NIT Rules

2024 Tradition NIT Rules and Procedures

The following rules have been established for the 2024 Tradition National Invitational Tournament, October 18-20, to be held at Fogerty Ice Arena, and Super Rink in Blaine, MN; and TCO Sports Center in Vadnais Heights, MN. These rules have been established in conjunction with USA Hockey, Minnesota Hockey, and the Tournament Committee.

Tournament Rules

All games will be played under USA Hockey Rules as modified by Minnesota Hockey.

• Games can start up to 15 minutes early. Please plan accordingly.
• Home team listed on schedule will wear LIGHT COLOR jerseys, unless otherwise coordinated with the other team prior to game time.
• All games will have at least 2 USA Hockey Certified referees.
• Throat Laceration Protection (neck guard) is REQUIRED for ALL players. Non-compliance will mean removal from the game.
• Penalties will be 2 minutes, and the penalty kill team CAN ice the puck.
• Tag-up offsides.
• Hybrid Icing- Within the hybrid system the linesman determines whether a play will be called icing based on which player reaches the tops of the faceoff circles first. If the linesman feels the attacking player will be the first to the puck, icing is waived off. If the linesman believes the defending player will eventually win the sprint to the puck, the whistle is blown. If the goalie leaves the crease, the icing will be waived off.
• 3-minute warm-up.
• Game Length (1h 30m)- Each game will consist of three (3) 15-minute stop time periods. Ice resurfacing will occur every two periods throughout the tournament. There will be a one (1) minute intermission between periods that do not have a resurface.
• Running time will commence if the goal separation is 6 goals or more at ANY time during the game.
• One time-out allowed per game.
• Teams must have USA Hockey (or Hockey Canada equivalent) rostered players and coaches. Head coaches must be accurately listed for each game.
• Each team will play 4 pre-scheduled games. Winner of each division will be determined by the highest total points over 4 games.

• Point Tiebreaker:
  1. HEAD-TO-HEAD (results in the games played between the tied teams) Note: If a team defeats the other team(s) that they are tied with, they will be ranked ahead of those other teams.
  2. MOST TOTAL WINS.
  3. FEWEST GOALS ALLOWED FOR ALL GAMES PLAYED.
  4. GOAL DIFFERENTIAL – GOALS FOR MINUS GOALS AGAINST IN ALL GAMES PLAYED. Note: In any given game the goal differential will be a maximum of (6) regardless of a greater goal differential.
  5. MOST GOALS SCORED FOR ALL GAMES PLAYED.
  6. FEWEST MINOR PENALTIES IN ALL GAMES PLAYED.
  7. FEWEST TOTAL PENALTY MINUTES IN ALL GAMES PLAYED.
  8. COIN TOSS.