What is HockeyThon?
HockeyThon is a fundraiser organized and hosted by Pozz Games to raise money for cystic fibrosis research. HockeyThon 2020 is the first event of its kind, picking up where the 2019-20 ECHL regular season ended due to the COVID-19 outbreak and simulating the remaining season and playoffs in NHL 20. While the real ECHL season has been permanently cancelled, we will crown our own honorary 2019-20 Kelly Cup Champion by the end of HockeyThon.
When is HockeyThon?
The HockeyThon 2020 schedule is as follows:
Day 1 - Regular Season Games
Monday, April 27th
6:00am EST to 11:00pm EST
Day 2 - Regular Season Games
Tuesday, April 28th
6:00am EST to 11:00pm EST
Day 3 - Regular Season Games
Wednesday, April 29th
6:00am EST to 11:00pm EST
Day 4 - Kelly Cup Playoffs
Thursday, April 30th
6:00am EST to 11:00pm EST
Day 5 - Kelly Cup Playoffs
Friday, May 1st
6:00am EST to 11:00pm EST
Day 6 - Kelly Cup Finals
Saturday, May 2nd
6:00am EST to 11:00pm EST
Please Note: Due to YouTube upload restrictions, each 16 hour day will be broken up into two (2) parts - a morning session and an afternoon session. Each morning session will run roughly from 6:00am to 12:00pm. After a one (1) hour recess, afternoon sessions will run roughly from 1:00pm to 11:00pm each day.
How Does it Work?
The HockeyThon simulations pick up exactly where the real 2019-20 ECHL season left off. All remaining regular season games are played in the standard NHL 20 gameplay mode - featuring 3 minute periods, full sim play style, and pro difficulty. The computer controls both teams in all games (both regular season and playoffs) to keep the outcomes 100% fair for all teams. Team rosters are updated to the latest available live rosters NHL 20 has to offer (February 25th, 2020). Overtime for all regular season games is settled with a single 3 on 3 overtime period followed by a shootout.
Once the Kelly Cup Playoffs begin on Thursday, April 30th, the simulations will switch to "Playoff Mode" in NHL 20. The games will largely remain the same - featuring 3 minute periods, full sim play style, and pro difficulty. The only difference is that there will be no shootouts in the playoffs. Overtime periods will be continous and played 5 on 5 until a winning goal is scored to end the game. Each playoff series will be the standard best of 7 games format. The two teams who will play in the Kelly Cup Finals will be determined by the end of the session on Friday, May 1st.
On Saturday, May 2nd, the Kelly Cup Finals will begin at 6:00am EST. This series will be played with the standard best of 7 games format - concluding the "Playoff Mode" session in NHL 20. Most elements of the game play will remain the same (full sim play style, pro difficulty, and continuous 5 on 5 overtime periods) except with full, 20 minute periods. This is the main event, and we aim to treat it as such. By the end of the session on Saturday, May 2nd, we will crown our honorary 2019-2020 ECHL Kelly Cup and HockeyThon 2020 champions!
How Do I Support the Fundraiser?
HockeyThon is a fundraiser for cystic fibrosis research, as is the Pozz Games YouTube channel as a whole. If you enjoy HockeyThon and appreciate the hard work and time that went into the project, please consider supporting the cause by donating to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. HockeyThon and Pozz Games are not done for profit. While we do accept separate donations for the channel on Patreon, our primary focus is to raise money for the CFF in honor of our friend Richie who passed away in 2018 at the age of 23 due to complications with his cystic fibrosis. We want nothing more than to live in a world where no one else ever has to lose a best friend, a family member, or a loved one to this terrible disease. We do this for Richie, and we do this for everyone affected by cystic fibrosis in any way. Until a cure is found, we will Never Pause. Please visit the following links to support us:
Donate to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
(100% Goes to the Charity)
https://www.gofundme.com/f/pozztv
Support Pozz on Patreon
(100% Goes to the Pozz Team)
https://www.patreon.com/pozztv
Buy Pozz Merchandise
(Revenue Split Between the Charity and the Pozz Team)
https://pozz.tv/store