Weekend Preview: NAHL announces 2018 Robertson Cup Playoff format, teams
April 6, 2018
The North American Hockey League (NAHL) has announced the format for the 2018 Robertson Cup Playoffs and Championship, which includes the Final Four to be played at Fogerty Ice Arena in Blaine, Minnesota, from May 11-14, 2018. The Robertson Cup is awarded to the national playoff champion of the NAHL.
Division Semifinals (Best of 5)
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 12, 2018 and must conclude no later than Monday, April 23, 2018. The Club seeded higher in each division semifinal series has the right to host up to three games in Round 1, and the Club seeded lower in each division semifinal series must be able to host at least two games.
*NOTE: A complete Division Semi-Finals schedule will be released on Monday, April 9th following the conclusion of the regular season.
Central Division Semi-Finals (best of 5)
#1 Aberdeen Wings vs. #4 Minot Minotauros
Game 1: Friday, April 13 @ Aberdeen, 7:15pm
Game 2: Saturday, April 14 @ Aberdeen, 7:15pm
Game 3: Friday, April 20 @ Minot, 7:35pm
Game 4: Saturday, April 21 @ Minot, 7:35pm*
Game 5: Monday, April 23 @ Aberdeen, 7:15pm*
#2 or #3 Austin Bruins vs. #2 or #3 Minnesota Wilderness
East Division Semi-Finals (best of 5)
#1 Philadelphia Rebels vs. #4 Northeast Generals or #4 New Jersey Titans
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights can be #2 or #3 seed
New Jersey Titans can be #2, #3, or #4 seed
Northeast Generals can be #3 or #4 seed
Midwest Division Semi-Finals (best of 5)
#1 Fairbanks Ice Dogs vs. #4 Minnesota Magicians
Game 1: Friday, April 13 @ Fairbanks, 7:30pm
Game 2: Saturday, April 14 @ Fairbanks, 7:30pm
Game 3: If Fairbanks is up 2-0, Saturday, April 20 @ Minnesota, 7:00pm
Game 3: If series is tied 1-1 or Minnesota is up 2-0, Sunday, April 15 @ Fairbanks, 5:00pm
Game 4: April 20 or 21 @ Minnesota, 7:00pm*
Game 5: April 21 or 22 @ Minnesota, 7:00pm*
#2 Janesville Jets vs. #3 Springfield Jr. Blues
Game 1: Friday, April 13 @ Janesville, 7:00pm
Game 2: Saturday, April 14 @ Janesville, 7:00pm
Game 3: Friday, April 20 @ Springfield, 7:05pm
Game 4: Saturday, April 21 @ Springfield, 6:05pm*
Game 5: Monday, April 23 @ Janesville, 6:00pm*
South Division Semi-Finals (best of 5)
#1 Shreveport Mudbugs vs. #4 Corpus Christi IceRays
Game 1: Friday, April 13 @ Shreveport, 7:11pm
Game 2: Saturday, April 14 @ Shreveport, 7:11pm
Game 3: Thursday, April 19 @ Corpus Christi, 7:05pm
Game 4: Friday, April 20 @ Corpus Christi, 6:30pm*
Game 5: Sunday, April 22 @ Shreveport, 7:11pm*
#2 Lone Star Brahmas vs. #3 Odessa Jackalopes
Game 1: Friday, April 13 @ Lone Star, 7:30pm
Game 2: Saturday, April 14 @ Lone Star, 7:30pm
Game 3: Friday, April 20 @ Odessa, 7:11pm
Game 4: Saturday, April 21 @ Odessa, 7:11pm*
Game 5: Monday, April 23 @ Lone Star, 7:00pm*
*if necessary
Division Finals (Best of 5)
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 26, 2018 and conclude no later than Sunday May 6, 2018. Clubs shall cooperate to schedule division final series competition. The higher seeded Club will have the right to host up to three games. The lower seeded Club must be able to host a minimum of two games.
NAHL Robertson Cup Championship
The four divisional playoff champions will advance to the Robertson Cup Championship, which will be held at the Fogerty Arena in Blaine, Minnesota. Clubs will be seeded 1-4 based upon their finish in the NAHL regular-season standings. If necessary, the tie-breaking policy adopted in the NAHL Rules and Regulations will be applied to determine the final seeding. 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 on to a one-game playoff to determine the Robertson Cup Champion. The event will begin on Friday, May 11th and conclude on Monday, May 14th.
Playoff Overtime Procedure: During the all Robertson Cup playoff games, if the score is tied after three periods of play the following overtime procedure 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 five 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.