The top teams from the regular season will advance to the 2020-21 Winter Playoffs. The tournament will be held Saturday, March 20 through Sunday, March 28.
Playoff Schedule
2020-21 Winter Playoff Schedule
Format
A and B1:
Top four teams advance to playoffs
Single-elimination bracket
B2:
Top four teams from each division advance to playoffs
Single-elimination bracket
East division will receive the odd # seeds (1, 3, 5, 7) based on order of standings; West division will receive even # seeds
B3 and C1:
Top three teams from each division advance to playoffs
Single-elimination bracket, 8 vs 9 seed first round
Division winners will receive top 3 seeds, based on regular season record and tie-breakers
Seeds 4 through 9 will be based on regular season record and tie-breakers if necessary
C2 and C3 and D1:
Top four teams from each division advance to playoffs
Single-elimination bracket
East division will receive the odd # seeds (1, 3, 5, 7) based on order of standings; West division will receive even # seeds
D2:
Top five teams advance to playoffs
Single-elimination bracket, 4 vs 5 seed first round
Regular Season Tiebreaker
The following criteria will be used to determine seeding for the playoffs.
1) Total points in the regular season
2) Number of wins in the regular season
3) Head-to-Head record between teams in the regular season (Applicable only if equal amount of games have been played between tied teams.)
4) Fewest total penalty minutes in the regular season
5) Fewest goals allowed in the regular season
6) Most goals scored in the regular season
7) Coin toss
(Note: If three teams are tied, once a team is determined as the higher seed, the tie breaker reverts to step 1 of the criteria between two remaining teams if necessary.)
NOTE: A few teams will have played one extra game compared to other teams in the same division. For these teams, we will use the above tiebreakers based on a per game basis. (i.e. 14 points in 11 games played > 14 points in 12 games played.)
Playoff Rules/Tiebreakers
- If a game is tied after three periods, there will be a 5-minute, sudden death, running-time overtime, if time allows in the ice slot. If the game is still tied after overtime the Home team will be declared the winner and advance to the next game. (Excluding Championship games.)
- If at any time the score differential is 6 or greater in the 3rd period, the clock will convert to running time. If at any time the score goes below 6 goals, the clock will revert back to stop time.
- In Championship games, if at the end of the three periods the score is tied the teams shall play one overtime period of five minutes, running time. If at the end of the overtime period the score is still tied a shootout will take place. Shootout rules are as follows:
- Following a scoreless five-minute overtime, three players from each team participate in the order the Captain selects. The Home team will elect whether to shoot first or second.
- Each team takes three shots in alternating fashion. The team with the most goals after those six (or less) shots is the winner.
- If the score remains tied, the shootout will proceed to a "sudden death" format. No skater may partipate more than once until all other skaters have participated.
For complete rules, refer to the AHA Rules Addendum
Qualifications
• Players must play a minimum of two regular season with the team to be eligible for playoff games.
• Players may only play on one team per tier. If a player is rostered on multiple teams in a tier, the Captain must declare, by notifying the Tier Administrator prior to the playoffs, which team the player will participate with in the playoffs. Players are not eligible to participate with the other team, even if his/her declared team is eliminated from contention.
• Captains must notify the Tier Administrator in advance if a sub goalie will be used. Sub goalies may not participate with more than one team in a tier in the playoffs unless previously authorized by AHA.
Post-Season Tournament Berth
At the conclusion of the Winter Playoffs, the playoff champion from each tier (A-D2) will receive a post-season tournament berth.• Teams can select a tournament of their choice; AHA will pay for the tournament.
• Tournament must be identified within six months of the conclusion of the Winter League Playoffs.
• Tournament berth may be used in AHA Hockey Tournament Series.