Ice Set-up by division and time of season (Do NOT ask staff to alter format, however, the staff may need to alter due to equipment available and logistics)

U9 - full-ice all season following OHF guidelines (https://www.ohf.on.ca/news/2026/ohf-announces-approval-of-2026-2027-u9-programming-framework/)

U8 - half-ice with small nets all season

U7 - cross-ice prior to Dec 20th, half-ice December 21st onward (small nets all season)

Full-ice RULES & PROCEDURES

U9 Teams will play full ice hockey as follows:

·         2-minute warmup (pucks permitted)

·         3 x 13 minutes RUN time with 1-minute intermission between periods (3rd period may be extended if time allows).

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

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

·         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

Cross/Half-ice RULES &  PROCEDURES

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 3'x4' nets and regular 6oz 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 sends out a replacement player. The penalized player must stay on bench for the remainder of that shift plus the next shift at the discretion of the referee/coach.

Suspension - A player who incurs 4 penalties in one game will be not be allowed to continue playing.

Team Splits - Home team decides whether 2 balanced groups or A/B groupings will be used. Balancing should take place at halftime for fair play.

Cross-ice play - Bumpers on each blue-line with Benches in neutral zone

Video created for the 2023 CDP season