Hockey P.E.I. has decided to revert to the traditional tournament format for the 2026 provincial championships following backlash over changes made in the previous season. Last year, the A-division girls’ teams saw a switch from the standard round-robin format to an elimination format, resulting in some girls’ teams playing only one game while boys’ teams played multiple games.
The alteration stirred criticism as it reduced the number of games for girls, prompting accusations of unfair treatment. In response, Hockey P.E.I. has confirmed that the 2026 championship tournament will ensure each girls’ A-division team plays three games. Tami Lewis, the executive director of Hockey P.E.I., explained that the decision to return to the original format was driven by negative feedback received from the community.
While the round-robin format will be reinstated for the A-division girls’ teams, the elimination playoff format will be maintained for leagues that have historically used it, such as major and AAA leagues, girls’ AA leagues, and the U18 boys’ AA league.
The concept of introducing the elimination format for the A-division girls’ teams in 2025 originated from the female council within Hockey P.E.I. The aim was to bring teams of all levels together in one venue to celebrate female hockey. Plans to showcase and celebrate the female game by hosting all female games at a single venue are still being considered, contingent on the interest expressed by associations during the host application process.