Change in Rob Cup format announced

The North American Hockey League has announced an alteration in its competition format at this year’s Robertson Cup Championship, which will be held April 30-May 4 at the Hardee’s Iceplex in Chesterfield, Mo., home of the St. Louis Bandits.
 
After the three-game round-robin portion of the tournament on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, the first-place team at the completion of the round robin (most points) will receive a bye to Sunday’s championship game, with the last-place team eliminated from further competition.
 
The second- and third-place teams from the round robin will play each other in Saturday’s semifinal game, with the winner advancing to Sunday’s championship game.
 
In previous years, the third and fourth-place teams at the completion of the round robin played a third-place consolation game prior to the championship game, which showcased the first- and second-place teams after the round robin.
 
“Our new format means that every game will count from the first day of the tournament through the final day, which will ultimately make for a more competitive and exciting event for the players and fans alike,” said NAHL commissioner Mark Frankenfeld.

The Robertson Cup is awarded to the national playoff champion of the NAHL. The oldest junior hockey trophy in the United States, the Robertson Cup is named in honor of Chuck Robertson, a pioneer of junior hockey in the NAHL and youth hockey in the state of Michigan. Chuck Robertson was the owner of the Paddock Pools Saints when they won a record seven straight NAHL championships from 1976-83.