AFHL PLAYOFFS AND PROVINCIAL TOURNAMENT FORMATS
U15 and U18 AA
The dates for the 2020 Provincial Tournament are March 19-22 for U15 AA and March 26-29 for U18 AA.
All twelve teams in both AA divisions will make the playoffs. The first round will consist of two tournaments; one with the six northern teams and one with the six southern teams. Rankings will be determined by their standings at the conclusion of the regular season. The first round would consist of the 1st place team and 2nd placed team getting a bye round. 3rd place will play 6th and 4th will play 5th, in a best of three game series. Once a winner is determined from those rounds, the winner of the 4/5 series will play the 1st place seed. The winner of the 3/6 round will play the 2nd place seed, same format; best of three game series. The winner of the 1vs4/5 and the 2vs3/6 series will advance to the Final Provincial Weekend.
U15 AA Playoff Dates:
February 28 – March 1 – First round of playoffs (all games must be completed on this weekend)
March 6-8 – Second round of playoffs (all games must be completed on this weekend)
March 19-22 – Provincial Tournament
U18 AA Playoff Dates:
March 6-8 – First round of playoffs
March 13-15 – Second round of playoffs
March 26-29 – Provincial Tournament
Playoff series:
The Game Procedures and standards of play will remain the same for the Provincial Tournament with the following exceptions:
- Preliminary Playoff Games to qualify for Provincials will be best of three game series. All games must result in a winner; normal AFHL overtime and shootout procedures will apply.
- In instances where a playoff match up involves two Associations whose home arenas are 150 kilometers or less (by government road ways), teams will follow the following format; Game 1 – Highest Seed Hosts, Game 2 – Lowest Seed Hosts, Game 3 *if necessary* – Highest Seed Hosts.
- In instances where a playoff match up involves two Associations whose home arenas are further than 150 kilometers, the Highest Seeded Team will host ALL GAMES; they will be considered “home” for the first game and “away” for the second game (for the purpose of jerseys and last change).
The Provincial Tournament will include the top four teams from the playoffs and the host association for a Final Five Showdown. In the case of the Host Association winning their respective way into the Provincial Tournament, a wildcard will be selected from the remaining teams within that Division. If a selection needs to be made, the highest ranked team (from the regular season) that advances to the second round of playoffs will be selected. The wildcard will come from the same Conference as the host team.
The Final Five Showdown will consist of a round robin format, with each team playing four round robin games, the highest seeded team from the regular season will be considered the “Home” team during the Round Robin. Following the completion of the Round Robin, the standings from the round robin play will determine their rankings for the finals. The 5th place team in the tournament will be eliminated after the round robin with the 1st place team playing the 2nd place team in the Gold Medal Game and the 3rd place team will play the 4th place team in the Bronze Medal Game.
The AFHL Final Five will utilize the same AFHL points systems for standings and tie breakers. In the case of a tied game at the end of regulation, the following overtime procedures will be used as all games must result in a winner.
Final Five Round Robin Overtime
1) Ten-minute sudden-death overtime, 4 versus 4 players, plus goalies. If still tied:
2) 3 players versus 3 players SHOOT OUT conducted in PENALTY SHOT FORMAT. The first shooter will be determined by a coin toss called by the home team. The winner of the coin toss will select whether they shoot first or second. If still tied, the shoot out will continue until an advantage is determined. One opportunity per player, until all players have been used.
IF time does not permit a sudden death overtime period, teams may advance directly to the shoot out.
In the case of Semi-Final, Bronze, or Gold Medal games during the AFHL Final Four, the following Overtime format will be used:
1) Ice will be resurfaced prior to over time play
2) Twenty-minute sudden-death overtime, 4 versus 4 players, plus goalies. If still tied:
3) 3 players versus 3 players SHOOT OUT conducted in PENALTY SHOT FORMAT. The first shooter will be determined by a coin toss called by the home team. The winner of the coin toss will select whether they shoot first or second. If still tied, the shoot out will continue until an advantage is determined. One opportunity per player, until all players have been used.
U18 AAA
Dates for the U18 AAA Tournament will be March 20-22 to allow for a week in between the tournament and the Pacific Regional. It is important to note that any Interbranch Transfer Players are not Eligible for Provincial or National Tournament competition. The winner of the Female U18 AAA Provincial Tournament will be the Alberta representative that competes in the Pacific Regional for the opportunity to compete in the Esso Cup National Championship. If the winner is unable to attend, the second place finisher in the Provincial Tournament will take their place.
At the conclusion of the regular season, the six Member Clubs will be ranked using their standings after all 30 games have been played. All six teams will move into the playoff round as follows: 1st place team will receive a bye into the Provincial Tournament as well as the Host Team. The remaining four teams will enter the playoff round to determine the final two teams through a playoff series format. Each game must result in a winner and in the case of a tie, the following overtime format will be played:
Overtime will be played in any regular season game as required. All league games must result in a winner. The following will be the format for PLAYOFF overtime:
1) Ten-minute sudden-death overtime, 4 versus 4 players, plus goalies. If still tied:
2) 3 players versus 3 players SHOOT OUT conducted in PENALTY SHOT FORMAT. The first shooter will be determined by a coin toss called by the home team. The winner of the coin toss will select whether they shoot first or second. If still tied, the shoot out will continue until an advantage is determined. One opportunity per player, until all players have been used.
The highest remaining seed (among the four) will play the lowest remaining seed, leaving the two middle teams to play each other. These two series will be a three game series with the third game being played only if the series is tied after two games. The winners of each series will advance to the Final Four Provincial Tournament.
The Final Four Tournament will consist of a round robin format, with each team playing three round robin games. The highest seeded team from the regular season will be considered the “Home” team during the Round Robin. Following the completion of the Round Robin, the standings from the round robin play will determine their rankings for the finals. Their standings at the end of the round robin will determine their rankings for the finals. The 1st place team will play the 2nd place team in the Gold Medal Game and the 3rd place team will play the 4th place team in the Bronze Medal Game.
The AFHL Final Four will utilize the same AFHL points systems for standings and tie breakers. In the case of a tied game at the end of regulation, the following overtime procedures will be used as all games must result in a winner.
1) Ten-minute sudden-death overtime, 4 versus 4 players, plus goalies. If still tied:
2) 3 players versus 3 players SHOOT OUT conducted in PENALTY SHOT FORMAT. The first shooter will be determined by a coin toss called by the home team. The winner of the coin toss will select whether they shoot first or second. If still tied, the shoot out will continue until an advantage is determined. One opportunity per player, until all players have been used.
In the case of Semi-Final, Bronze or Gold Medal games during the AFHL Final Four, the following Overtime format will be used:
1) Ice will be resurfaced prior to over time play
2) Twenty-minute sudden-death overtime, 4 versus 4 players, plus goalies. If still tied:
3) 3 players versus 3 players SHOOT OUT conducted in PENALTY SHOT FORMAT. The first shooter will be determined by a coin toss called by the home team. The winner of the coin toss will select whether they shoot first or second. If still tied, the shoot out will continue until an advantage is determined. One opportunity per player, until all players have been used.
