Piha playoffs

[thepredictor]

So guys lets hear the thoughts.

We already know so you can leave out the thought that only one team in each division misses the playoffs. We know its a pointless regular season.

So who do you think is going to win.

[PIHAGOALIE]

I believe that the Sting will end up facing the Lunatics and the Thunder will face the Tornados. Then I believe it will be the Thunder and Lunatics in Saint Louis with the Thunder coming out on top. I do wish that the winner of the Piha finals would face the winner of the AIHL finals. But that will not happen. WE are having a great season anyway, 33-1!! GO THUNDER!!!!

Risenhoover #49
Colorado Springs Thunder

[Alex Kozik]

Does any one know what is the playoff format, as far as how many games in each series? I looked thought PIHA website, but couldn't find anything.

[Rzorbck]

For the pros the format is:

Division Series - best of 3
Conference Series - best of 5
PIHA Finals - best of 7


For the minors the format is:

Division Series - best of 3
PIHA Finals - top team from each of the four divisions goes to the finals.
Semi-finals are best of 3 and finals are best of 5.

[Patn Lawton]

For the pros the format is:

Division Series - best of 3
Conference Series - best of 5
PIHA Finals - best of 7


For the minors the format is:

Division Series - best of 3
PIHA Finals - top team from each of the four divisions goes to the finals.
Semi-finals are best of 3 and finals are best of 5.

So a minor team could travel all the way to Missouri and go home after two of these mini-games?

[Rzorbck]

That's the way I read it based on what was emailed to each organization. The email I'm looking at is about a month old so I guess they could have changed the format by now. I'm guessing this was in part due to lack of floor time but I really don't know. I understand your concern though.

If you were to suggest changing it, what would you suggest? Should they make the semi-finals a five game series or should they allow the third and fourth place teams to play a three games series?

David

[CoachClipboard]

Since 4 teams are making such a long trip, each representing a separate division, why not let them each play one another? How cool would it be to go out to St Louis and be able to play each divisional winner in minors? Getting to play three opponents you have never seen before might make the trip a bit sweeter, considering its on each minor teams own dime.

Scenario:
DAY 1:
Northeast vs Midwest (normal two game piha format)
RMD vs Mason Dixon (normal two game piha format)

DAY 1 (pt 2, perhaps later that evening):
RMD vs Midwest (normal two game piha format)
Northeast vs Mason Dixon (normal two game piha format)

DAY 2:
Midwest vs Mason Dixon (normal two game piha format)
Northeast vs RMD (normal two game piha format)

DAY 2 (part 2, later on that day or night)
Two best overall records after Day 1 and 2 play for a best of 3 championship. two remaining teams stay to watch and receive their divisional championship hardware during the intermission of game 1 and 2.

Teams all go back to hotel and have a PIHA party with some inexpensive food, wings, and beverages of choice so they can all hang out together meet new PIHA brothers, talk puck, celebrate a great season for all.
Or just have all teams meet at some local eatery.

DAY 3: Go home with great experience.

In my opinion, that is how you make a good first time experience in PIHA.
Playing each opponent and then a final. Not too many games, but enough to make it worth the trip. And then a fun after event.

This would only use about 4 hours on Day 1 and 5 or 6 hours on Day 2. Not a whole lot of floor time to pay for in retrospect of the fact that the minors are the backbone of the league who in most cases financially support each pro team and the league.

[Rzorbck]

Todd - great suggestion! Can you call those guys up the road and make it happen?

[CoachClipboard]

Ill cut and paste it to an email and send it to Charley and Co.

Not sure it will fly, as I dont know what kind of time they have available. but Ill at least offer it as a suggestion. Might not be anywhere close to what they have planned. And I respect that. It is a bit late in the season to be making suggestions to change formats of what may already be in process. But things in this hockey world dont happen, wont grow, if we dont communicate constructively and maturely.

Thats been proven.

[bigjnstl]

Todd, Great idea. It seems like that would be a great thing since PIHA teams out west don't get the chance to travel and play outside of thier own division, that at least in that format you mentioned they would get to play a team from every division. Also, it would only be 4 extra games. I know that there is nothing else going on at the rink that weekend, besides the best of 7 pro finals, might as well use the floor time and make it worth it for the teams that have to travel. Just my 2 cents, but it may go a long way with teams staying in PIHA if ideas that teams involved in the league were considered. Jeremy McCoy General Manager Southside Snipers

[Patn Lawton]

Todd pretty much nailed it. If we are having teams from different parts of the US travel to play one another, it'd be great to have a round robin. If its a three day event...

Friday night:
1 v 2 (two mini games)
3 v 4 (two mini games)

Saturday around noon:
1 v 3 (two mini games)
2 v 4 (two mini games)

Saturday night
1 v 4 (two mini games)
2 v 3 (two mini games)

Every team played 6 games, take the top two teams and have them play a best of 3 (or 5) on Sunday.


I realize if you did this with both pro and minor, that would take up the rink for the whole weekend similar to college roller hockey nationals. Hopefully fans would come out and watch the action.

I love the sport, but if my team advances I don't think I will make it out there just because that is a lot of travel time, time off from work, and money to potentially play two of these mini games.

[growl89]

Todd pretty much nailed it. If we are having teams from different parts of the US travel to play one another, it'd be great to have a round robin. If its a three day event...

Friday night:
1 v 2 (two mini games)
3 v 4 (two mini games)

Saturday around noon:
1 v 3 (two mini games)
2 v 4 (two mini games)

Saturday night
1 v 4 (two mini games)
2 v 3 (two mini games)

Every team played 6 games, take the top two teams and have them play a best of 3 (or 5) on Sunday.


I realize if you did this with both pro and minor, that would take up the rink for the whole weekend similar to college roller hockey nationals. Hopefully fans would come out and watch the action.

I love the sport, but if my team advances I don't think I will make it out there just because that is a lot of travel time, time off from work, and money to potentially play two of these mini games.

Why mini games? And not just regular games? Did I miss something?

[Patn Lawton]

A PIHA game is a mini game...sorry for the confusion.

[CoachClipboard]

Definitely these would need to be regulation minor league PIHA games.