PEIHockey P.E.I. is returning to its original tournament format for the 2026 provincial championships after facing criticism for changes introduced last season. 2025 provincial championships sparked criticism for changes to girls’ game structure Gwyneth Egan · CBC News · Posted: Oct 30, 2025 5:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 2 minutesWhile the 2025 championship tournament for boys’ teams followed its usual structure — a round robin with each team guaranteed to play at least three games on the way to crowning a winner — some of the girls’ teams played just one game. (Ken Linton/CBC)Hockey P.E.I. is returning to its original tournament format for the 2026 provincial championships after facing criticism for changes introduced last season. The traditional round-robin format — in which each team is guaranteed to play three games — was replaced in 2025 with an elimination format for the A-division girls’ teams. That meant some girls’ teams played just one game in the tournament, while boys’ teams at the same level played multiple.The change in format sparked criticism that there were fewer games for girls, with some players calling the situation unfair. The 2026 championship tournament will guarantee girls’ A-division teams will play three games each, Hockey P.E.I. said. “It was clear the change in format was not well received, which prompted the decision to return to the original round-robin format used in previous years,” Tami Lewis, the executive director of Hockey P.E.I., said in an emailed statement.The elimination playoff format will remain for leagues that have always used it, Hockey P.E.I. said. That includes major and AAA leagues, girls’ AA leagues and the U18 boys’ AA league.Celebrating the female gameThe idea of introducing the elimination format for the A-division girls’ teams in the 2025 tournament was proposed by the female council, Lewis’s email said.The change was aimed at hosting teams of all levels in a single venue to celebrate female hockey, the email said. “The idea of holding all female games at one venue to highlight and celebrate the female game is still being considered and will be reviewed further depending on the interest shown by associations during the host application process.” ABOUT THE AUTHORGwyneth Egan is a reporter with CBC Prince Edward Island. She is a graduate of Carleton University’s master of journalism program and previously interned with White Coat, Black Art. You can reach her at gwyneth.egan1@cbc.ca
Hockey P.E.I. changes course on tournament format that gave girls’ teams fewer games
