We’ll be posting regular updates on what games each game day will have playoff clinching implications in the NCDC, USPHL Premier and USPHL Elite.
A few notes before today’s update:
No teams in the NCDC have clinched a playoff berth as of yet. But we’ll show NCDC games where a team can improve its standings position (in points) as they come up and obviously mention clinching scenarios as they approach.
Premier teams that have clinched playoff berths include:
- New York Aviators
- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights
- Rockets Hockey Club
- Connecticut Jr. Rangers
- Utica Jr. Comets
- Hudson Havoc
- Minnesota Squatch
- Minnesota Moose
- Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings
- Isanti Outlaws
- Steele County Blades
- Minnesota Blue Ox
- Northern Cyclones
- Islanders Hockey Club
- Boston Junior Bruins
- Bridgewater Bandits
- Boston Advantage
- Twin City Thunder
- Springfield Pics
- Vernal Oilers
- Seattle Totems
- Rock Springs Prospectors
- Fresno Monsters
- San Diego Sabers
- Ontario Jr. Reign
- Las Vegas Thunderbirds
- Florida Eels (clinched division championship)
- ALL teams in the Mountain Division, Great Lakes Division & Midwest East Division.
Elite teams that have clinched playoff berths include:
- Florida Eels
- Tampa Bay Juniors
- Atlanta MadHatters
- Palm Beach Typhoon
- Northern Cyclones
- Islanders Hockey Club
- Bridgewater Bandits
- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights (clinched division title)
- Carolina Jr. Hurricanes
- Charlotte Rush
- Potomac Patriots
- Richmond Generals
Feb. 3, 2023 Update
Click conference names for playoff formats.
The playoff qualification situation is so tight in the NCDC that no teams will clinch or be mathematically eliminated before the All-Star Game (Feb. 21).
Northern Cyclones vs. Utica Jr. Comets – The Cyclones can leapfrog the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs – who are idle today – into first place in the North Division. The Jr. Comets can at least temporarily leapfrog the WBS Knights, playing at 3 p.m., into sixth place in the South Division with a win.
Mercer Chiefs vs. Jersey Hitmen – The Chiefs can tie the P.A.L. Jr. Islanders and pull to within five points of the Hitmen with a regulation win. On the other side, the Hitmen could pull seven points ahead of their closest competition in their quest for a fifth straight Founders Cup (regular season championship).
– A Hitmen win and a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton loss today would slightly alter eventual clinching scenarios in the South Division – the Hitmen could finish no lower than sixth, and the Knights could finish no higher than second if that scenario is met.
South Shore Kings vs. Boston Junior Bruins – With a win, the Kings could move up into third place in the North Division. The Junior Bruins could move to within one point of the Kings with a regulation win.
Rockets Hockey Club vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights – Neither team can improve their standings position with a regulation win.
– An Ogden Mustangs win tonight will ensure home ice for them and a first round bye. All the first round Mountain Division slots are still up for grabs.
– If the Dells Ducks win over the Minnesota Squatch, they will inch closer to the eighth and final Midwest West playoff berth.
– In the Mid-Atlantic, five teams have clinched and five are seeking the last three berths.
The Palm Beach Typhoon clinched the final available playoff berth in the Florida Division, which eliminates the Florida Jr. Blades and Columbia Infantry from contention. Also in that division, the Florida Eels can finish no lower than fourth, and the Atlanta MadHatters can finish no higher than second.
