2027 playoff format

Teams are placed by points percentage: the top 6 play in Gold, the next 7 in Silver and the bottom 6 in Bronze.

1. Each tournament starts with two pools playing round robin.
2. Playoffs then decide the division champion and finalist.
3. A consolation round is up to the host town, depending on ice and referees.

The top 2 teams in each division get a bye to the semifinals.

1. 3rd plays 6th. The winner plays 2nd.
2. 4th plays 5th. The winner plays 1st.
3. The losers of the first round play a consolation game.
4. The semifinal winners play for the championship.
5. The semifinal losers play for 3rd place.

First place gets a bye.

1. Series 1: 2nd plays 7th.
2. Series 2: 3rd plays 6th.
3. Series 3: 4th plays 5th. The winner plays 1st.
4. The winners play off for the championship.
5. Consolation: the losers of series 1 and 3 play, and the winner plays the loser of series 2.

First place overall gets a bye.

1. Series 1: 4th plays 5th. The winner plays 1st.
2. Series 2: 3rd plays 6th, and series 3: 2nd plays 7th. The winners play off.
3. The winners of those games play for the championship.
4. Series 4: 8th plays 9th. The loser is out.
5. Consolation: the loser of series 1 plays the loser of series 2, and the loser of series 3 plays the winner of series 4. The winners play for the consolation title.

Eight teams, seeded 1 to 8.

1. 1st plays 8th, 2nd plays 7th, 3rd plays 6th and 4th plays 5th.
2. The winners of 1 v 8 and 3 v 6 play off, and the winners of 2 v 7 and 4 v 5 play off.
3. Those winners play for the championship.
4. The losers play off for the consolation title.