2025 Playoffs Rules

PLAYOFF FORMAT

Playoffs are a double knockout bracket. Teams must lose two games to be eliminated from their divisional bracket.  

ELIGIBILITY -Players Only

*ALL PLAYERS WILL BE EXPECTED TO SHOW 

• For a Player to be eligible for playoff competition, he/she must meet or exceed a minimum of 12 regular season games played for that team. 
• The only exception to this rule is Player injury. If a Player misses several regular season games due to a injury, a doctor’s certificate will be required that specifically indicates the date the injury was reported. The doctor’s certificate must be submitted to the league manager before the player plays in the playoffs.
  • The League Manager may make exceptions due to extenuating circumstances.  
  • The Exemption List will be posted online for full transparency.
    
    
• Any Team found guilty of using an ineligible Player during the playoffs will be assessed a default loss for that game.

OVERTIME RULES

In the result of a tie game, an overtime period will take place to determine a winner. The OT period is played sudden-death style, so the first team to score wins.

• The format for overtime will be a 3 on 3, sudden victory, five (5) minute stop time period.
• Any unexpired time penalties WILL be carried over into the overtime period. The penalized team must play 4 on 3 (or 5 on 3) until the penalty expires. At the next stoppage of play, the game resumes at 3 on 3.
• Player changes are permitted during play stoppages and permitted during play.

Penalty Format for Overtime

• Any players ejected from the game will not be permitted to return for any overtime period or shootout under any circumstances.
• Penalties during overtime will result in a 4 on 3 powerplay or a 5 on 3 powerplay. 
  • In overtime, the team on the power play gains an additional skater for a 4 on 3 advantage for the duration of the penalty. If the team on the penalty kill commits another penalty, the team on the power play enjoys a 5 on 3 advantage. Once the penalty expires, the offending player can return to the ice, and each team will play at even strength (4 on 4 or 5 on 5) until the next whistle, when they'll return to three-on-three.

Shootout Format and Rules

• Undecided games will continue with a shootout to determine a winner.
  
  • Players with an unexpired time penalty are not permitted to shoot in the shootout.
• Each team will select 3 shooters to take turns attempting to score.
• The home (higher seeded) team decides if they want to shoot first or second
• If there’s no winner after all 6 shots have been taken (3 from each side), sudden-death will determine the winner after an equal number of shots
• No player can take more than 1 shot until all eligible players have had a turn.
• The team with more successful shots after 3 rounds (or additional sudden-death rounds if necessary) is declared the winner.

Goalie Restrictions: Goalies are not allowed to throw their stick or any other equipment at the shooter in an attempt to make a save. Doing so will result in an automatic goal being awarded to the opposing team.

Playoff - Penalty Accumulation

1. Players who receive 20+ penalty minutes will receive a 1 game suspension. Suspensions will carry on into the next season if there are no more playoff games in the current season.
2. Players who receive 30+ penalty minutes will receive a 3 game suspension. Suspensions will carry on into the next season if there are no more playoff games in the current season.