BCHL/Alberta Playoff Format

Photo Credit BCHL

Currently the PJHL are in the midst of their playoffs that features the Delta Ice Hawks taking on the Richmond Sockeyes, while the Ridge Meadows Flames are up against the Chilliwack Jets.

Delta and Richmond are in the Tom Shaw Conference while the Flames and Jets are in the Harold Britton Conference that features some exceptional fast paced hockey in Tier 2 Junior A Hockey.

With the addition of the Alberta teams a month out the hockey landscape has drastically changed over the past few months.

We are hearing but yet to be confirmed by either league or BC Hockey that the VIJHL in a recent vote was in favor of pulling out of BC Hockey which includes Hockey Canada.

This is something that we will keep on top of but given all the politics in the hockey world the ones that are getting short changed are the officials.

Simply meaning that retired NHL Linesman Brad Lazarowich who has worked 1971 regular season games, 204 playoff games as well as 3 Cup Finals is working to develop officials for the BCHL which eliminates officials from training from a pro level official.

We should also mention that Brad also worked the 2004 World Cup of Hockey as well as the 2014 Heritage Classic in Vancouver at BC Place that saw Roberto Luongo moved the following day by the Canucks.

True the PJHL, KIJHL, VIJHL and other levels of hockey are missing out (as we are hearing) that there are no training videos sent out to the officials after games such as the BCHL.

Given the world of politics, rumor has it that soccer officials in Windsor Quebec are wearing Body Cameras which was covered by CBC on January 8th which shows the state of Amateur Sport in Canada.

We have to ask “Will this eventually filter over to other sports and in particular minor hockey” with one parent mentioning that it “won’t be allowed” but how could you stop an official from wearing one?

We recently received the following from the BCHL media relations and wanted to share.

Enjoy the read!!

With the Rogers BCHL Playoffs a month away and the recent addition of the Alberta Division midseason, the BC Hockey League (BCHL) has announced the playoff format for the Alberta teams, plus a refresher on the existing format for the B.C. teams.

All five teams in Alberta will make the postseason, with the fourth and fifth seeds facing off in a best-of-five wildcard series to determine who will join the top three teams in the semifinal. 

Once their postseason reaches the semifinal, the remainder of the playoffs will be best-of-seven.

In addition, the year-end standings will be determined by winning percentage and the teams previous records from before their merge into the BCHL will count towards their standings.

Alberta Division Playoff Dates

Wildcard series: April 10 to 16 (4 vs. 5 seed)
Semifinal: April 19 to May 1
Finals: May 10 to 25

On the B.C. side of things, the format will remain the same as in previous years. The top eight teams from each conference advance to play best-of-seven series until a champion is crowned.

One difference this year is that all eight Interior Teams will make the playoffs since there are eight teams in that conference this season. 

On the Coastal side, the number-nine seed will miss the postseason. There is no crossover where a team can make the playoffs in the opposite conference.

B.C. Playoff Dates

Round 1: April 5 to 16
Round 2: April 19 to 30
Round 3: May 3 to 14
Fred Page Cup Finals: May 17 to 28

Once both sides have determined a winner, the two champions will take part in a B.C. vs. Alberta series to close out the season. 

Further details about that series will be announced in the coming weeks.

Regardless of what team or league you support, enjoy some exciting hockey in your area.