For over a decade, Top Tier USA has been one of the most competitive spring hockey tournaments in North America. Every spring, the event attracts over 100 teams to the Steel City. Rinks are conveniently located to local tourist attractions, enhancing the overall experience.
Please note that the schedule will be released 7-10 days before the event start date. Teams must be ready to play at 8 am on the first day. Games are scheduled to be completed by 4 p.m. local time on the final day.
WE NEVER CHARGE A GATE FEE
Disclaimer: We have noticed an increase in teams that have inexplicably withdrawn from events at the last minute causing us to have to re-work the schedule. Please DO NOT make any plans that cannot be refunded based on the schedule you receive.
Tournament Director:
The Tournament Director shall be responsible for resolving all inquiries or disputes regarding off-ice rule application or interpretation, player eligibility, disciplinary action or any other procedural disputes. He or she will not overturn any dispute concerning rules and/or the judgment applied by on-ice officials. All decisions of the Tournament Director are final.
Player Eligibility:
A player may only play for one team in his/her birth year. A player is only permitted to play in his/her own age group (with the exception of goaltenders on a case by case basis)- birth certificates must be available should the rink manager request for proof of age. All players must appear on the official roster. Rosters are frozen the first day of the tournament as the players step onto the ice for their first game. A player on the roster MUST play in at least 1 game prior to semi-final & championship games to be eligible to play in playoff games. Max roster size is 20. There is no substitution of players who have not been listed on a roster in the round robin portion, and no allowance for players in elimination games who have not ACTIVELY participated in at least 1 round robin game. Teams who do not follow this rule will be removed from the event immediately and without refund.
Checking:
Checking will be permitted at 2009, 2010 and 2011 birth year. There is no checking permitted in the 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 birth years.
Early Start Option:
All teams must be prepared to play their games fifteen (15) minutes prior to scheduled start time in the event games are ahead of schedule. Players must be ready to step onto the ice when the Zamboni finishes between games. Please have your teams prepared.
Icing the Puck
Teams will be permitted to ice the puck on a penalty kill.
Offsides:
Delayed (Tag Up) offsides will be utilized.
Penalty Box:
Each team is responsible for providing its own penalty box attendant
Warm Ups:
A three (3) minute warm up will take place before the start time of the game. Pucks will NOT be provided. Please bring warm up pucks for your team.
Time Outs:
One 30 second time out is permitted per team per game.
Length of Periods:
Round robin games will be 3 x 15 minute periods.
Playoff games in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 will be 2 x 20 min halves, with the goalie starting in the far zone. All other divisions and consolation games will continue to play 3 x 15 min period games.
All games will be played to completion. No games will be protested.
Round Robin games will end in ties. Only Elimination, Semi-Final and Championship games will be played to a winner.
Period Break:
There will be a one (1) minute break between each period. It is the responsibility of the coach to ensure their team is ready to go at the start of each period and the sound of the buzzer after timeouts.
Mercy Rule:
The mercy rule shall be in effect. If a team at any point during the third period is leading by 5 or more goals the clock will revert to running time. If the difference is reduced to 3 goals or less, the clock will revert back to stop time.
Officials:
All on-ice officials are currently and completely registered and in good standing with
USA Hockey. Please note that SuperSeries AAA cannot change or alter decisions made by on ice officials.
Penalties/Match Penalties:
Penalty times will be as follows: Minor 1:30 minutes, Major 4:00 minutes, Misconduct 8:00 minutes.
Any player and/or team official who is in receipt of a match penalty or gross misconduct will be suspended for any remaining games. Any player that receives a second major penalty will result in an ejection from the remaining games of the weekend.
On Ice Altercations:
If a game is interrupted by on ice fighting between players and /or bench staff, then the clock will continue to run. Games times will not be restored until the whistle has blown on the play that immediately follows the on ice fight. Minutes lost will not be restored.
Division Scoring:
All divisions will be scored per game as follows:
a) 2 points for a regulation win
b) 1 point for a tie (Games are permitted to end in a tie in round robin play)
c) 0 points for a regulation loss
Tie Breakers:
In the event of a tie for playoff seeding, the following criteria will be used to determine the team’s placement.
Elimination or Playoffs Only
If there is a tie at the end of regulation play, a 5-minute sudden death period will be played 3 on 3. If the overtime does not present a winner, then a shootout, consisting of 3-players from each team will be used to determine a winner.
If O/T does not produce a winner, then teams will participate in a 3 man shootout.
Fordfeited Games:
Any forfeited games will be recorded as a 3-0 score.
Goal Differential:
The maximum goal differential attainable per game is +/- 7.
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NOTE: If the team contact is not traveling with the team, please email info@superserieshockey.com with the name of the person available for any questions or concerns during the event.
Creating a hotel team block:
Reserving individual rooms: