  

Shootout Eligibility
Only active players on the roster for that game may participate in the shootout. Players serving suspensions, or serving penalty for major penalties, misconducts or game misconducts are ineligible to participate in the shootout. Players serving minor penalties at the end of overtime are eligible to participate in the shootout.

Overtime periods are considered as part of the whole game. Penalties will carry over into overtime periods. If a team declines to play in a necessary, overtime period that game shall be declared a loss for that team.

***Where time constraints dictate the referee, and the tournament committee may eliminate the 5-minute overtime period and proceed straight to the shootout at the end of regulation time.

Playoff & Championship Game Shootout Rules
If the game remains at the end for the 5-minute overtime period (or 10-minute overtime period in the Championship game), the teams will proceed in a shootout. The rules governing the shootout shall be the same as those for a penalty shot.

The teams will not change ends for the shootout. The visiting team will shoot first. The teams shall alternate shots. Teams shall remain on their respective benches except for the goalies and the player currently taking their shot.

Three players from each team shall participate in the shootout and they shall proceed in such order as the coach selects. (see shoutout eligibility above)

Once the shootout begins; the goalkeeper cannot be replaced unless he is injured. No warmup shall be permitted for a substitute goalkeeper. Each team will be given three shots unless the outcome is determined earlier in the shootout. After each team has taken three shots, if the score remains tied, the shootout will proceed to a “sudden death” format. No player may shoot twice until everyone who is eligible has shot.

Tournament Committee

• Disciplinary rulings shall apply for the duration of the tournament. A written report of any disciplinary ruling by the Tournament Committee will be sent to the appropriate governing body as required.
• Coaches and Managers are responsible to ensure that any suspensions are appropriately served by their team members. At a minimum, BC Hockey minimum suspension guidelines will be followed.
• Coaches and Managers are responsible for the behaviour of their team and supporters. Inappropriate behaviour shall be subject to disciplinary action by the Tournament Committee.
• The Tournament Committee reserves the right to alter game times and locations as circumstances warrant. Team managers will be advised of changes. Team must be ready to play at appointed times.

Protests

• Any protest must be made verbally to the Tournament Office within 15 minutes after the game in question has ended.
• A written account of the protest along with a $200.00 cash protest fee must be submitted to the Tournament Office within one hour after the game has ended.
• The Tournament Committee will act on the written account as soon as they believe all facts are available. All rulings made by the Tournament Committee WILL BE FINAL.
• If a protest is rejected, the ensure protest fee will be forfeited.
• No protests will be allowed on judgement calls made by on-ice officials.

Mercy Rule
If after the second period of play, during any game in the tournament, a five-goal differential occurs, the clock will be set to running time following the subsequent face-off. Should the differential become less than five goals the clock will revert to stop time when the goal is scored. The penalties during running time will be the same length as in stop time.

Body Checking
There is NO body contact in the Integrated U13 division or any Female division. There is body contact in the Integrated U15 and U17 divisions.

Player Suspensions
Minor Penalties with a game misconduct will result in an additional game suspension. Major penalties in the final 10 minutes of the third period result in a 2-game suspension. These rules follow BC Hockey suspension protocol.

Coach Misconduct
If a coach is removed from a game because of a misconduct, they will be suspended for an additional game in the Pat Quinn Classic. The Disciplinary Committee as deemed necessary may implement further suspensions and/or removal of a coach from the Pat Quinn Classic. There is zero tolerance towards a coach showing abuse towards an official or player(s).

Fighting
Any fighting misconducts will result in an automatic game ejection. Players with a fighting misconduct will be accessed a two-game suspension as per BC Hockey. The Disciplinary Committee as deemed necessary may implement further suspensions and/or removal of a player or players from the Pat Quinn Classic.

Gross/Match Misconduct
Any Gross/Match penalty will be an automatic suspension from the tournament.

Fair Play
All participants including players, coaches, officials, team volunteers, parents and any other personnel working under or participating in the Pat Quinn Classic are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful and professional manner. We are committed to providing a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone. Harassment of any kind will not be tolerated which may include, verbal, physical, or written conduct that demeans, threatens, or offends another person. Bullying and intimidating behaviours are strictly prohibited. If at any time you feel you are being treated poorly, please bring it to the attention of the Venue Host or a member of the PQC management team as soon as possible. Disciplinary actions may be taken if conduct is not in compliance with the rules and policies or BC Hockey and PCAHA.