Weather Cancellation Policy

The SPHC is an outdoor event. By entering, teams acknowledge that they will be playing on a natural, outdoor ice surface, and ice conditions are at the mercy of Mother Nature.

Ultimately, should the event be cancelled a second time due to inclement weather or unsafe ice conditions as determined by the tournament director(s), teams will receive a guaranteed entry position into the following year’s tournament.

Team Name Policy

Because the Syracuse Pond Hockey Classic (SPHC) website and social media platforms are available for hockey fans of all ages, team names must not be offensive to any individual or group. While we encourage creativity, we will not post team names online that may be suggestive, discriminatory, or harassing in any way. SPCH personnel will review all team names and reserves the right to reject any team name or modify any team name deemed offensive.

Thank you for your cooperation in being respectful to all hockey players and fans.

Team Dropout Policy
Once a team has registered and paid, SPHC will not offer a refund to any team for any reason. Organizers will apply payment toward the following year’s event while reserving that team a slot in the schedule.

Equipment

All players are required to follow USA Hockey Adult Level equipment recommendations; all players are required to wear a helmet designed for hockey (HECC approved or otherwise). Helmets must include a chin-strap that shall be properly worn at all times.

Jerseys

All teams must arrive at the tournament site with uniform team jerseys.

Skill Level (Good to High Level Players)

This tournament is intended for players with competitive hockey experience in their background. We expect teams of mixed age and varying skill to participate, allowing for groups of friends, family and former teammates the opportunity to play together. Most players will have played high school, college or competitive tournament hockey before. Age requirement is 18 and over. Most players on each team will be considered above-average to high skill level.

Age Requirement

All players must be 18 years of age by the start date of the tournament. Photo ID’s are required at check-in and will be checked throughout the event. Players unable to produce a photo ID, at any point, cannot participate until the ID is provided to a tournament director. Players may only play on one team. NO EXCEPTIONS!!

Illegal Players & Teams

If the tournament director(s) determine that an illegal player has participated in the tournament, the player(s) shall be immediately removed from the tournament and the team using the ineligible player(s) will receive a 0-1 forfeit loss for each of the games in which the illegal player(s) participated in.

Illegal players are any participants that:

1. Violate the minimum age requirement (18 years old)

2. Participate on two team rosters

Game / Player Rules

Minimum number of players on a team is three (3); maximum is six (6).

Teams must have three (3) players at the start of each game.

Each team will play a guaranteed minimum three (3) games.

All teams must have at least three (3) players ready to play at their scheduled game start time. If not, the game clock will start and the offending team will be penalized one goal for each minute they are late. Should the offending team produce three (3) players at any time during the first half, the game will start at that point with the offending team down the appropriate deficit (i.e. five minutes late, game will begin at the 10 minute mark with the offending team down 5-0). If the offending team is not able to produce at least four players by the end of the first half, the game shall be declared a forfeit and the NON-OFFENDING team will be awarded a 15-0 victory.

The Home Team shall have first choice of which half of the ice to defend.

There will be a center ice face-off to start each half. Each half shall be fifteen (15) minutes in length. A five (5) minute warm-up is allowed before the game, and half-time will be five (5) minutes in length. All periods are “Running Time”.

Teams shall switch ends during the second half of the game.

Each team is allowed one time-out per game. All time-outs are one minute in length.

All goals must be scored from the attacking side of the center red line.

After a goal, the team that scored will be required to wait on their defending side of the red line. The team that is scored upon must advance the puck up the ice immediately. Defending teams can engage the puck carrier once the puck crosses the center red line.

There will be no offside or icing.

Penalties will be enforced. Any minor penalty called such as tripping or slashing will result in a goal for the non-offending team plus change of puck possession.

Any serious (major penalty) infractions will result in ejection from the game with no replacement.

Fighting is strictly prohibited. Any player that fights will be ejected from the tournament with no replacement.

No body-checking is allowed during games. Any intentional, overt, or reckless body contact will result in a minor or major penalty.

There will be no slap-shots. If the stick rises above the knee in attempt of a shot or pass it will result in a change of puck possession.

There will be no lifting the puck above the knees; pucks that are intentionally raised above the knees will result in a change of puck possession.

Stick contact with the puck above the waist will result in a change of puck possession.

No use of goaltending equipment shall be permitted.

A player may not lay their stick, drop to their knees or lay on the ice to protect the goal. Players must remain on their skates in front of the goal.

No more than one player can occupy the space in front of the net. Any act of “goaltending” shall result in an awarded goal for the non-offending team.

If a puck exits the playing surface (e.g., if the puck lands on or goes over a snow bank such that play cannot continue uninterrupted), then the team that directed the puck out of play will allow the opposing team to bring the puck into play. The defending players should standat least two-stick lengths away to begin play.

Tied Games

Round Robin Competition: If a game is tied at the end of regulation, a three (3) minute, 3 on 3 run-time period will be held. The team that scores the most goals during that time will be declared the winner. Only regulation goals scored will count towards the goal differential. If still tied an additional sudden victory period will be played until one team scores to be declared the winner.

Playoff Competition: If regulation ends in a tie, there shall be a one minute rest period followed by a five (5) minute overtime period. Teams shall play three (3) on three (3). Playoff Overtime is non-sudden victory. The team which scores the most goals at the end of the overtime period shall be declared the winner. If the game is still tied after the first overtime period, this same procedure (1min rest; 5min OT) shall be followed until a winner is decided.

Teams shall return to their original ends of the ice for the first overtime period, and switch ends during each successive overtime period.

THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE ANY DECISIONS REGARDING TOURNAMENT RULES, FORMAT, SCHEDULE, ETC. FOR THE OVERALL GOOD OF THE EVENT.