Structure
- All teams above .500 in Tier 1 are placed into Group A
- All teams at or below .500 in Tier 1 are placed into Group B
- All teams above .500 in Tier 2 are placed into Group C
- All teams at or below .500 in Tier 2 are placed into Group D
- Note: Teams may opt-up to a higher group
Format
- Brackets are created for each pool based on number of participating teams
- Possibility of byes and play-ins
- Early-round match-ups attempt to create “new” opponents than divisional teams
- Seeding is roughly done by record, reorganized to create unique match-ups
- Neutral site at a location reasonable for both teams, where possible
- Semifinals and championships all at centralized locations
- Four championship games for Middle School (A, B, C, D)
Timeline
- Commitment deadline: March 4
- Brackets & schedule: Second week of March
- Early rounds: Week of March 14 – Neutral site locations
- Semifinals: March 21, 22, & 23 – Ice Castle
- Middle School Finals: March 30 & 31 – Ice Castle
Costs
- Middle School = $385 per team, per game
- No admission fees for any game
