Mite Madness Rules
MITE MADNESS TOURNAMENT RULES 2026
PLAYING RULES
- USA Hockey Sanction #: 25.26-CA.36
- All USA Hockey/SCAHA 8U playing and equipment rules apply (see below for "Team/Referee Points of Emphasis").
- Only players listed and approved on a team's USA Hockey roster are allowed to participate in the tournament.
- Players are not allowed to be added to a team's roster after the start of the tournament.
- The designated home team will wear dark-colored jerseys and visiting team light-colored jerseys. If there is no color conflict, teams do not have to change jerseys (regardless of home or away).
- All game will be played with intermediate-sized nets and lighter ADM pucks.
- A buzzer will sound every 90 seconds of play for (required) player/line changes.
- All games are played half ice 4-on-4 with a goalie.
- Each division game "segment" will begin with a 3-minute warmup period.
- Teams are required to supply their own warmup pucks.
- The 8U divisions do not track individual stats or use scoresheets (no roster stickers are needed).
- "Rink A" is the side/half of the ice closest to the main entrance of the facility.
GAME FORMAT
- All pool-play games will be 22 minutes in length (runtime). All semifinal, championship and consolation games will consist of 2, 15-minute runtime halves (runtime).
- There will be a 2-minute break between games.
- All pool-play games will end after regulation, regardless of score.
- In the case of a tie after regulation in the semifinal and championship games, the game will proceed to a 3-man shootout followed by a sudden-death shootout. No player may shoot a second time until the team with the least number of players on its bench has used all its players.
POINTS/STANDINGS PROCEDURES
Points will be awarded as follows:
- 2 points for a win
- 1 point for a tie
- 0 point for a loss
The maximum goal differential recorded for all games is 7. For example, if a team wins by an actual score of 10-2, that game will be recorded with a final score of 9-2, reflecting the 7-goal maximum differential. The 7-goal differential will also apply for any tiebreaking procedures. A forfeited game will be recorded as a 1-0 score and regulation loss for the team declaring the forfeit and a regulation win for the opposing team.
TIEBREAKER PROCEDURES
If 2 teams are tied for more than 1 position:
1) Head-to-Head result between the 2 tied teams
2) Most Total Wins
3) Goal Differential for all round-robin games played (maximum of 7 goals per game differential)
4) Fewest Goals Against for all round-robin games played (maximum of 7 goals per game differential)
If 3 or more teams are tied for more than 1 position:
NOTE: Ties are broken one at a time. For example, if 3 teams are tied for total points and proceed to the Goal Differential tiebreaker, the team that wins the Goal Differential tiebreaker will advance with the remaining 2 teams repeating Step 1 of the tiebreaking process (Head-to-Head/Most Points).Note: A team may go into the tie-breaking process having defeated another one of the tied teams and still not advance.
1) Most Points for games played between the tied teams
2) Goal Differential for games played between the tied teams (maximum of 7 goals per game differential)
3) Fewest Goals Against for games played between the tied teams (maximum of 7 goals per game differential)
4) Most Total Wins
5) Goal Differential for all round-robin games played (maximum of 7 goals per game differential)
6) Fewest Goals Against for all round-robin games played (maximum of 7 goals per game differential)
TEAMS/REFEREE POINTS OF EMPHASIS
Faceoffs
- Center-ice faceoffs occur only at the beginning of each mini-game and after a goal is scored. After a goalie save, once the goalie covers the puck, the referee will blow whistle and back up the opposing team.
Penalties
- Unless a penalty away from the puck is blatantly intentional, penalty shots will be awarded for infractions inhibiting scoring opportunities only.
- If the shot is successful, a center-ice faceoff will follow. If the penalty shot is unsuccessful, the referee will blow the whistle and place the puck behind the net, avoiding any “rebound” opportunities or and sort of unfair advantage after the penalty shot is taken.
Puck Management
- Referees will have an extra puck available during the game.
- At the mandatory 90-second buzzer, the referee with pick up the puck currently in play and wait for all players to be on the ice before introducing a second puck and creating a 50/50 battle for control.
The tournament director reserves the right to modify any rules deemed detrimental to the best interest of the tournament or amateur hockey.
The decision of the tournament director is final.