CCHA Men ' s Ice Hockey Tournament The CCHA Tournament is the conference tournament for the Central Collegiate Hockey Association ( CCHA ) . The winner of the tournament receives an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament . The winner of the tournament also receives the Mason Cup , which began in 2002 . In other years , the trophy was simply known as the CCHA Tournament Championship Trophy . The tournament was first held in 1972 , the first year of conference play . It was held at The Arena in St . Louis , Missouri from 1972 – 77 . From 1978 – 81 , the CCHA Tournament was held at the rink of the higher seed . Starting in 1982 , the CCHA Tournament first round was held at the rink of the higher seed with Joe Louis Arena in Detroit , Michigan hosting the CCHA Tournament semifinals and finals . From 1993 – 94 and 2002 – 05 , the CCHA championship format had six teams competing at Joe Louis Arena with the bottom four teams competing for the third and fourth spots in the semifinals . Tournament format . All twelve league members qualify for the tournament . A four - round format was introduced beginning in 2006 with the top four seeds receiving byes and the remaining eight teams playing in an on - campus best two - of - three first round series . After the first round , the field is reseeded for the quarterfinal round for an on - campus best two - of - three series . The remaining four teams are reseeded for the CCHA Championship at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit . Two semifinals are played on Friday afternoon and night . The championship game is played the following night , and is preceded by the consolation game . The CCHA Tournament format begins as a single - game elimination two - round format . A round - robin championship format was adopted . Although not a member of the CCHA ' s Division I , Western Michigan is invited as the fourth team in the CCHA Tournament . The single - game elimination format returns . Western Michigan is invited for a second year as the fourth team in the CCHA Tournament . Championship game is changed to a two - game , total - goals series . All tournament rounds are changed to a two - game , total - goals series . First round series remain a two - game , total - goals series . Semifinals and finals are changed to single - game elimination format . The CCHA Tournament is expanded from four teams to eight teams in a three - round format . First round series changed to a best two - of - three format . Semifinals and finals remain single - game elimination . After Bowling Green is selected for the NCAA tournament over Michigan despite the Wolverines victory over the Falcons in the consolation game , the CCHA eliminates the consolation game . With the addition of Kent State and Notre Dame to the league and Alaska as an affiliate member , tournament expanded to 12 teams . A quarterfinal at Joe Louis Arena narrows the field from six to four . Alaska is placed in the tournament by team choice . In order , the top six teams select their opponent for the first round among the bottom five teams and Alaska . The tournament retracts to 10 teams . A highest seed - hosts , midweek play - in game narrows the field from five to four . Tournament format returns to eight teams . The tournament field expands back to 10 along with the midweek play - in game . All 12 teams qualify for the tournament with a quarterfinal at Joe Louis Arena narrowing the field from six to four . The consolation game returns to boost records and rankings for NCAA Tournament selection . " Modern Era " . In 1981 – 82 , four teams from the WCHA ( Michigan , Michigan State , Michigan Tech and Notre Dame ) defected to the CCHA . The four teams brought their long , storied history with 12 combined NCAA National Championships giving the young , up - start league instant credibility . The tournament championship was moved from small on - campus rinks to Joe Louis Arena , home of the NHL ' s Detroit Red Wings . These events give the league a distinct turning point at which the " Modern Era " of the CCHA Tournament begins . " Road to the Joe " . Commissioner Bill Beagan coined the phrase " Road to the Joe " in describing the CCHA Tournament in 1985 – 86 . The phrase is commonly used in reference to the CCHA Tournament . " Super Six " . With the tournament expanding to 12 teams in 2001 – 02 , the CCHA adopted the name " Super Six " in reference to the six teams who advance past the first round to the CCHA championships at Joe Louis Arena . The name was dropped following the 2005 season when the CCHA championships were reduced back to four teams .