The Rules of Finland Lions Cup – Hexi Riihiranta Trophy 20-22.4.2012 Paloheinä, Helsinki
The Tournament will be played by the rules of the Finnish Ice Hockey Association with the following adjustments:
Game sheets and player lists
Game sheets are printed according to the player lists given by the teams. Any changes should be made in the tournament office 30 minutes before the first game. The starting line up must not be named before the game.
Managers of each team can pick up a copy of the game sheets in the tournament office after the tournament.
A player can represent only one team during the tournament. Goalies are allowed to switch teams during the tournament, e.g. in the case of an injury.
Playing time and timeout
The playing time is 2 x 15 minutes with max 50 minutes total (Final and Bronze medal game 3 x 15 min, max 90 min), whichever comes first. Teams must be ready when the game starts. Should the team not be ready in due time they will lose the game 5-0.
One time out (1 min) per team is allowed per game.
Warm ups etc
The game starts immediately with starting line ups. Before the start the captain of the team shakes hands with the referees and the opponent´s captain and exchanges banners or gifts. The teams do not have to name the starting line up.
After the game all players form a line on their own blue line, shake hands with the opponent and move away from the ice rapidly.
Penalties
Should a player or another team member get a game or match penalty he has to go through disciplinary hearing with the tournament jury. The jury will decide if additional penalty is needed.
Tournament playing system, rank order and points system
In the group stage teams are divided into 4 groups each with 4 teams. Each team plays once against the other teams within the group. The winning team receives two points. Both teams get one point in the case of a draw and the losing team gets zero points.
First and second team of each group will continue tournament in Upper Group. There the quarterfinal pairs are A1-B2, B1-A2, C1-D2, D1-C2. Winners of these games will play semifinals and losers will play a game to decide their placement in the tournament. Winners of semifinals will meet in the final game of the tournament and losers in the bronze medal game.
Third and fourth teams of each group will continue playing games against the team that is in same place in another group and decide final places 9-12 and 13-16.
If two teams have the same amount of points after the group stage, the rank order is decided as follows:
1. Head-to-head games
2. Goal difference in Group stage
3. Goals for in Group stage
4. Flip of a coin
If 3-4 teams have same amount of points after the group stage, the rank order is judged as follows:
1. Goal difference in Group stage
2. Goals for in Group stage
3. Flip of a coin
If a playoff game is tied after regular time a penalty shoot out will follow with 3 players from both teams. These 3 players must not be named in advance. All players who are marked in the team roster can shoot. The starting team is decided by flip of a coin. Teams take turns in shooting and keep shooting until the decisive goal is shot. The possible remaining shots are not made. Should there be a draw after the 3 shots the shootout will continue in the reverse order of shots with the rule of the “golden goal”, meaning that the game is over when one team scores and the other one does not in the same pair of shots. The same player can not shoot twice in the same shoot out unless all players of his team have shot once.
Protests
All protests are judged by the tournament jury. The jury consists of the tournament director, one of the referees of the game, and the manager of both teams. The decision of the jury is final. The protest fee is 100 euros, which will be refunded should the protest be accepted. The protest should be in writing, signed by the manager of the team and done no later than 20 minutes after the game has ended.
Team Jerseys
Home team plays with dark coloured jerseys and the team mentioned later in the schedule (visitor) uses lighter colour jerseys.
Tournament medals and trophies
The players of the best 3 teams receive personal medals and the winning team receives a trophy. Award ceremonies take place immediately after the final game and the bronze medal game on the ice. Each team manager should notify the tournament office no later than during the intermission of the last game the one player in their own team they would like to give a special award. This award can be for sportsmanship, best player, best team player, etc, and is given after the last game of the team in question.
Right to amendments
Tournament office has the right to change the schedules and rules if needed.
Insurance
All players and team staff must have valid adequate insurance. The organiser of the tournament is not responsible for any injuries that may occur to the players or staff members of any team.