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. There are, however, some teams that are finding their limits on where they can finish, on both the high end and low end of the standings.
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
NCDC
If the Rockets Hockey Club defeats the WBS Knights in regulation, WBS can finish no higher than fourth in the South Division. The Knights continue to chase the Rockets and Connecticut Jr. Rangers, with Utica one point behind WBS with three games in hand.
USPHL Premier Conference
Mid-Atlantic Division
Four points for the P.A.L. Jr. Islanders and a Hitmen loss in regulation to the Rockets Hockey Club would eliminate the Jersey Hitmen from playoff contention.
Florida Division
The Florida Eels would eliminate Columbia from playoff contention with an Eels win. Columbia has put together a strong first season regardless of the outcome, with 27 points in 33 games.
Midwest West Division
A Dells Ducks win over the Minnesota Squatch will eliminate the Minnesota Mullets and cement eighth place for the Ducks.
– Hudson, the Minnesota Squatch and the Minnesota Moose have already clinched first round ice.
Great Lakes Division
Columbus has solidified the third seed and Cincinnati Jr. Cyclones are the fourth. We just don’t know who they visit yet.
Southeast Division
A Charlotte win over Richmond today will clinch first place.
Elite Conference
North Division
The Northern Cyclones host the Islanders Hockey Club today in what is now a two-way race for first in New England.
The Bandits have locked up third place in the North.
The Bruins host the Pics in what is now a two-way race for fourth and final spot.
Southeast Division
On paper, four teams are fighting for first place, but anything but a win by Richmond over Charlotte today will leave the Generals in fourth, six or seven points behind Potomac with five games remaining for both.
