Sorry for the terrible photoshop, but who doesn't love a logo for a competition!
Welcome everyone to the nineteenth staging of the NS World Cup of Hockey, this edition to be located in the Patriotic People's Republic of Michael VII. Sixty-six nations are to take part in this competition, and to all who have signed up, good luck on your journey to become the World Champions of Ice Hockey this season!
Format
-The tournament will start off with the qualifying stage, where the 66 teams will be placed in 11 groups of 6 teams each. During the qualifying stage, each team will play the teams in their group twice, once home, and once on the road, using their home rinks in the process. 2 points will be awarded for each win, and 1 point for each draw. During the qualifying stage, overtime will not be used, and matches can end in a draw. Home-ice advantage bonus will also be used. A cumulative RP Bonus of 2 points per MD can be attained. Style mods from -5/+5 will be utilised.
After the first half of the group stage, there will be a one day bye-day, where teams can organise friendlies and have them scored. Same protocol goes for pre-qualifying friendlies, and also post-qualifying friendlies should neither team progress to Michael VII. All friendly scorination requests must be sent by TG to me with appropriate details, (ie Home nation).
Following the second half of the qualifying stage, the 24 nations that reach the requirements to progress to Michael VII will continue to the knockout stages. At the start of the knockout stage, all RP Bonus accumulated will be halved, and from there on out, all series will be of knockout nature, with the semifinal losers being the only losers to play an extra round in the Third-Place playoff (ONE game). Teams ranked 1-8 will get a bye to the second round of the playoffs, with teams ranked 9-24 playing a ONE GAME playoff to make the second playoff round. From the second round onward, all series will be a best-of-three series. As with the NHL playoffs, after the Round of 16, the bracket will be reseeded, and from there on out it will be a rigid bracket.
Schedule
Below is the planned schedule for WCoH XIX...
*All cutoffs will take place at approximately 6pm NZT (6am GMT) on the specified day.
Saturday 22 September Pre-Qualifying Friendlies
Monday 24 September MD One
Tuesday 25 September MD Two
Wednesday 26 September MD Three
Thursday 27 September MD Four
Friday 28 September MD Five
Saturday 29 September Bye Day (Mid-Qualifying Friendlies)
Sunday 30 September MD Six
Monday 1 October MD Seven
Tuesday 2 October MD Eight
Wednesday 3 October MD Nine
Thursday 4 October MD Ten
Friday 5 October Bye Day (Post-Qualifying Friendlies)
Saturday 6 October Round of 24 - Play-in Game
Sunday 7 October Round of 16 MD1
Monday 8 October Round of 16 MD2
Tuesday 9 October Round of 16 MD3 (If necessary)
Wednesday 10 October Quarterfinals MD1
Thursday 11 October Quarterfinals MD2
Friday 12 October Quarterfinals MD3 (If necessary)
Saturday 13 October Semifinals MD1
Sunday 14 October Semifinals MD2
Monday 15 OctoberSemifinals MD3 (If necessary)
Tuesday 16 October Third Place Playoff
Wednesday 17 October Finals MD1
Thursday 18 October Finals MD2
Friday 19 October Finals MD3 (If necessary)
Rosters
Rosters count as a separate RP, and should include:
Style Mods
Roster
Coaching Staff
Home Rink
And RP Permissions (See Below)
If my opponent RPs first, I give them the right to:
Name my scorers Y/N
Godmod scoring events Y/N
Injure my players Y/N
Godmod injuries Y/N
RP ejections to my players Y/N
Godmod other events Y/N