Championship Hockey is an Ice Hockey game where players can compete in International level matches between the 22 available nations. Players can choose to play either one match or participate in elimination playoffs.
The gameplay takes place from a bird's eye view, with a camera that scrolls up and down the length of the hockey rink's goals. Players can control five of their six team members, with the CPU controlling the goaltender. The game is divided into three periods of 5, 10, or 20 minutes each, not played in real-time. Players can cycle through available players or speed up a selected player when the puck isn't being controlled. To gain possession of the puck, players must get close to it. When in control, they have the option to shoot for a goal or pass to another player.
There are three game modes: Regular Season, New Playoff, and Best Of 7. Regular Season involves one match between two countries chosen by the player. The New Playoff mode features an elimination contest among 16 teams, where the last team standing wins after four games. The Best Of 7 mode sees 16 teams compete until one of them reaches four victories.