Playoff Format

Graphic on blue background with large white text that reads, 'Playoff Format', below the OUA Quest for the Cup logo

Playoff Composition: Upon the completion of the regular season, 10 teams will advance to the postseason - five per division. Teams will be seeded based on total points and ranked No. 1 through No. 5 within their division.

Tiebreakers: Any ties will be resolved according to the Tiebreakers outlined in the Women's Hockey Operations, with the first tiebreaker being wins.

Format: Postseason matchups will take place in a straight bracket format with no re-seeding. There will be a crossover between divisions taking place in the semifinals. Round 1 matchups will be single games, wherein the higher seed hosts. The following two rounds - quarterfinals and semifinals - will be a best-of-three series with the higher seed having home ice advantage for two of the three games. The McCaw Cup Championship will then be a single game final hosted by the highest remaining seed.

Round 1: East 5v4; West 5v4 (single game) – February 21, 2026

Quarterfinals: February 23 – March 1, 2026 (best of 3 - inside division)

East 4/5 v1, 3v2; West 4/5v1, 3v2

Semifinals: March 2– March 8, 2026 (best of 3 – crossover)

McCaw Cup: March 14, 2026, Winners at highest seed (single game)