The Division Races With Two Weeks Remaining
Adam Herman
There are only two weeks of BTSH remaining (ignoring a few makeups scheduled October 5th), though this year’s chaotic weather has helped create a scenario in which your favorite team has as many as five potential games remaining. This is the stretch run heading into the playoffs. There are many critical playoff seeds to be determined, some players are racing to meet the attendance thresholds, and a few elite individuals are battling it out in statistical categories.
But the biggest consequence of the regular season is arguably the promotion/relegation outcomes. One team will move up in Division 4, the teams book-ending Divisions 3 and 2 will go either up or down, and a team in the top division will head down a rung in the ladder. As the 2025 BTSH standings show, teams can succeed in any division, but the implications are still huge for next season’s schedule as well as securing bragging rights that make for a really impressive pickup line on dating apps. Or so I’ve heard.
Heading into the September 21st slate of games, let’s appraise where it all stands in each division.
Division One
It comes down to Vertz and Mega Touch for the division title. It’ll matter for playoff seeding and existential fulfillment but, despite what I’ve heard were Brian Hicks’ best lobbying efforts, there will be no promotion into college hockey’s NESCAC.
The Vertz sit on top of the division with 27 points; a tight but distinct lead over Mega Touch’s 26 points given the state of the schedule. Vertz have three remaining games on the schedule, compared to Mega’s two, and win the first standings tiebreaker by virtue of their 2-0 record in head-to-head matchups this season.
The Vertz’s magic number to clinch the division title (and top spot in the entire league) is three points, meaning that any combination of Vertz wins and Mega Touch losses that add up to three points will hand the title to Vertz. A Vertz win and Mega touch loss, or a Vertz OT loss and Mega Touch regulation loss, in today’s games would make it official.
There will be no such drama at the bottom of the division. With two games remaining, Fuzz could tie the Lbs on points at 14, but Lbs won both of the regular season matchups, clinching the first tiebreaker. Therefore, Fuzz are mathematically demoted to the second division for the 2026 BTSH season.
Division Two
Every team in this division has something to play for the rest of the way. There’s a three-way race for promotion to Division One between Fresh Kills (25 points), Poutine Machine (24), and Gouging Anklebiters (21). It’s worth noting that Anklebiters have four games remaining.
Both Fresh Kills and Anklebiters can max out at 29 points, making today’s 5:00 pm East Court matchup between the two teams monumental. The winner will control their own destiny. Poutine can only watch and hope to avoid a three-point overtime match.
Filthier (14) and Hookers (12) will be duking it out to remain in Division Two. Hookers have a game in hand and thus both teams have the capacity to reach 20 points. Depending on how the next two weeks play out, there is a potential scenario in which Hookers and Filthier meet up on October 5th for an electric final regular season game that single-handedly determines which team survives the bubble.
Division Three
Division Three has been a gauntlet for much of the season but Sky Fighters have tapered off. Even if they win out and achieve 24 points, at least one of Renaissance or Instant Karma is guaranteed 25.
So it does come down to the Karma and Rens. Conveniently, these two play each other today at 2:30 pm and the result has massive implications. A Karma regulation win would certify a division title. On the other hand, a Rens win would put them either one point ahead or tied with Karma and also lock in the first tiebreaker. A win vs Riots next week would then clinch the division for Renaissance.
Gremlins and Rainbows are deadlocked at 10 points at the bottom of the division with two games remaining each. Though each has beaten the other this season, only Rainbows won theirs in regulation, giving them the tiebreaker edge. Gremlins will need to finish one point higher than Rainbows at the end of the season in order to avoid relegation.
Division Four
Denim Demons clinched the division title in August and there is no relegation from Division Four. Their remaining games could have a big impact on playoff seeding. Currently fourth in the overall standings by points percentage, they have clinched a bye from the play-in round. In fact, there is an improbable scenario in which the Demons could finish first in the entire league:
– Demons win against Riots and Rainbows
– Vertz lose remaining three games in regulation
– Mega Touch lose at least once in regulation vs Lbs and Poutine or lose both games in any fashion.
Moby Dekes (9) are one point ahead of What The Puck (8) with two games remaining for each. A second-place finish for either team would speak to a nice comeback season after finishing in the bottom-two of the league standings in 2024.
*NOTE: The winner of the BTSH Championship is automatically promoted (or, in Division One, retains its place). All promotions/relegations are subject to that exception.*