NAHL announces playoff dates, format
The North American Hockey League announced today the dates and format for this year's Robertson Cup National Championship Playoffs.
The Robertson Cup Playoffs determines the champion of the NAHL (USA Hockey’s Tier II national champion).
The playoff champion of each of the league’s three divisions, along with the host team, will compete in the Robertson Cup National Championship Tournament in a three-game round robin format followed by a semifinals and a championship game.
The format of the 2008 Robertson Cup National Championship Playoffs has been outlined below:
ROUND 1 – DIVISION SEMIFINALS – BEST-OF-FIVE SERIES
Teams are seeded within their own division based upon their finish in the final 2007-08 NAHL regular-season standings. If necessary, the tie-breaking policy in the NAHL Rules & Regulations will be applied to determine teams’ order of finish. The current tie-breaking policy in the NAHL is as follows: 1) Most wins during the regular season; 2) Total goal differential during the regular season; 3) Head-to-head competition during the regular season; 4) Goal differential in head-to-head competition during the regular season; 5) Coin flip.
The team seeded first in each division will compete in a best-of-five series with the fourth seeded in the same division. Team seeded second in each division will compete in a best-of-five-series against the team seeded third in the same division. (Note: If two Alaska teams qualify for South Division playoff competition, they may compete in a series of games against each other during Round 1 regardless of seeding. If only one Alaska team qualifies for the playoffs, the first two games of the series will be played in Alaska.)
Round 1 of the playoffs may begin no earlier than Thursday, April 3, 2008 and must conclude no later than Sunday, April 13, 2008.
Teams shall cooperate to schedule division semifinal series competition. The team seeded higher in each division semifinal series has the right to host a minimum of three (3) games in Round 1, and the team seeded lower in each division semifinal series must be able to host a minimum of two (2) games.
The NAHL executive committee shall determine the schedule of Round 1 playoff competition in any series of games where there is no mutual agreement between the competing clubs.
The first team to win three (3) games in a division semifinal series will be declared the winner of the series and advance to the next round of playoff competition. The first team to lose three (3) games in a division semifinal series shall be eliminated from further playoff competition.
ROUND 2 – DIVISION FINAL SERIES – BEST-OF-FIVE SERIES
Teams that win a division semifinal series will be re-seeded within their own division based upon their finish in the final 2007-08 NAHL regular season standings. If necessary, the tie-breaking policy in the NAHL Rules & Regulations will be applied to determine teams’ order of finish. The current tie-breaking policy in the NAHL is as follows: 1) Most wins during the regular season; 2) Total goal differential during the regular season; 3) Head-to-head competition during the regular season; 4) Goal differential in head-to-head competition during the regular season’ 5) Coin flip.
The two (2) teams in each division that won a division semifinal series shall compete in a best-of-five series against each other.
Round 2 of the divisional finals may begin no earlier than Thursday, April 17, 2008 and conclude no later than Sunday, April 27, 2008.
Teams shall cooperate to schedule division final series competition. The team seeded higher in each division semifinal series will have the right to host a minimum of three (3) games in Round 2 of playoff competition. The team seeded lower in each division semifinal series must be able to host a minimum of two (2) games in Round 2 of playoff competition.
The NAHL executive committee will determine the schedule of Round 2 playoff competition in any series of games where there is no mutual agreement between the competing clubs.
The first team to win three (3) games in a division semifinal series will be declared the winner of the series and advance to the next round of playoff competition. The first team to lose three (3) games in a division semifinal series will be eliminated from further playoff competition.
ROUND 3 – ROBERTSON CUP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT
The Robertson Cup National Championship Tournament competition will begin on Wednesday, April 30, 2008 and conclude on Sunday May 4, 2008. This year's tournament, which will be hosted by the St. Louis Bandits, will be held at The Summit Center in Chesterfield, Mo.
