2026 ALLIANCE HOCKEY U9 MD CHAMPIONSHIPS
HOSTED BY THE CAMBRIDGE MINOR HOCKEY ASSOCIATION

*The information below is subject to change prior to the Championships.
*All teams will be informed when all information is considered final prior to the start of the 2026 Championships.

Format:
• ALL twenty-four U9 MD teams participate in the Championships.
• Teams will be divided into three tiered divisions based on League play (Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3) at the end of Regular Season, which concludes March 22, 2026.
• The ALLIANCE Hockey Championships do NOT contribute towards the season tournament allotment.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
• Travel Permits are not required.
• All team members, including family and associated members must behave in an appropriate manner, both on and off the ice in accordance with the ALLIANCE Hockey Codes of Conduct.
• Spectators are NOT allowed in the bench area, change rooms/corridors or the timekeeper’s area.
• At no time will any Team members, family members, or spectators be allowed in or near the referee room(s). NO EXCEPTIONS.
• Only the timekeepers and/or Championship Directorate are to meet with the on-ice officials.
• There will be zero tolerance of inappropriate/excessively loud music in change rooms.
• Any damage to the facility by a member may involve immediate removal from the facility for the duration of the Championship. Teams/Members will be responsible for payment of any damage to the facility by any member.
• The Team Trainer has authority on decisions regarding injuries.
• Each Team is responsible for ensuring they have an Emergency Action Plan in place.

The Championship Directorate reserves the right to make any and/or all decisions.

1. Game Schedule 
• All games will be played under official Hockey Canada Rules except as provided elsewhere in these regulations.
• Game durations as indicated: Round Robin:10-10-10, Semi-Finals & Finals: 10-10-15
• Pre-game warm up will be three (3) minutes (or as per Host ice capabilities). The time shall be shown on the official game clock and will commence at the sound of the buzzer, as instructed by the referee.
• Teams shall be prepared to play 15 minutes ahead of scheduled start times.
• The total points obtained in Round Robin play: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, 0 points for a loss. All Round Robin games that finish regulation in a tie will remain in a tie. 
• A 7-goal run-time rule will be in effect. Once a game is at the point with 5 minutes remaining in the third period and one team is ahead by 5 or more goals, the clock will change to run-time for the remainder of the game (even if the score should change). 
• There will be one(1) 30 second timeout per team permitted per game. Timeouts are NOT allowed in overtime.
• Upon conclusion of each game, players will line up and shake hands at centre ice.
• Floods will occur at the end of the game. No one is allowed on the ice until the ice resurfacing machine has left the ice and the doors are closed.  (Flooding the ice in overtime will be as per the Host’s discretion.)
• In the Championship game, the team who finished higher in the Round Robin series shall be listed as the home team.
• Dressing rooms are to be vacated promptly after the game has been completed.  Arena staff will inspect the room prior to the next team entering.
NOTE: Cambridge Sports Park does not provide locks for the dressing rooms.

2. Tie-Breaker Round Robin
• Ties in Round Robin games will remain a tie with each team earning one point.
• In the event of a tie at the end of the Round Robin series, for any position, ALLIANCE Hockey Policy 9.8: Tie-Breaker procedure will be used to break the tie.  If the procedure reaches 9.8.1.4, penalty minutes from the Championship event would be calculated to break a tie.

3. Tie-Breaker – Semi-Final, Final
• As per Hockey Canada playing rules, if at the end of regulation time the score is tied, the teams shall take a one-minute rest at their benches and the following shall then apply:
 
Overtime:
• Upon completion of regulation time where the game is tied, one(1) ten-minute sudden victory 5 v 5, overtime period will be played.
• The teams shall not change ends.
• The puck shall be faced off at center ice and the play shall continue with the ten-minute sudden victory overtime period.

Shoot-Out:
• In the event the game is still tied at the conclusion of the overtime period, the teams will commence a 3-player shoot out. In the event the game is still tied after the 3-player shoot out, each team will continue to shoot, one shooter at a time until one team gains the victory. All players must shoot prior to going back to your first shooter.
• Penalties carry over from regulation into overtime.
• Any player serving a penalty at the end of the ten-minute overtime is not eligible to participate in the shootout.

The Championship Directorate shall have the prerogative to render a decision under any emergency situation.

4. Team Rosters
• Teams are required to check-in to the Event Office prior to their first game.
• The maximum number of players allowed to dress for each game is 19 (nineteen), including 2 (two) goalies. Teams are allowed a maximum of 5 approved Team Officials on the bench.  
• Teams must abide by the approved Hockey Canada roster with any approved Affiliated Players prior to the start of the Event.
• E-gamesheets will be used for all games.  Team Officials must complete/sign the gamesheet in the Event Office. iPads are not to be taken to the dressing rooms.
• Teams can view gamesheets at http://gamesheet.app following each game.
• Any team found with ineligible players participating in a game will be disqualified from the event.
Note: Games won by a disqualified team will be recorded as a win for the opposing team at a score of 1–0.

5. Team Composition – Minimum Standards
Based on previous events, these minimum standards have been implemented - Teams are required to meet the following minimum composition standards:
9 skaters + 1 goaltender (refers to rostered Players).

If a team(s) is at the arena and the numbers outlined above cannot be met (i.e. injuries/suspensions occur during game), the Hockey Canada Rule of 6 players constitutes a game is implemented: Section #2, Teams, Rule 2.2 (a) (page 18).

Hockey Canada Rule 10.8 Refusing to Start Play: The penalties for Refusing to Start Play are severe and may result in a 1-year suspension. Every effort needs to be taken to avoid Refusal to Start Play and coaches on both teams must work with the Officials to avoid unsafe play.

If a team is unable to compete, the game shall be recorded as a win for the opposing team at a score of 1–0.

6. Jerseys
• The VISITING team will wear LIGHT jerseys and the HOME team will wear DARK jerseys. In the case of conflicting sweaters, the home team will change.

7. Discipline
• If a player or Team Official is ordered to the dressing room for the balance of the game, such person shall be subject to further disciplinary action deemed necessary by the Championship Directorate.
• In all cases, the OHF Minimum Suspension List for Minor Hockey, as approved by the OHF Board of Directors, shall be used.
• The Championship Directorate shall rule on all Match Penalties assessed during any game of the Championship series.
• Any player or team official under suspension shall not be eligible to participate in any game of the Championship until the suspension has been served.
• Player suspensions for various infractions will be administered as per OHF/ALLIANCE Hockey rules. 
• Any team permitting a player to participate in a game when the player is suspended or ineligible, will automatically forfeit the game 1-0.  
• It is the Team Official’s responsibility to check their gamesheet after each game and list any suspensions on the e-gamesheet prior to each game.

8. Protests / Appeals
• There are no appeals. All decisions of the Championship Directorate and referee(s) are final.
• There shall be no protest on referee penalty calls.
• There shall be no protest on the outcome of a Championship Game.

9. Tailgating
• The consumption of alcohol in non-licensed public areas such as arena parking lots is illegal. If Arena staff observe this or receive complaints that it is occurring, they will call the police immediately. Teams who have members that are found violating this policy may find their team removed from the event.

10.  Responsibilities of Participating Teams
  a) Attend any Championship Meetings where applicable.
  b) All team members, including family members must behave in an appropriate manner, both on and off the ice in accordance
      with the ALLIANCE Hockey Code of Conduct.
  c) The Team Trainer has authority on decisions regarding injuries and a player’s ability to continue playing.

The Championship Directorate will not be responsible for any injuries incurred during the event.  All precautions will be taken to protect participants.