Rules, 2023 OLD, 2023-2024 (West Niagara Minor Hockey)

3 on 3 RULES

1. Each team has three players and one goalie on the ice at a time.
2. All levels will play “Non-Contact”.
3. Offsides are indicated by a whistle.  Offside team must leave the puck for the other team and then clear the near blue line before returning to fore-check as in a delayed offside call.
4. Goals are indicated by a whistle.  Scoring team must return over the center ice line as a unit before returning to fore-check.
5. The whistle will be blown when the goalie freezes the puck.  Upon the whistle the goalie is free to release the puck and the offensive team must return over the near blue line as a unit before returning to fore-check.
6. All minor penalties shall be whistled down and result in a “live puck penalty shot”.
7. In a Penalty Shot the puck is placed at center ice, with the shooter inside the center ice circle.  The remainder of the players are at the opposite blue line and on one knee.  The penalty shot will begin on the referee’s whistle at which time the “shooter” will leave with the puck and all other players will give chase with the puck being live.  A shot does not have to occur if the shooter is caught by a player on the defensive team.  The time clock will NOT be stopped during a penalty shot.
8. Major Penalties will result in expulsion from the tournament.
9. There is no icing called.
10. All games will consist of two (2) 10 minute running time periods.  The clock will stop only in the case of an injury during the game.
11. Round robin games shall be allowed to end in a tie.
12. Championship games ending in a tie will be decided using a sudden death penalty shot procedure such that each team will take one shot and if one scores while the other does not, the game is over.  If there is still a tie the shootout will continue until the tie is broken.  All players must shoot before any shooter is allowed to repeat.
13. Tie Breakers after round robin play are as follows:
1. Head to Head result
2. Least total goals against
3. Highest Percentage (total goals for/total goals for + total goals against)
4. Coin Flip