CHS Playoff Format
By: Russ Eddins @EddinsRuss
Between College Hockey South’s four divisions, there are four unique ways to get to the playoffs. There are similarities between how teams from each division reach the playoffs, but the differences are apparent.
Division 1 Playoffs
This year’s CHS D1 playoff will be held in Clarksville, Tennessee, at the F&M Bank Arena February 9-10, 2024.
Out of the five CHS D1 teams this season, only four will move on to the playoffs. MyHockeyRankings determines the top four teams in the division.
Going into the winter break, the University of Tampa is number four in the AAU D1 rankings. Behind Tampa is the University of South Carolina at number six, the University of Georgia at number eight, the University of Alabama at number 13 and Auburn University at number 14.
That leaves Auburn just out of the playoff picture going into the spring semester.
At playoffs, the number one seed will play the number four seed, and the number two seed will play the number three seed Friday night.
The losers of the Friday night games will play in the third place game Saturday afternoon before the Championship game.
Game times will be announced closer to the playoffs.
Division 2 Playoffs
This year’s CHS D2 playoffs will be held in Huntsville, Alabama, at the Huntsville Ice Sports Center February 16-18, 2024.
Eight of 14 D2 teams will qualify for the playoffs, and those teams qualify based on points.
Teams can only get points from divisional matchups. They cannot earn points if they play ACHA teams, teams from other leagues in the AAU or CHS teams not in their division.
Each team must play their respective divisional opponents twice during the season. If a team plays a divisional opponent more than twice, only the first home game and first away game will count.
Four teams from the North and South divisions will qualify.
If the playoffs started today, the University of Tennessee, Clemson University, the University of Alabama in Huntsville and Vanderbilt University would qualify from the North division.
For the South, Florida Atlantic University (No. 1 in AAU D2 Rankings), the University of Florida, the University of Central Florida and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University would be in the playoffs.
MyHockeyRankings determines the seeding of the eight D2 teams. That means FAU would be the first seed, and Vanderbilt would be the eighth seed.
Division 3 Playoffs
Like D2, only eight teams will qualify for the D3 playoffs. The difference is that D3 teams qualify for the playoffs based on CHS D3 win percentage, not points.
Additionally, D3 teams must play a minimum of 10 games against other CHS D3 opponents in order to be eligible for playoffs.
Currently, the following teams are qualified, or on pace to qualify, for the D3 playoffs: Kennesaw State University, the University of Miami, the University of Alabama D3, Florida Southern College, the University of Tennessee D3, Florida State University, Florida Institute of Technology and the University of South Florida D3.
Seeding would also be in that order.
The D3 playoffs will be held in Lakeland, Florida, at the Lakeland Ice Arena February 23-25, 2024.
Women's Division Playoffs
The CHS Women’s Division has six teams. All six teams will qualify for the playoffs this year. Seeding for the playoffs will be based on CHS points.
The CHS Women’s Division inaugural playoffs will be held in Clarksville, Tennessee, at the F&M Bank Arena from February 9-11, 2024.
Friday night, the number three seed will play the number six seed, and the number four seed will play the number five seed. The number one and number two seeds from the regular season standings will receive a bye to the semi-finals on Saturday.
The losers of the Friday night games will play in the 5th place game Saturday afternoon, while the lowest seed winner will play the number one seed, and the highest seed winner will play the number two seed.
Winners of the semi-final games will play in the Championship game Sunday afternoon, and the losers will play in the third place game in the morning.
Game times will be announced closer to the playoffs.
ABOUT College Hockey South: Founded in 2008, College Hockey South is a 25-school, 38 team intercollegiate hockey conference spanning seven southeastern U.S. states that competes in AAU College Hockey. College Hockey South is a 501(c)3 not for profit organization.