NORCAL Tie Breaker Procedure
Updated 1/25/10

NORCAL will utilize the tie breakers used by USA Hockey to break ties in regular season standings, as well as ties to determine which teams advance to playoff championship games. The tie breaker procedure can be found in the 2009-2010 USA Hockey Annual Guide, page 155.

The procedure reads:

If two or more teams have an equal number of points, their positions in the standings shall be determined by the following tie-breaking format. If one tie-breaker establishes a position for one or more teams, each team is placed in the applicable position. Once a team is placed, the remaining tied teams shall start the tie-breaking process over again at step 1. (If all tied teams have not played each other, then proceed to step 2. Note: a team may go into the tie-breaking process having defeated another of the tied teams and still not advance).

The tie-breaker formulas are as follows:

1. The results of the head-to-head games played between the teams tied in the following order:
   1. Standings - Most points.
   2. Most wins.
   3. Differential - Subtracting goals scored against from goals scored in these games, the positions being determined in order of the greatest surplus.
   4. Quotient - Dividing the goals scored in these games by the goals scored against, the positions being determined in order of the greatest quotient. A quotient involving dividing by zero (0) has higher standing than a quotient from dividing by any number other than zero. Where two or more teams have no goals against and the quotient tie-breaker is required, the teams shall be ranked high to low in descending order of "goals for."
   5. Most periods won - In the games played by each tied team, points will be awarded for each regulation period won (2 points) and for each regulation period tied (1 point). Positions shall be in the order of highest point total.
   6. Quickest first goal - The team that scored the quickest goal in their applicable preliminary round games shall be ranked highest.
2. If after applying the formulas of 1 a, b, c, d, e or f the tie still exists, (consider) the results of all the games played by the teams tied in the following order.
   1. Most wins.
   2. Differential - Subtracting goals scored against from goals scored in these games, the positions being determined in order of the greatest surplus.
   3. Quotient - Dividing the goals scored in these games by the goals scored against, the positions being determined in order of the greatest quotient. A quotient involving dividing by zero (0) has higher standing than a quotient from dividing by any number other than zero. Where two or more teams have no goals against and the quotient tie-breaker is required, the teams shall be ranked high to low in descending order of "goals for."
   4. Most periods won - In the games played by each tied team, points will be awarded for each regulation period won (2 points) and for each regulation period tied (1 point). Positions shall be in the order of highest point total.
   5. Quickest first goal - The team that scored the quickest goal in their applicable preliminary round games shall be ranked highest.
3. If the above procedure does not break the tie, the teams shall use a shoot out procedure. This will involve each team selecting five (5) players who will alternate taking penalty shots. The home team will have the choice of shooting first or second. If after the first five players have completed their attempt the teams are tied, the shootout will continue on a sudden-death round basis until one team wins. No player on either team may repeat in the shootout until all skaters from the team with the smaller roster shall have attempted.