Changes coming

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League has changed its regular season and playoff format. Here are the highlights: – The three divisions have been replaced by four with two divisions in each conference. The six-team Maritimes Division remains intact. They will be joined by the East Division (Quebec, Chicoutimi, Rimouski and Baie-Comeau) to form the Eastern Conference. – The Central and West divisions each are comprised of four teams to form an eight-team Western Conference. – The top 16 teams still make the playoffs. If that includes the ninth and/or 10th-place teams in the Eastern Conference, they will join the Western Conference for the playoffs. – The two division winners in each conference will be ranked first and second based on regular season point total with the remaining six teams being ranked three to eight based on points. – The first two rounds of the playoffs are played within the conference structure, but the semifinal will see the four teams ranked one through four based on regular season totals.