The playoffs are right around the corner! Stay tuned for the SHL Playoff schedule. The playoff format for both levels will follow an eight team single elimination bracket, with each series being a best two of three to advance. The higher playoff seed will host games one and three of each series.

The top 4 seeds of the SHL standings still must be determined. Here is how the top 4 stand as of 2/3.

1: Loyola Gold (LAG), 43 points, 0 GR*
2: York Dukes (YRK), 40 points, 0 GR*
3: New Trier Green (NTG), 39 points, 2 GR*
4: Stevenson Patriots (STV), 39 points, 1 GR*

*GR: Games remaining

POSSIBLE SEEDS AND FIRST ROUND OPPONENTS

LAG: 1, 2 (CAR/GBN)
NTG: 1, 2, 3, 4 (CAR/GBN/GBS/SV)
STV: 2, 3, 4 (GBN/GBS/SV)
YORK: 2, 3, 4 (GBN/GBS/SV)

There are four total SHL games remaining in the regular season, three of which are critical in deciding the top 4 seeds.

Tonight at 7:20 - Stevenson @ Carmel Catholic
Saturday at 1:30 - NT Green @ Carmel Catholic
Sunday at 5:30 - Barrington @ NT Green

Follow the scenario tree below based on tonight’s result, followed by NTG’s final two games. Then, use the models underneath to determine top 4 seeds.

STEVENSON WINS (in any fashion)

• If NTG earns 0 points, follow model 1.
• If NTG earns 1 point, follow model 2.
• If NTG earns 2 or 3 points, follow model 3.
• If NTG earns 4 points, follow model 4.
•  

CARMEL WINS (in regulation)

• If NTG earns 0 points, follow model 5.
• If NTG earns 1, 2 or 3 points, follow model 6.
• If NTG earns 4 points, follow model 7.
•  

CARMEL WINS (in OT)

• If NTG earns 0 points, follow model 1.
• If NTG earn 1, 2 or 3 points, follow model 3.
• If NTG earns 4 points, follow model 4.
•  

Model 1
1: LAG
2: STV
3: YRK
4: NTG

Model 2
1: LAG
2: STV
3: NTG
4: YRK

Model 3
1: LAG
2: NTG
3: STV
4: YRK

Model 4
1: NTG
2: LAG
3: STV
4: YRK

Model 5
1: LAG
2: YRK
3: NTG
4: STV

Model 6
1: LAG
2: NTG
3: YRK
4: STV

Model 7
1: NTG
2: LAG
3: YRK
4: STV

All four of these teams will have home ice advantage in the first round of the SHL Playoffs, regardless of their opponent. Seeing as the bottom 4 seeds are all locked in, below is who each seed will play in the first round:

1 seed vs. Carmel Corsairs
2 seed vs. Glenbrook North Spartans
3 seed vs. Glenbrook South Titans
4 seed vs. St. Viator Lions

All scenarios were considered using SHL tie-breaking procedures sourced from the “Rules” tab on the SHL website.

NTG holds tiebreaker against STV, YRK, and LAG.
STV holds tiebreaker against YORK.
If NTG, STE, YRK all tied at 40 points, teams would land in the same order as listed in this bullet point.