Salad Classic Tournament Rules
** These rules are subject to change prior to the finalization of participants and schedule.
1. Tournament Philosophy
The Salad Classic is a friendly tournament designed to create a safe, inviting, and enjoyable atmosphere. While we strive to place teams in divisions that best match their skill levels, perfect competitive balance cannot always be guaranteed.
2. Game Format & Timing
Pace of Play: Officials will blow the whistle prior to the end of warm-ups, timeouts, and intermissions to ensure players are ready to drop the puck in a timely manner.
Pool Play and Consolation Games
- Periods: Three (3) 16-minute running-time periods.
- Breaks: 4-minute warm-up; 1-minute intermission between periods.
- Timeouts: One (1) 1-minute timeout per team.
- Overtime: There is no overtime in Pool Play.
Divisional Championship Games (1st and 2nd Place)
- Periods: Three (3) 15-minute stop-time periods.
- Breaks: 4-minute warm-up; 1-minute intermission between periods.
- Timeouts: One (1) 1-minute timeout per team.
- Winner: Determined by the final score (see overtime rules below if tied).
Overtime & Shootout Rules (Championship / Consolation Games)
If a non-pool play game is tied at the end of regulation:
- Overtime: Following a 1-minute intermission, teams will play a 4-minute, 5-on-5 running-time period. (Note: Penalties carry over from regulation into OT, but not into a shootout).
- Initial Shootout: If still tied, a 3-person shootout will take place.
- Sudden-Victory Shootout: If tied after 3 shooters, sudden-victory rounds begin (1 shot per team per round). No player may shoot twice until all rostered skaters have shot.
3. Scoring System & Standings
Pool Play Points (9 Points Available Per Game)
Points are awarded as follows (Note: Only 8 total points are awarded if the final game score is tied):
- Period Win: 2 points
- Period Tie: 1 point per team
- Game Win: 3 points
- Game Tie: 1 point per team
Tiebreakers for Standings
If teams are tied in points at the end of pool play, standings are determined in this order:
- Head-to-Head Points
- Total Team Wins
- Least Penalized Team (total penalty minutes)
- Fewest Goals Allowed
- Coin Flip
4. Roster Rules & Substitutions
To mitigate player fatigue and maintain balance, teams are permitted to maintain a bench of at least 10 skaters (excluding goaltenders).
- Substitute (Sub) Players: Teams expecting fewer than 10 skaters may request a sub. All subs must be selected from the official registered sub list and approved by the Division Supervisor or Tournament Competition Director prior to taking the ice. ($20 fee per game).
- Split-Time Players: Registered skaters approved to share a single roster spot with another part-time player on the same team. Split-time players may not play in the same game unless the team's bench falls below 10 skaters. ($20 fee per game).
- Permanent Replacements: Allowed for the remainder of the tournament only for a tournament-ending injury or extraordinary circumstance (subject to approval).
- Substitute Goalies: Sub goalies are available upon request to a Division Supervisor or Tournament Competition Director.
- Championship Eligibility: Replacement players must play a minimum of 5 periods at the same division level to be eligible for the Championship game.
- Suspensions: Suspended players cannot be permanently replaced, but the team may request a single-game sub if the suspension drops the bench below 10 skaters.
5. Playing Rules & Equipment
USA Hockey Adult Division Rules apply for all games, with the following tournament specifics:
- Face & Head Protection: Helmets with functional, securely fastened chinstraps are mandatory. No player may skate without face protection.
- Rec/Lower Level: Full face cage/shield is strictly required.
- All Other Levels: At least a half-shield is required (full face protection is strongly recommended).
- Neck Protection: Optional, but encouraged.
- Icing: Red-line "no-touch" icing will be used. Line changes are allowed on icing calls.
6. Penalties & Discipline
Standard penalty options apply (Minors: 2:00, Majors: 5:00, Misconducts: 10:00).
- The Three-Penalty Rule: If a player incurs three (3) penalties in a single game, they will be ejected for the remainder of that game.
- Minor = 1 penalty; Major/Misconduct = 2 penalties. (Bench minors do not count against the player serving them).
- Respecting Officials: Disputes with an official may result in a minor penalty. Continued disputes will result in ejection and review by the Tournament Director.
- Fighting & Intent to Injure:
- A fighting major results in a minimum 1-game suspension (the next immediate game).
- Match penalties for flagrant aggression or intent to injure will result in tournament ejection without refund.
- Illegal Players: Teams using unregistered, unapproved, or illegal players risk an immediate forfeit of any points earned during the period or game in which the player participated. Both the player and the team captain face potential suspension from subsequent games.
7. Sportsmanship
"Running Up the Score"
To maintain a positive environment, intentionally running up the score will not be tolerated.
- If an obvious skill discrepancy is identified, a Division Supervisor will notify the offending team’s captain and issue a warning to curb the attack.
- If the issue persists, any points earned in that period or game may be forfeited at the discretion of the Division Supervisors.