Following Western Division meetings in Penticton, BC during the 2022 Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) Western Championships, and Eastern Division meetings in Cornwall, ON during the CSSHL Eastern Championships, the CSSHL has updated their Western and Eastern divisional format structure for the upcoming 2022/23 season.
The Eastern Division regular season will be split into U18 and U17 divisions, with five showcases for 15 games, and an additional five regional games.
The new updated Western divisional structure will see a decrease in regional area flex games, and an increase in Ranked Showcases. These Ranked Showcases will provide all teams, at all divisions, the opportunity to play competitive ‘like-on-like’ competition, allowing our student-athletes the opportunity to develop and grow against equal talent.
The first Ranked Showcase of the 2022/23 season will see teams ranked based on their 2021/22 playoff results. All future showcases rankings will then be determined based on the results of the previous showcase. At the conclusion of each showcase, teams will be re-seeded, with teams moving up or down a ‘bracket’, based on their results within the showcase.
During the 2021/22 season, the CSSHL operated these Ranked Showcases throughout the Female U18 Prep season, as well as providing one of these showcase opportunities at each male division. The positive feedback the CSSHL received from member programs, student-athletes, families and scouts illustrated the need and desire to further provide these Ranked Showcases for the 2022/23 season.
To complement the Ranked Showcases, the CSSHL will be introducing the ‘Regional Cup’ season. This Regional Cup will allow teams to reach a desired game count, while still playing meaningful games. Each division will see teams split into a B.C. and a Prairie division, where teams will compete within that division for the right to be named Regional Cup Champion. Regional Cup and Ranked Showcase standings and results will be independent from each other.
The format for each division for the 2022/23 CSSHL Western and Eastern Championship Playoffs will be decided later this summer at the CSSHL Annual General Meeting.