IZHC's Famous NHL Tipping Competition
7th year in a row, Pure, adrenaline-fueled playoff bracket tipping — pick series winners and game counts across every round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Points scale up as the stakes get higher.
What's New This Year
Big improvements to the 2026 competition — here's what's changed.
Fully Automated System
Results are entered by the organiser and points update instantly — no more manual spreadsheets or waiting for recalculations.
New Scoring Structure
Points scale up as the rounds progress — later rounds are worth more, so there's always a chance to claw back right to the Final.
Second Chance Stanley Cup Pick
If your Cup pick gets eliminated early, you can re-pick a surviving team for reduced points — keeping everyone in the game.
Win Money at Every Round
Cash prizes are now awarded at each playoff round — not just at the end. More chances to win throughout the entire playoffs.
How It Works
Sign up and pay the $20.00 entry fee to lock in your spot.
Before the playoffs begin, pick your Stanley Cup winner (30 pts).
Each round, pick the winner and how many games each series lasts — before the deadline. Points increase round by round.
Each matchup has a designated favourite. Correctly pick the underdog to win and you earn the normal series points plus a 50% upset bonus — rewarding bold calls over just following the odds.
If your Stanley Cup pick gets eliminated in Round 1, 2, or 3 — you can re-pick a surviving team for reduced points. A safety net that keeps everyone in the game!
All picks and standings are publicly visible — full transparency so you can track every rival and every series. Top of the table when the Cup is raised takes the prize!
Scoring
Points ramp up as the playoffs progress — every round matters right to the final buzzer.
| Round | Correct Series Winner | + Correct Games | ⚡ Upset Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 – First Round | 3 pts | +4 pts bonus | +2 pts bonus |
| Round 2 – Conference Semifinals | 5 pts | +7 pts bonus | +3 pts bonus |
| Round 3 – Conference Finals | 8 pts | +13 pts bonus | +4 pts bonus |
| Stanley Cup Final | 14 pts | +22 pts bonus | +7 pts bonus |
| Special Picks | |
|---|---|
| 🏆 Stanley Cup Winner (pre-tournament pick) | 30 pts |
| 🥇 Conn Smythe Trophy Winner | 10 pts |
| 🔄 Cup Re-pick after Round 1 (team eliminated) | 15 pts |
| 🔄 Cup Re-pick after Round 2 | 10 pts |
| 🔄 Cup Re-pick after Round 3 | 5 pts |
💰 Prize Pool
Entry fees go into the pot. $10.00 per player supports junior ice hockey development in Australia — the rest is split between winners. The bigger the field, the bigger the prizes!
Round prizes go to the participant with the most series-tip points in that specific round. Tied positions split the prize evenly. Prizes are paid out once the Stanley Cup is awarded. This tipping competition operates in Australian Dollars (AUD).
More Than Just a Competition
The IZHC's Famous NHL Tipping Competition is a 50/50 fundraiser — roughly half the entry fees go into the prize pool for players to win back, and the other half goes directly to Ice Zoo Hockey Club (IZHC).
Your entry fee helps fund junior player development, ice time costs, equipment, and programs that give young Australians the chance to learn and love the game of ice hockey. Ice Zoo Hockey Club is committed to growing the sport from the grassroots up — and every competition entry makes that possible.
So whether you win or not, your $20.00 entry puts money back into the sport you love.
Join the Competition
Create your account and enter the competition — it only takes a minute.