News

Date: Jan 22, 2010

Playoff Format for 09-10

Preamble: In spite of finishing the 09-10 regular season 3 weeks earlier than last season, there will only be 25 days (with 3 weekends) available to complete the first 2 rounds of the 09-10 playoffs. Last season there were 35 days (with 5 weekends) to schedule these games. This reduction of time is a result of 2 factors:

1) The league blackout for the U18 World Championships will be from Friday, March 19 to Sunday, April 4.

Last season there was no such league blackout as the U18 Worlds were played in January.

2) The league championship weekend is a scheduled event within the OWHA Provincials in April.

This event is scheduled one week earlier than last season.

As a result of the limited time, the playoff committee recommends that that the preliminary round of the 09-10 playoffs be reduced to a best-of-three series as outlined below. The committee anticipates the league will return to a best-of-five preliminary playoff round if there is sufficient scheduling time in future seasons.

Recommendation:

The 16 teams with the best regular-season records make the playoffs.

Preliminary Round  (*best-of-three series* - see NOTE below)

Series A - 1^st vs. 16^th                                       Series E - 5^th vs. 12^th

Series B - 2^nd vs. 15^th                             Series F - 6^th vs. 11^th

Series C - 3^rd vs. 14^th                             Series G - 7^th vs. 10^th

Series D - 4^th vs. 13^th                             Series H - 8^th vs. 9^th

All preliminary series can begin anytime after the completion of the Intermediate AA Provincial Championships (scheduled for Friday, February 19 to Sunday, February 21) and must be finished by Tuesday, March 2.

*NOTE (best-of-three-series)*: The teams may schedule the three games in a series in a way that is agreeable to both teams. The home team must have 2.5 hours of ice available for each game. If the teams are unable to agree on scheduling a playoff series then the following format will be the default. This format is necessary as only one weekend will be available within the scheduling dates to complete this series.

•(a)    If the home arenas of the teams are less than 150 km (car travelling distance) apart a 1-1-1 format will be scheduled where the higher-ranked team will host the 1^st and 3^rd game.

•(b)   If the home arenas of the teams are between 151 and 250 km (car travelling distance) apart a 2-1 format will be scheduled. The higher-ranked team will have the choice of hosting either the 1^st and 2^nd or the 2^nd and 3^rd games.

•(c)    If the home arenas of the teams are more than 250 km (car travelling distance) apart he higher-ranked team will host all games (3 if necessary) on the weekend.

Quarter-Final Round (*best-of-five series * - see NOTE below)

The eight advancing teams will be ranked 1^st through 8^th based on regular-season record .

Series I - 1^st vs. 8^th                                            Series K - 3^rd vs. 6^th

Series J - 2^nd vs. 7^th                                Series L - 4^th vs. 5^th         

All quarter-final series must be completed by Wednesday, March 17.

*NOTE (best-of-five-series)*: The teams may schedule the five games in a series in a way that is agreeable to both teams. The home team must have 2.5 hours of ice available for each game. The higher-ranked team has the option of having the extra home game in any preliminary or quarter-final series which requires five games. If the teams are unable to agree on scheduling a playoff series then the following format will be the default. This format is necessary as only two weekends will be available within the scheduling dates to complete this series.

(a) If the home arenas of the teams are less than 250 km (car travelling distance) apart a 2-2-1 format will be scheduled. The higher-ranked team will host the 1^st, 2^nd and 5^th games.

(b)  If the home arenas of the teams are more than 250 km apart (car travelling distance) a 2-3 format will be scheduled. The first 2 games will be scheduled on the first weekend with the remaining games scheduled on the following weekend. The higher-ranked team will have the option of hosting either the 1^st and 2^nd games or the 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th games.

Final Four Championship Weekend

Semi-Final Games (single games)

The four advancing teams will be ranked 1^st through 4^th based on regular-season record.  The team with the best regular-season record will be designated as the home team for each game.

Game 1 - 1^st vs. 4^th                              Game 2 - 2^nd vs. 3^rd

Both Games 1 and 2 will be played on Saturday, April 10 at the OWHA Provincial Championships.          

Third Place (Bronze Medal) Game (single game)

Game 3 - Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2

Championship Game (single game)

Game 4 - Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2

Both Games 3 and 4 will be played on Sunday, April 11 at the OWHA Provincial Championships.

For All Playoff Games

Teams are limited to scheduling one game per calendar day.

The home team will wear white jerseys. Each team is allowed one timeout per game.

There will be a 5-minute warm-up. Periods will be 15-15-20 with a flood after period 2.

If any game is tied following regulation time, a 10-minute overtime (sudden victory) period will be played.

The overtime period will be played 6 on 6 (including goaltenders) unless penalties are called.

If any game is still tied following the 10 minute overtime period, a shootout will be used to determine a winner. The home team will decide which team shoots first.

Each team will designate 3 players who will each take one shot. The team scoring the most goals wins.

If the game is still tied following the 3 players-per-team shootout, each team will designate one player at a time to participate in the shootout until a winner is determined. All skaters must participate in the shootout before the players who have already participated return to shoot in the same order again.  

Any player in the penalty box at the end of the overtime period cannot participate in the shootout.

Addendum: The Playoff Committee recommends that the members of the 4^th place playoff team (the losing team in the bronze medal game) should also be awarded medals in recognition of their success in reaching the Final Four Championship Weekend. 

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