The top teams from the regular season will advance to the 2024-25 Winter Playoffs. The playoffs will be held April 6 through April 19.
Playoff Schedule & Standings
2024-25 Winter Playoff Schedule
2024-25 Winter Playoff Standings
Format
A:
Top four teams advance to playoffs
One pool of four teams, round robin (3 games each)
Top two pool play records advance to Tier Championship
Free post-season tournament berth to regular season and playoff champions (playoff runners-up if same team)
B1:
Top four teams advance to playoffs
One pool of four teams, round robin (3 games each)
Top two pool play records advance to Tier Championship
Free post-season tournament berth to regular season and playoff champions (playoff runners-up if same team)
B2:
Top eight teams advance to playoffs
One pool of eight teams, round robin (3 games each)
Top three pool play records advance
First place in pool standings advances to Championship; second and third place play semi-final game to advance to Championship
Free post-season tournament berth to regular season and playoff champions (playoff runners-up if same team)
B3:
Top ten teams advance to playoffs
One pool of ten teams, round robin (3 games each)
Top four pool play records advance to semi-finals
Semi-final winners advance to Championship
Free post-season tournament berth awarded to each team in the Tier Championship
C1:
Top ten teams advance to playoffs
One pool of ten teams, round robin (3 games each)
Top four pool play records advance to semi-finals
Semi-final winners advance to Championship
Free post-season tournament berth awarded to each team in the Tier Championship
C2:
Top ten teams advance to playoffs
One pool of ten teams, round robin (3 games each)
Top four pool play records advance to semi-finals
Semi-final winners advance to Championship
Free post-season tournament berth awarded to each team in the Tier Championship
C3:
Top ten teams advance to playoffs
One pool of ten teams, round robin (3 games each)
Top four pool play records advance to semi-finals
Semi-final winners advance to Championship
Free post-season tournament berth awarded to each team in the Tier Championship
D1:
Top eight teams advance to playoffs
One pool of eight teams, round robin (3 games each)
Top three pool play records advance
First place in pool standings advances to Championship; second and third place play semi-final game to advance to Championship
Free post-season tournament berth to regular season and playoff champions (playoff runners-up if same team)
D2:
Top four teams advance to playoffs
One pool of four teams, round robin (3 games each)
Top two pool play records advance to Tier Championship
Free post-season tournament berth to regular season and playoff champions (playoff runners-up if same team)
Regular Season Tiebreaker
The following criteria will be used to determine seeding for the playoffs.
1) Total points in the regular season
2) Number of wins in the regular season
3) Head-to-Head record between teams in the regular season (Applicable only if equal amount of games have been played between tied teams.)
4) Fewest total penalty minutes in the regular season
5) Fewest goals allowed in the regular season
6) Most goals scored in the regular season
7) Coin toss
(Note: If three teams are tied, once a team is determined as the higher seed, the tie breaker reverts to step 1 of the criteria between two remaining teams if necessary.)
Playoff Rules/Tiebreakers
- There will be no overtime in round-robin pool play. Pool play games will end in ties and will count in the standings.
- In Semi-Final and Championship games, if at the end of the three periods the score is tied the teams shall play one overtime period of five minutes, running time. If at the end of the overtime period the score is still tied a shootout will take place. Shootout rules are as follows:
- Following a scoreless five-minute overtime, three players from each team participate in the order the Captain selects. The Home team will elect whether to shoot first or second.
- Each team takes three shots in alternating fashion. The team with the most goals after those six (or less) shots is the winner.
- If the score remains tied, the shootout will proceed to a "sudden death" format. No skater may partipate more than once until all other skaters have participated.
Tiebreakers for pool standings:
1) Most points in pool play
2) Wins
3) Head-to-head record between teams in pool play (Applicable only if equal amount of games have been played
between tied teams.)
4) Goal differential for all pool play games (6 goals per game max.)
5) Fewest goals allowed in all pool play games
6) Fewest minor penalties in all pool play games
7) Fewest total penalty minutes in all pool play games
8) First goal scored in pool play games
9) Coin toss
(Note: If three teams are tied, once a team is determined as the higher seed, the tie breaker reverts to step 1 of the criteria between two remaining teams if necessary.)
For complete rules, refer to the AHA Rules Addendum
Qualifications
• Players must play a minimum of five regular season with the team to be eligible for playoff games.
• Captains must notify AHA in advance if a sub goalie will be used. Sub goalies may not participate with more than one team in a tier in the playoffs unless previously authorized by AHA.
• Uniform compliance, as described in the AHA Rules Addendum, will be strictly enforced during the playoffs.
Post-Season Tournament Berth
At the conclusion of the Winter Playoffs, two teams from each tier (A-D2) receive a post-season tournament berth.• Teams can select a tournament of their choice; AHA will pay for the tournament.
• Tournament must be identified within six months of the conclusion of the Winter League Playoffs.
• Tournament berth may be used in AHA Hockey Tournament Series.