The 2025 NYHL Playoffs are in full swing and we want teams to be as informed as possible so that they may enjoy the most exciting time of the season without any unnecessary headaches.

The Coaches Portal is the home for all league rule, policies and resources. Every document and policy shared in this post can be found on the portal under the “Rules and Resources” tab.

The NYHL Rules and Regulations is the ultimate rulebook to which all NYHL policies are based. Rules or regulations found in this document supersede any information sheet or resource found elsewhere.

Playoff Formats are dependent on the number of teams in your Winter Season tier and the linked document breaks down your tiers format round by round. All post-Round Robin series (QF, SF, F) will be a 4-point series.

During the playoffs, teams may be scheduled to play with up to 24 hours of notice before the newly scheduled game. As of April, the league will no longer recognize weekly blackout dates and teams may be scheduled to play on those days.

Teams in the Semi Final and Final will be allowed one 30-second Timeout per game.

Overtime will be 10-minutes running time and played at 5-on-5. The first team to score will win the game and series. Overtime will only occur if Game 4 of a series ends in a tie. If Overtime ends and there is no winner, a second Overtime period will be played if there is time available. This will be decided by the League and communicated to officials through the Rink Attendant. A Game 5 will be scheduled if there is no time available.

Affiliated Player (AP) or Call Ups are heavily scrutinized and restricted during the playoffs. The improper use of an AP could result in a forfeit. It is important that teams follow appropriate AP procedures to prevent any potential recourse. It is the responsibility of the bench staff to ensure that the lineup on the game sheet accurately reflects the participating players prior to the start of the game. Bench staff are encouraged to confirm their lineup with the timekeeper before their game or during warm-ups to avoid any unnecessary protests.

Teams wishing to Protest any game or ineligible player must follow league procedure. If proper procedures are not followed, the Protest will not be in good standing and will not be addressed by the league.

Please feel free to use our 2025 Playoff Resource for a more in-depth but concise summary of everything addressed in this article, including references to specific rules in our Rulebook.

Best of luck to all of our teams and we look forward to an exciting playoff season!