Tournament Sanctions

Tournament sanctions for the 2022-23 season

* Tournament Sanctions may be revoked if not compliant with local or provincial public health orders.

TOURNAMENT POLICY
Community Hockey
(Effective for 2022-23 season) 

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

Preseason: September 24 to October 21
Season Break: November 21 to December 4
Regular Season: December 5 to February 26 (Must request Schedule Window)
Winter Break: December 22 to January 5
Post Season U7 & U9: February 27 to April 30
Post Season U11 to U18: March 23 to April 30

U9 to U18 teams may request 1 Schedule Window during the Regular Season to host or attend a tournament. Deadline to request a Schedule Window is November 14.

Teams are not permitted to host or attend tournaments during the following periods.
Seeding Round: October 22 to November 20
Esso Minor Hockey Week: January 13 to January 21 (U9 may host or attend after January 15)
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 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)
Senior

• Teams can host or attend tournaments beginning November 12
• Maximum 3 tournaments/jamborees (excluding Hockey Calgary Jamboree) 
• Maximum 1 out of town tournament (defined as any rink outside Hockey Calgary boundaries)

Junior

• Teams can host or attend tournaments beginning November 26
• Maximum 2 tournaments/jamborees (excluding Hockey Calgary Jamboree) 
• Maximum 1 out of town tournament (defined as any rink outside Hockey Calgary boundaries) 

U9 

• Teams can host or attend tournaments beginning November 21
• 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, 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

TOURNAMENT SANCTIONS 

Association Hosted Tournaments
Hockey Calgary will approve all Association hosted tournaments at the start of the 2022-23 season in advance of team tournament requests. These tournaments will be sanctioned beginning July 19.

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 City Championships (February 27 to March 22).  Tournament Sanctions may be approved during this time with the understanding that in the event of a schedule conflict, the City Championship games will take priority.

• 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 – begin approvals on August 8 (deadline to submit request is August 27)
• Season Break Tournaments – begin approvals on September 30 (deadline to submit request is October 17)
• Regular Season (Dec 5-Feb 26) – begin approvals on September 30 
• Winter Break Tournaments – begin approvals on September 30 (deadline to submit request is November 22)
• Post Season Tournaments (U7/U9) – begin approvals on November 14 (deadline to submit request for March tournaments is February 7 and deadline to request April tournaments is March 7)
• Post Season Tournaments (U11 and up) – begin approvals on November 14 (deadline to submit request for March tournaments is February 22 and deadline to request April tournaments is March 7)

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 1 Schedule Window.  If a team does not use their Schedule Window, Regular Season games must be played as scheduled in the event of a conflict. No exceptions will be made, and no league games will be rescheduled to accommodate tournament games.

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 only. 

• 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 cost for families and to ensure that participating in community hockey can be attained
• Teams hosting or attending are required to use their 1 Schedule Window 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. No exceptions will be made, and no league games will be rescheduled to accommodate tournament games.

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.
• Within 24 hours of completion of the tournament, all game details must be entered, and a PDF/picture copy of the official game report uploaded at the Hockey Calgary website. Retain the white (top) copy of the official game report.
• 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 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 on the Tournament Sanction may result in future tournament sanctions being denied and/or revoked.