SPHL Announces New Playoff Format
SPHL Peoria Rivermen

SPHL Announces New Playoff Format

Published on February 10, 2026 under SPHL (SPHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


PEORIA, IL - The SPHL announced on Tuesday that starting this season, the league would be adopting an expanded "3-5-5" format for the President's Cup Playoffs this season. The first round will remain a best-of-three series, while the semi-final and final rounds will each be a best-of-five game series.

From the SPHL release:

"The SPHL on Tuesday announced an expanded President's Cup format, beginning this season, which was unanimously approved at last week's Winter Meeting by the league's Board of Governors.

The new format will increase both the semi-final and championship rounds to best-of-five formats, while the first round will remain a best-of-three series:

*President's Cup Playoff Format*

The top eight (8) teams in the standings will make the playoffs

*First Round*

Series A - #1 seed vs. #8 seed

Series B - #2 seed vs. #7 seed

Series C - #3 seed vs. #6 seed

Series D - #4 seed vs. #5 seed

(All series are best-of three)

*Semi-Finals*

The four teams that advance from the first round will play each other based on original playoff seeding, with the highest-

seeded team playing the lowest, and the remaining teams playing each other. Both series are best-of-five.

*President's Cup Finals*

The two remaining teams will meet in the best-of-five President's Cup Final. "

The last time the Rivermen participated in a best-of-five series was in the 2022 President's Cup Finals that saw Peoria defeat the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs in four games to clinch their first-ever President's Cup championship.

The Rivermen are on the road this week for a three-game set in Moline, Illinois, against the Rival Storm. Face-off for Thursday's contest is set for 10:00 am, while Friday and Saturday's meetings will get underway starting at 7:10 pm.

Check out the Peoria Rivermen Statistics

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