To be eligible for the MVC at the Mite through Bantam levels all players must live in the town that they are playing for regardless of where and who the player competes for in the regular season. Players that do not live in towns participating in the MVC are not eligible to participate in the tournament. Younger players at the youth levels may play up a year but no player will be allowed to play down a division. A player that lives in a town not participating in the Merrimack Valley Cup may participate in the MVC if that player played for a the MVC town youth hockey association during the past season despite living in another town.
To be eligible for the MVC at the High School level players must play for that town’s high school team or, if they play Prep School or Junior, must reside in that town. Men's participants must live in the town they play for or had played high school or town hockey for that town.
The selection of teams for the Merrimack Valley Cup is solely at the discretion of the coach and town Director. Breakaway Ice Center and the Merrimack Valley Cup play no role in who is selected to play on the teams or the selection procedure.
Salem and Haverhill youth hockey are two associations that provide hockey programs for surrounding town's players. These Greater teams will follow the eligibility guidelines set fourth in the following paragraph.
Greater Haverhill players must live in Haverhill, Atkinson, Hamstead, Plaistow, West Newbury or Merrimac. Greater Salem players must live in Salem, Atkinson, Hamstead, Derry, Londonderry, Windham or Pelham. Hamstead and Atkinson players can play on either team but if both teams would like that player to participate on their team then the player must play for the town where he currently plays. If he is not currently playing for either, then it is where he started playing hockey first.
If a coach suspects another team is using an ineligible player he should report it immediately to the MVC tournament director. If the director determines that the player is ineligible, any game that the ineligible player participated in will count as a loss. The team that did not use the ineligible player will have the choice to keep the actual game score or accept a 3-0 forfeit win.
The fee to play in the MVC is a team fee. The coach will determine the cost per player based on the number of participants. The coach’s roster and tournament fee is due one month before the tournament begins. Players will receive a registration form from the team’s coach. This form needs to be submitted for each player and if under 18 years of age signed by a parent or guardian.
