NCHC Adds 3-on-3 O.T. Format

The NCHC has been on the forefront of what is hip in college hockey. Last season, the NCHC was one of only two conferences that used the shootout to break ties in conference games.

This week, the NCHC decided to add the 3-on-3 overtime format. First some will not like this option. Hockey purists will look at this as a gimmick, but it will make the shootout less prevalent. The American Hockey League used this option to break ties last season and there were fewer shootouts.

Per NCHC Press Release:

As has been the case in previous seasons, any conference game that remains tied after regulation will play the NCAA-mandated 5-on-5 (plus goalies) 5-minute overtime period, which is also done throughout all NCAA hockey conferences. If one team scores, they receive all three points in the conference standings while the losing team receives none. The game also counts as a win and loss nationally in the PairWise rankings. If no goal is scored, the game is considered a tie with both teams receiving one point in the conference standings and it is also called a tie nationally, also the same as previous seasons.

Beginning in October, if a conference game is still tied after the 5-minute overtime, the two teams will then play a 3-on-3 (plus goalies) 5-minute overtime period for the extra point in the conference standings, keeping all conference games worth three points. The result of the 3-on-3 overtime will not affect the PairWise rankings as the game is still considered a tie. If a team scores during the 3-on-3 overtime, the winning team will receive the extra point for two points in the standings while the losing team will receive the one point for the tie. The final score of the game will still reflect a tie, however.

If the game is still tied after the 5-minute 3-on-3 overtime period, the game will then go to a sudden death shootout for the extra point, rather than the 3-man shootout that occurred during the NCHC’s first two seasons. Each team will get one shooter, if one shooter scores and the other doesn’t, that team wins the shootout and extra point in the standings (two points total). If both shooters score or neither scores, the shootout will continue with another round until a winner is determined.

So, do you like the new changes?