Tournament Sanctions

Tournament Sanctions for the 2024-25 season

TOURNAMENT POLICY
Community Hockey
(Effective for 2024-25 season) 

WHEN CAN TEAMS HOST OR ATTEND TOURNAMENTS?
*Refer to each Age Category for exceptions and limitations* 

Preseason U11 to U18: September 20 to October 18
Season Break: November 18 to December 1
Regular Season: December 2 to February 23 (Must request Schedule Windows)
Winter Break: December 23 to January 2
Post Season U7 & U9: February 24 to April 30
Post Season U11 to U18: March 20 to April 30

ADDITIONAL SCHEDULE WINDOW PILOT
Hockey Calgary is implementing an “Additional Schedule Window Pilot” for the 2024-2025 season that will allow U7 to U18 teams to access an additional schedule window, for a fee, during the regular season for a maximum of 2 Schedule Windows. Previously, teams were permitted to take 1 complimentary schedule window during the regular season.

• The Seeding Round will remain unchanged, teams will not be permitted to use a Schedule Window during the Seeding Round.
• The first Schedule Window will be complimentary to the team.
• U9 to U18 – The second Schedule Window will be accompanied by a $200.00 fee, payable at time of request to confirm Schedule Window. Fee will be non-refundable.
• U7 - Both Schedule Windows are complimentary.

U7 TEAMS
U7 teams may request 2 Schedule Windows during the Regular Season to host or attend a tournament within the following parameters.

• Deadline to request the Schedule Windows is November 11.
• U7 teams may use one Schedule Window to host or attend a tournament of their choice.
• U7 teams must use their second Schedule Window to attend their home Association hosted tournament (if applicable).

Esso Minor Hockey Week (January 10 to 18) – as U7 teams do not participate in Esso Minor Hockey Week, teams may host or attend tournaments during this period. A Schedule Window request is required to host or attend during this time frame.

U9 TO U18 TEAMS
U9 to U18 teams may request 2 Schedule Windows during the Regular Season to host or attend a tournament within the following parameters.

• Deadline to request a Schedule Window is November 11.
• Teams are not permitted to host tournaments during the Seeding Round: October 19 to November 17
• Teams are not permitted to host or attend tournaments during Esso Minor Hockey Week: January 10 to January 18 with the following exception.
  • U9 teams may host or attend after January 12

Adrenalin City Championships: February 25 to March 19
In U11 and older age categories, it is not recommended that teams host or attend tournaments between the end of the Regular Season and the end of Adrenalin City Championships. Should a team decide to host or attend a tournament during this period it is with the understanding that in the event of a conflict between a playoff game and a tournament game, the playoff game must be played as scheduled. There will be no exceptions made, and no playoff games will be rescheduled to accommodate tournament games. 

U7 (Timbits)
Junior

• Teams can host or attend tournaments beginning November 29
• Maximum 2 tournaments/jamborees (excluding Hockey Calgary Timbits Jamboree) 
• Maximum 1 out of town tournament (defined as any rink outside Hockey Calgary boundaries) 

Senior

• Teams can host or attend tournaments beginning November 15
• Maximum 3 tournaments/jamborees (excluding Hockey Calgary Timbits Jamboree) 
• Maximum 1 out of town tournament (defined as any rink outside Hockey Calgary boundaries)

U9 

• Teams can host or attend tournaments beginning November 22
• Maximum 3 tournaments/jamborees (excluding Esso Minor Hockey Week) 
• Maximum 2 out of town tournaments (defined as any rink outside Hockey Calgary boundaries) 

U11 to U18

• Maximum 4 tournaments (excluding Esso Minor Hockey Week, Adrenalin City Championships and Provincials) 
• Maximum 2 out of town tournaments (defined as any rink outside Hockey Calgary boundaries) 
  • Exceptions may be made with the written approval of their Association sent into Hockey Calgary

GAME RESCHEDULE POLICY

Hockey Calgary is implementing a “Game Reschedule Policy Pilot” for the 2024-2025 season that will allow U7 to U18 teams access to request a game reschedule to attend an additional tournament, for a fee, during the seeding round and regular season.
Previously, teams were not permitted to request a game change.
All Game Reschedules must follow the criteria and guidelines as laid out in the Game Reschedule Policy.
Hockey Calgary strongly recommends teams do not commit to tournaments (especially during the Seeding Round) until you have received official confirmation of the approved game reschedule.
Games will not be rescheduled if the criteria has not been met. There will be no exceptions made to reschedule games that do not meet the criteria or if the team has committed without having approval to do so.
Please refer to the GAME RESCHEDULE POLICY for information.

TOURNAMENT SANCTIONS 

Association Hosted Tournaments
Hockey Calgary will approve all Association hosted tournaments at the start of the 2024-25 season in advance of team tournament requests. These tournaments will be sanctioned beginning July 15. 

In Town Tournament Requests (games within Hockey Calgary boundaries)
Hockey Calgary will approve a maximum number of tournaments within each Age Category and Tier during each weekend of the Preseason, Season Break, Winter Break and Post Season.

Rationale
This will ensure:

• The availability of qualified officials so tournament games can be played in a safe manner.
• Tournaments are not cancelled due to lack of teams or interest.
• Calgary’s ice pool is utilized in an effective manner. 

Guidelines

• Tournament Naming – the name of the tournament will be reviewed and approved. Please keep the naming convention age appropriate and respectful.
• Each Association may request a maximum of 5 tournaments per weekend, with no more than 2 within the top 3 tiers of the same age category. This includes both Association and Team requests.
• Hockey Calgary will manage approval of tournament requests to ensure the number of tournaments does not exceed the number in the table below.
• Tournament format must be a maximum of 4 teams and 8 games, excluding U7 (Timbits).
• Exceptions may be made for tournaments with out of town teams attending where the total number of tournament games that weekend does not exceed the Central Region maximum.
• Hockey Calgary does not recommend U11 to U18 teams host in town tournaments during the Adrenalin City Championships (February 24 to March 19).  Tournament Sanctions may be approved during this time with the understanding that in the event of a schedule conflict, the Adrenalin City Championship games will take priority and will be played as scheduled.

• Tournament Sanction requests will remain pending until the listed approval date for requests (refer to the Hockey Calgary website).
  • If the number of requests is within the limitations detailed in the above chart requests will be approved within 24 hours of the deadline.
  • If the number of requests exceeds limitations a random draw will be made from all requests and those drawn will be approved within 24 hours. 

Approval Dates for In Town Tournaments

• Preseason Tournaments – Approvals begin on August 1 (deadline to submit request is August 12)
• Season Break Tournaments – Approvals begin on September 27 (deadline to submit request is October 12)
• Regular Season (Dec 2-Feb 23) – begin approvals on September 27 
• Winter Break Tournaments – Approvals begin on September 27 (deadline to submit request is November 12)
• Post Season Tournaments (U7/U9) – Approvals begin on November 12 (deadline to submit request is January 12)
• Post Season Tournaments (U11 and up) – Approvals begin on November 12 (deadline to submit request is February 12)

In Town Tournaments During Regular Season

• Tournament format must be a maximum of 4 teams and 8 games
  • Exception will be to U7 (Timbits) tournament requests
• Each Association may request a maximum of 1 tournament per weekend
• Ice must be supplied by the Association Scheduler from their usual private contracts
• Association must ensure they provide the minimum ice requirement for scheduling their regular season games.  This includes U7 (Timbits) tournament requests.
• Teams hosting or attending are required to use their 2 Schedule Windows.  If a team does not use their Schedule Window, Regular Season games must be played as scheduled in the event of a conflict. 

Out of Town Tournament requests (games outside Hockey Calgary boundaries) 
Hockey Calgary will consider tournament requests for out of town tournaments during the Preseason, Season Break, Winter Break, Regular Season and Post Season.

• Each team may HOST a maximum of 1 out of town tournament 
• Tournaments are limited to a maximum of 4 Calgary teams during the Regular Season, you may host a larger tournament if teams from outside Calgary boundaries are attending
• To minimize financial exposure, Hockey Calgary recommends: 
  • Host teams do not sign ice contracts until their Tournament Sanction has been approved 
  • Ensure local ranked and certified officials are available through the Referee in Chief or their designate from the Local Minor Hockey Association in the jurisdiction where the games are being played before requesting their Tournament Sanction 
• Tournament Sanction requests will be approved within 5 business days of submission and are not subject to any limitations. 
• The rationale behind placing a maximum limit on the number of out of town tournaments teams can host or attend is to minimize the financial impact for families and to ensure that participating in community hockey can be accessible.
• Teams hosting or attending are required to use their 2 Schedule Windows if scheduled within the Regular Season.  If a team does not use their Schedule Window, Regular Season games must be played as scheduled in the event of a conflict. 

OUT-OF-TOWN TOURNAMENT REFEREE ASSIGNING PROCEDURE:

• Contact the local assignor or Referee-In-Chief from the Local Minor Hockey Association in the jurisdiction where the games are being played.
• If the local MHA cannot assign officials, the tournament may request that Central Region Referees Committee assign officials from Calgary by contacting the appropriate assignor
  • NOTE: Hockey Calgary scheduled League Games are a priority. Central Region does not guarantee that they will be able to assign your tournament.
• Conditions for Central Region to assign officials from Calgary to official tournaments outside Hockey Calgary boundaries.
  • Tournaments will incur costs for officials’ accommodation, mileage, and per diem per Hockey Alberta guidelines (https://officials.hockeyalberta.ca/standards/officials-pay-rates/)
  • Officials will be registered with Hockey Alberta as an official in the current playing season
  • Hockey Alberta official rates apply (https://officials.hockeyalberta.ca/standards/officials-pay-rates/)
  • Coaches are not permitted to be booked as officials (with the exception of U9, and only if officials are not available)              
  • Limits on the games for officials are as follows:
    • Minimum 2, Maximum 4 games assigned per day
  • Officials must be certified to officiate the applicable level of hockey (i.e. a 15 year old official is not permitted to referee U18 hockey)
• If the local Assignor and Central Region cannot assign officials, the tournament may be cancelled. Teams are not permitted to source officials on their own.
• If tournament organizers do not comply with the above conditions and/or source officials without the approval of Central Region or the local Assignor, the Manager and Head Coach of the host team will be suspended.

HOSTING A TOURNAMENT

• A team or member Association planning to host a tournament in the current season must apply online at www.hockeycalgary.ca.
• The application must be approved by Hockey Calgary and a tournament sanction number issued.
• All host teams must complete and submit the “Play in a Tournament” form on the Team Manager user account. A travel permit will be auto-approved and automatically sent to the team by email, and a Schedule Window will be created if appropriate. If the travel permit does not meet the requirements, it will be revoked.
• The tournament shall be played under Hockey Calgary rules, and the tournament committee must agree to follow the minimum suspensions as set out by Hockey Calgary in conjunction with the League Chair/Governor. Failure for the tournament to follow Hockey Calgary rules or minimum suspensions may result in all tournament permits being revoked for the Host Hockey Association.
• It is the responsibility of the Tournament Coordinator to obtain a copy of the official team roster and travel permit for all teams travelling outside of Calgary.
• All games, with the exception of U7 (Timbits), must be officiated by referees who have been certified in the current year and are qualified for that level of hockey.
• Using the Tournament Coordinator login and password that was issued with the approved tournament sanction to log into the Hockey Calgary website. The Tournament Coordinator must, within 24 hours of completion of the tournament, enter all game details, and upload a PDF/picture copy of the official game report. Retain the white (top) copy of the official game report to ensure this can be completed. 
• Failure to comply with the conditions described on the Tournament Sanction may result in future tournament sanctions being denied and/or revoked.

ATTENDING A TOURNAMENT

• Teams must not play any games against teams not registered with Hockey Alberta or affiliated branches of Hockey Canada. This applies to tournaments not sanctioned by Hockey Alberta or Hockey Canada. Coaches and team management may be subject to suspension by Hockey Calgary for violation of this rule.
• Teams must complete and submit the “Play in a Tournament” form on the Team Manager user account. A travel permit will be auto-approved and automatically sent to the team by email, and a Schedule Window will be created if appropriate. If the travel permit does not meet the listed requirements, it will be revoked.
• Details contained on the official game report(s) for all tournament games played within and outside the Calgary Region (as filed with Hockey Alberta), must be entered and a PDF/picture copy of the official game report uploaded at the Hockey Calgary website within 24 hours of the completion of the tournament. Please request a copy of the game report from the tournament organizer.
• Failure to comply with the conditions described may result in future tournament sanctions being denied and/or revoked.