VANCOUVER – The WHL board of governors has approved a new playoff format that follows one now used by the NHL.
WHL Commissioner Ron Robinson said the new format is a hybrid of the previous conference and divisional formats and will allow regional rivalries to be featured during the playoffs.
The top three teams in each division will make the playoffs along with the next two highest non-playoff teams in each conference.
This has the potential to have five teams from one division make the playoffs.
In the first round, the division winner with the best record in each conference will play the wildcard team with the fewest points. The other division winner plays the other wildcard team with the second and third place teams in each respective division facing off against each other.
In the second round, the first round winners in each division will play against each other.
Home ice for the conference finals and championship series will go to the team with the better record and if an eastern division team makes the championship, the series will be a 2-3-2 format.
The new playoff format will be in place for the next three seasons.
The league also announced the 2014-15 regular season schedule will be released on June 25.
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