The 2026 OHL Cup hosted by the Greater Toronto Hockey League will feature the top 25 teams from across U16 play in Ontario and the United States. The showcase will run from March 30 to April 4, with games being played at the Scotiabank Pond in Toronto. The Championship Final moves to the Mattamy Athletic Centre on Saturday April 4.
Champions and semi-finalists from the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) and Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario (ALLIANCE) along with the top-four teams from the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) will join the champion and finalist from Hockey Eastern Ontario (HEO) along with a representative from the Northern Ontario Hockey Association (NOHA), Hockey Northwestern Ontario (HNO), three entries from the United States and a pair of teams chosen by an OHL Cup Selection Committee.
Admission is free for all OHL Cup games at Scotiabank Pond.
All games prior to the Championship Final can be streamed online linked HERE.
GUARANTEED SPOTS
| League | Playoff Finish |
| GTHL | 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th |
| OMHA | 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th |
| ALLIANCE | 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th |
| HEO | 1st, 2nd |
| USA | 3 |
| NOHA | 1 |
| HNO | 1 |
| Committee Selections | 2 |
| Guaranteed Spots | 21 |
| Wild Card Entries | 4 |
GTHL – The four teams that reach the league semi-finals and finals shall be awarded a tournament spot (3rd & 4th based off seeding)
OMHA – The four teams that place at the OMHA Championships shall be awarded a tournament spot (1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th)
ALLIANCE – The four teams that reach the league semi-finals and finals shall be awarded a tournament spot (3rd & 4th based off seeding)
HEO – The two teams that reach the league finals shall be awarded a tournament spot
NOHA – NOHA Representative Team NOHA
HNO – HNO Representative Thunder Bay Kings
USA – Three invited teams based off the following criteria (team record/ranking, tournament and playoff success)
Committee Selections – Two teams will be selected by the OHL Cup Selection Committee to participate in the tournament based on team record, ranking, tournament and playoff performance.
Wild Card Details:
Eight teams will be selected by the OHL Cup Selection Committee to participate in the four wild card play-in games based on team record, ranking, tournament and playoff performance.
TOURNAMENT RULES:
Overtime and Ties:
a. In Preliminary Round games, if tied at the end of regulation time, teams will play one five (5) minute stop time “SUDDEN VICTORY” overtime period 3 on 3 (teams do not change ends). If still tied, the tie will stand and will count as one point in the standings for each team.
b. Ties in the quarter and semi-finals shall be handled as follows:
If tied at the end of regulation time, teams will not change ends, and play a ten (10) minute stop time sudden victory overtime period 5 on 5. If still tied, teams will play another ten (10) minute overtime period. If still tied after that, teams will retire to their dressing rooms while the ice is resurfaced. Upon returning to the ice, teams will commence playing ten (10) minute stop time sudden victory overtime periods until one team scores. This will continue until a goal is scored, with teams retiring to their dressing rooms every two overtime periods while the ice is resurfaced. Teams will only change ends upon returning to the ice.
c. Ties in the Championship Final shall be handled as follows:
One 10-minute, five-on-five sudden victory overtime period without changing ends. If still tied, teams will retire to their dressing rooms while the ice is resurfaced and return for one 10-minute four-on-four sudden victory overtime period. Teams will switch ends prior to the third overtime period. If still tied, a second 10-minute, four-on-four sudden victory overtime period will be played without changing ends. Overtime will continue under this format until a goal is scored, with teams retiring to their dressing rooms after every two overtime periods while the ice is re-surfaced. Teams will only change ends upon returning to the ice.
Tie Breaking Formula – Ties in Standings – 2 Teams Tied
a. If a tie exists than the team with the most wins shall be awarded the higher position. (Using all four games of the round robin.)
b. If a tie still exists, then the team who won the game between the two teams will be awarded the higher position.
c. If still tied, add the goals for and the goals against together and divide into the goals for with the team having the highest percentage being awarded the higher position. This method shall take into account all four of a team’s games in the round robin.
d. If still tied the team with the fewest goals against (all round robin games played) will gain the highest position
e. If still tied the team with the least number of minutes in penalties throughout all of the round robin games is awarded the higher position.
f. If still tied, the team which scored the first goal in the game between the tied teams is awarded the higher position. (Divisions 3 & 4 not included)
g. If still tied, a single coin toss will determine which team is awarded the higher position.
Tie Breaking Formula – Ties in Standings – 3 or More Teams Tied
Note: The three-team tiebreaker is used to determine the seeding of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc…. If any step in the tiebreaker only seeds one team, that team assumes that position. The three team tiebreaker will continue to determine the seeding of the two remaining teams. At no time will teams using this formula go back to the two-team tiebreaker
a. If a tie exists than the team with the most wins shall be awarded the higher position. (Using all four games of the round robin.)
b. If still tied, add the goals for and the goals against together and divide into the goals for [GF/(GF+GA)] with the team having the highest percentage being awarded the playoff positions. This method shall take into account all the round robin games.
Note: The highest percentage gains the highest position(s).
This exercise establishes the team or teams with the highest position(s) by
percentage. These teams will advance. If there are still teams tied, they go to the next step. They do not go back to the “Two Team Tiebreaker”.
Example:
A. Team A – .714 = 1 seed – Advances
Team B – .500 = 3 seed – Does not advance
Team C – .650 = 2 seed – Advances
B. Team A – .714 = 1 seed – Advances
Team B – .500 = Still tied with team C – goes to next step
Team C- .500 = Still tied with team B – goes to next step
c. If still tied the team with the fewest goals against (all round robin games played) will gain the highest position
d. If still tied the team with the least number of minutes in penalties throughout all of the round robin games is awarded the higher position.
e. If still tied, a single coin toss will determine which team is awarded the higher position.