2017 Robertson Cup Playoffs just three weeks away

March 24, 2017

The 2017 North American Hockey League (NAHL) Robertson Cup Playoffs begin in three weeks and the final push for the playoffs is on as teams have just a handful of regular season games remaining in the 2016-17 regular season.

 

Back in January, the NAHL announced that the 2017 Robertson Cup National Championship will be played at the Essentia Health Duluth Heritage Center in Duluth, Minnesota, from May 11-14, 2017.

 

With the playoffs on the horizon, here are a couple of important reminders on how teams qualify for the playoffs, along with the format.

 

At the conclusion of the NAHL regular season, Clubs that have an equal amount of points shall have their final position in the NAHL standings determined by applying the following tie breaking procedures until the tie is broken:

 

 

Clubs are seeded within their own division based upon their finish in the NAHL regular-season standings. The Club seeded first in each division will compete in a best- of-five series with the fourth seeded Club in the same division. The Club seeded second in each division will compete in a best-of-five-series against the Club seeded third in the same division. Round 1 of the playoffs may begin no earlier than Thursday, April 13, 2017 and must conclude no later than Monday, April 24, 2017. Clubs shall cooperate to schedule division semifinal series competition with the highest seed club hosting up to three games. The first Club to win three games in a divisional semifinal series will be declared the winner of the series and advance to the next round of playoff competition. The first Club to lose three games in a divisional semifinal series shall be eliminated from further playoff competition.

 

The two Clubs in each division that won a division semifinal series shall compete in a best-of-five series against each other. The division finals may begin no earlier than Thursday, April 27, 2017 and conclude no later than Sunday, May 7, 2017. The higher seeded Club will have the right to host up to three games. The first Club to win three games in a division final series will be declared the winner of the series and advance to the Robertson Cup Finals. The first Club to lose three games in a division final series will be eliminated from further playoff competition.

 

The four NAHL divisional playoff champions will advance to the Robertson Cup Championship. Once the four NAHL Divisional Playoff Champions are determined, clubs will be seeded 1-4 based upon their finish in the NAHL regular-season standings. The game schedule will be as follows: The #1 Seed will face the #4 seed in a best of three series. The #2 seed will face the #3 seed in a best of three series. The two series winners will advance onto a one-game championship to determine the Robertson Cup National Champion.

 

Thursday, May 11: 1 vs. 4 and 2 vs. 3

Friday, May 12: 1 vs. 4 and 2 vs. 3

Saturday, May 13: 1 vs. 4 (if necessary) and 2 vs. 3 (if necessary)

Sunday, May 14: National Championship Game

 

During the Robertson Cup playoffs, if the score is tied after three periods of play the following shall take place: Teams shall return to their dressing room and the ice shall be resurfaced. A fifteen-minute intermission shall take place. A twenty-minute, sudden death, overtime period shall be played with 5 skaters a side. The game shall terminate upon a goal being scored and the Club scoring declared the winner. If no goal is scored, the same procedure as above shall be repeated until a winner has been determined.