 The quarterfinals consist of four best-of-three series while all subsequent rounds are single-elimination.From 2014 - Present

After the Big Ten announced it was forming a hockey conference beginning with the 2013–14 season several teams from the WCHA decided to break from the conference and form a new contingent.As traditional powers Denver and North Dakota were among the teams leaving the NCHC's invitation to some of the remaining CCHA teams was appealing enough to get two more universities to join, swelling the NCHC's ranks to eight.