Rules and GamePlay

Full-ice RULES & PROCEDURES (for Jan 10th onwards)

Prior to January 10th, U9 teams will play half-ice format.

Afterwards, U9 Teams will play full ice hockey as follows:

·         2-minute warmup (pucks permitted)

·         3 x 15 minutes RUN time with 1-minute intermission between periods. (Some rink schedules may require slightly shorter periods.)

·         Stop-time last minute of game if within 2 goals (if time allows)

·         Teams will switch sides at the end of each period.

·         Game play will be 5 v 5 with goalies.

·         All standard Hockey Canada rules will apply (faceoffs, offsides, icing, penalties and suspensions, etc.) [4 penalties in a game results in a game ejection but no suspension]

·         Score is kept. Scoreboard will not show goal differentials greater than 5 goals

·         No buzzer for shift changes.

·         NO timeouts.

·         Penalty details will be recorded (Player, infraction, duration).

·         Game length may be extended if time allows

3/4-ice RULES & PROCEDURES

Prior to January 10th, U9 teams will play 3/4-ice format.

rules for Full-ice are as follows:

Lines - 5-on-5 with goalie

Warm Up - 2 minutes - 1 puck per team

Length - 2-22 minute periods (may be shortened to 20 or 21 minutes if required by rink).

Face-offs - At the start of each period only.

Change Sides - Teams will switch sides at the end of the first period.

Equipment - U9 to use regular nets and regular pucks.

Keep Score - Program will record scores for analysis and tiering only. No standings.

Off-side - None

Icing - None

Line Changes - Every 2 minutes. Play stops at the buzzer/whistle and players leave puck where it is and go to bench and change or tag-up. Officials pick up the puck, check to ensure there are 5 skaters and then toss the puck in a neutral area. This should happen very quickly to keep flow of game.

Puck out of bounds - Referee instructs offending team to back away, referee drops new puck to non-offending team.

Goaltender Save - Shooting team backs away on referee’s whistle, goalie passes to teammate.

Goal scored - Referee blows whistle. Scoring team backs away, defending team removes puck from net and immediately starts on attack.

Penalties - Referee indicates penalty, if offending team has puck, it is a change of possession. The player goes to their bench for the remainder of the current shift and possession switches sides, and that team plays short-handed for the remainder of that shift.

Suspension - A player who incurs 3 penalties in one game will be not be allowed to continue playing and will be suspended for the following game. Teams will play at full-strength on subsequent shifts.

Cross-ice and Half-ice Rules

Lines - 4-on-4 with goalie so 9 players on each side (can play 3-on-3 if teams short players)

Warm Up - 2 minutes - no pucks, except U9 when full-ice

Length - 2-22 minute periods (may be shortened to 20 or 21 minutes if required by rink).

Face-offs - At the start of each period only.

Equipment - U7 to use 3'x4' nets and blue 4 oz. pucks. U8 uses small net and regular pucks. U9 to use regular nets and regular pucks.

Keep Score - Program will record scores for analysis and tiering only. No standings.

Off-side - None

Icing - None

Line Changes - Every 2 minutes. Play stops at the buzzer/whistle and players leave puck where it is and go to bench and change or tag-up. Officials pick up the puck, check to ensure there are 4 skaters and then toss the puck in a neutral area. This should happen very quickly to keep flow of game.

Puck out of bounds - Referee instructs offending team to back away, referee drops new puck to non-offending team.

Goaltender Save - Shooting team backs away on referee’s whistle, goalie passes to teammate.

Goal scored - Referee blows whistle. Scoring team backs away, defending team removes puck from net and immediately starts on attack.

Penalties - Referee indicates penalty, if offending team has puck, it is a change of possession. The player goes to their bench for the remainder of the current shift and possession switches sides, and that team plays short-handed for the remainder of that shift.

Suspension - A player who incurs 3 penalties in one game will be not be allowed to continue playing and will be suspended for the following game. Teams will play at full-strength on subsequent shifts.

Team Splits - Teams should be split into an A and a B group and A should play A, B should play B. Balancing should take place at halftime for fair play. 

Cross-ice play - One set of boards down the center-red-line with teams on each bench not in neutral zone. Ford Centre - Bumpers on each blue-line

CDP Rules & Gameplay Video 

It includes chapters so it's easily navigable to different sections of the video, just click "show more" on the description.

It includes the following:

• Ice Layouts for different age groups

  • U7

  • U8

  • U9

  • Bumpers On Blue Lines

  • Bring Skates and a Helmet

• CDP Specific Rules vs Full Ice

  • Period Length 2x22

  • Warm-Up Length and One Puck Each

  • Face-Offs

  • Shift Length

  • No Off-Side of Icing

  • Puck Out-Of-Bounds

• Penalty & Misconduct Procedure

• Retreating on Goals or Puck Freeze

  • Emphasis on the importance of waiting for the other team to skate the puck out

• Line Change Procedure

  • Wall Tagging

  • Neutral Puck Spot

  • On buzzer every 2 minutes. Play stops at the buzzer/whistle and players leave puck where it is and go to bench and change or tag-up. Officials pick up the puck, check to ensure there are equal number of skaters per team and then toss the puck in a neutral area. This should happen very quickly to keep flow of game.

• Preparing for Games

• Team Splits

  • CDP Rules on Team Splits

  • CDS Rules on Team Splits

  • Meet with opposition coaches before the game to determine which Team Splits rule you’re using

• Gamesheets

  • Home team prints and fills out the top section & their roster

  • Visiting team fills out its roster at the rink

  • Home team volunteers track score

  • Home team sends it into CDP Coordinator

• Timekeeping

  • The home team provides a timekeeper

  • Directions for starting/resetting Harris Time Clock

  • Directions for setting period length to 22 minutes

  • Directions for setting shift buzzer to 2 minutes

  • Directions for starting clock in tandem with referee puck drop