Changes for 2025
CHANGES TO IHAAZ RULES, DIVISIONS, ETC FOR THE 2025 SEASON
Each season, new rules and procedures are examined and debated to bring a better experience for all participants. Below are changes to the series for the 2025 season.
- IHAAZ Zona Cup qualifier events AND finals are now open to team outside of AZ!
- As more teams from outside of Arizona show interest in participating in both our stand alone qualifier events, and the Zona Cup Finals, we welcome them to come experience the fun and competitive events we host. These teams must follow the same rules and guidelines for qualifying for the Zona Cup finals as our in state teams. Any teams or programs who plan on participating in the Zona Cup finals must qualify all players for their finals rosters as our in state teams, no exceptions.
- Changes to the 16U Division:
- In the 2024 Season, a 16U age group was added to bridge the gap between the 14U and 18U divisions. For 2024 the 16U division was targeted as a "silver" skill level. For 2025 the 16U division the division will be an "open" division without any skill level designation. Like all other divisions, the goal is to have parity between the teams when possible. Stronger 16U teams may be asked to compete in 18U Silver or Gold depending on where they best fit.
- Clarification on how a team asked to play up a division is recognized and listed.
- In the event a team is asked to play up an age division, they will be entered and treated as a team from their actual age division, just playing up.
- For example, "Team "X" is a 12U team that is asked to play up in the 14U Silver division due to skill level. On the events schedule the team will be listed as "Team X 12U".
- If a player (or players) on Team X 12U are also on a r roster for a team already playing 14U Silver, that player must choose ahead of time which team they will participate with. That player must remain on that roster for the entire event and cannot play on both teams for that event.
- If players on "Team X 12U" (which in this scenario is playing 14U silver) has players who are also playing in 14U Gold with another team, those players may play in both divisions of 14U, as their 12U team was asked to move up and is being treated as a 12U team still.
- If a team chooses to play up (meaning they were not told they have to but did so on their own), in this same scenario those players would not be eligible to play in both the Silver and Gold division of that 14U age group. Those players would need to choose which team they want to be rostered on for that event.
- In the event a team is asked to play up an age division, they will be entered and treated as a team from their actual age division, just playing up.
- Delayed Penalty play dead once puck crosses the centerline rule will be added for 14U, 16U, and 18U
- To better align with other RHA sanctioned tournaments starting this year in the 14U, 16U, and 18U age groups, we will enforce the rule as it reads below. Please make sure to explain this to your players prior to playing.
- ADD ACTUAL RULE HERE
