Tie-breaking criteria

When teams have played an unequal number of games, the team having played the fewest will be ranked higher.

In the event of teams being equal on points at the end of a season, the following criteria will decide the final league ranking;

i. Total number of points.

ii. Total number of games won in regulation time.

iii. Total number of all games won (regulation, overtime and penalties).

iv. The results of games played between the relevant teams by applying points won, games won in regulation time, all games won (regulation time/overtime/penalties), in that order of priority.

v. Fewest regulation losses.

vi. Using away games: – points won, games won in regulation time, all games won (regulation time/overtime/penalties), in that order of priority.

vii. Goals scored.

viii. Goal Difference

ix. Fewest Penalty Minutes (Fair Play)

x. In the unlikely event of teams still being equal, teams will be ranked by the drawing of lots. Any prize monies determined by the position in a league or group by this means will be shared equally by the tying teams.

xi. Where a group of two or more teams is tied, then whenever a team can be eliminated due to the above order of priority, it shall be, by applying each of the above stages in order of such priority.

The 2023/24 Challenge Cup has ten teams split into three groups. All teams play each other on a two home, two away basis except in Group A which is one home, one away:

Group A – Belfast Giants, Dundee Stars, Fife Flyers, Glasgow Clan
– Top team advances to Quarter-Finals as a seed

Group B – Cardiff Devils, Coventry Blaze, Guildford Flames
– Top team advances to Quarter-Finals as a seed

Group C – Manchester Storm, Nottingham Panthers, Sheffield Steelers
– Top team advances to Quarter-Finals as a seed

Group Stage games must produce a winner – overtime and, if necessary, shootouts will be played if the game is tied after 60 minutes.

In the event of teams being equal on points for first place in the group, or for the same position based on their points percantage, the following criteria will decide the final group ranking:

i. Total number of points.

ii. Total number of games won in regulation time.

iii. Total number of all games won (regulation, overtime and penalties).

iv. The results of games played between the relevant teams by applying points won, games won in regulation time, all games won (regulation time/overtime/penalties), in that order of priority.

v. Fewest regulation losses.

vi. Using away games: – points won, games won in regulation time, all games won

(regulation time/overtime/penalties), in that order of priority.

vii. Goals scored.

viii. Goal Difference

ix. Fewest Penalty Minutes (Fair Play)

x. In the unlikely event of teams still being equal, teams will be ranked by the drawing of lots. Any prize monies determined by the position in a league or group by this means will be shared equally by the tying teams.

xi. Where a group of two or more teams is tied, then whenever a team can be eliminated due to the above order of priority, it shall be, by applying each of the above stages in order of such priority.

Knockout Stages
The top-seeded team from groups A, B and C automatically move on to the Knockout stage seeded 1 – 3 according to their win percentages in the group stage. The remaining 5 teams are ranked 4 – 8 according to the same principle. If any teams have equal win percentages, they shall be split according to the following criteria outlined here.

All games in the Quarter- and Semi-Finals are aggregate-scoring, home and away series. Overtime will only be played if the score is tied on aggregate after 60 minutes have been played in the return leg. In both stages, the option of home-ice advantage for the return leg will be given to the higher-seeded team.

In the Semi-Finals, the highest remaining seed plays the lowest remaining seed for the first pairing; and the two remaining teams play in the second pairing.

Final

The Final will be held in March 2024. The highest seed has the option of home-ice advantage.