The Northern Collegiate Hockey Association has held a post-season playoff since the 1985-86 season.

There have been several playoff formats throughout the years. Currently all eight teams are included in the playoffs based on the final regular-season standings. The top four teams in the final regular-season standings have home-ice advantage in the first round. The eighth-place team plays at the first-place team, the seventh-place team is at the second-place team, the sixth-place team travels to the third-place team and the fifth-place team is at the fourth-place team. Each of the playoff series uses the best two-out-of-three game format. If a third game is necessary the mini-game format is used. The 20-minute mini-game is played immediately following the second game of the series. If the mini-game ends in a tie, 20-minute sudden death overtime sessions are played until a winner emerges.

Starting in 2002, the semifinals and finals were hosted at a single site - at the highest remaining seeded-team. Two semifinal games are played followed by third place and championship games.

Eleven times the regular-season champion has also won the post-season tournament.

The NCHA playoff champion claims the Peters Cup named after Bemidji State coach Bob Peters whose teams won three regular-season and three playoff championships.

The Peters Cup