College hockey eyes OT fix
Alterations in format considered by NCAA
The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel will allow the major men’s and women’s hockey conferences to choose one of two alternative formats to award points in their standings after a five-minute overtime period.
This news met with the approval of most coaches. For now.
The Rules Panel announced that after a traditional five-minute overtime of five-on-five, conferences may use either a five-minute, three-on-three overtime period and a shootout, or only a shootout to award additional conference points.
Conferences are not required to use one of the alternative systems and may end play after the customary five-minute overtime.
The entire matter got quite a bit of airing at the annual American Hockey Coaches Association gathering in Naples, Fla.
Hockey East commissioner Joe Bertagna said his conference, which featured the shootout several years ago before going back to the current five-on-five format, will maintain the status quo.
“We’re not going to do anything differently,” Bertagna said.
Bertagna said there are solid arguments in both directions.
“Going into Florida, there were people who liked the five-on-five and who were afraid we were going to force three-on-three, (which) the NHCA and the WCHA use. They like it. The players like it. The fans like it. They were afraid (the NCAA) was going to take it away,” Bertagna said, noting the Big 10 uses the shootout to decide tie games. “So, later we left Indianapolis (Rules Committee) thinking that there was going to be one system (five-on-five). We have an obligation to give people two weeks to comment. Quite a few people wanted to keep it five-on-five for the NCAA (tournament) and then let the leagues decide what they want to do. It’s still a tie in the record books no matter what you do.”
ECAC Division 1 Commissioner Steve Hagwell said his league is also staying pat.
“We shall remain fiveo-n-five. We will play a fiveminute overtime. End of game. We like the format the way it is and we will stick with it,” Hagwell said.
Harvard coach Ted Donato isn’t opposed to change as long as it doesn’t jeopardize a team’s NCAA chances.
“For me, I’d like to see it unified across college hockey so that everything is on an even scale,” said Donato. “Now, I’m somewhat in the minority on this, but I think it’s exciting to see four-on-four, three-on-three, or a shootout. I think there’s an opportunity to showcase the game in a number of ways. But you need to have a real value on the outcome of that score with regard to the NCAA tournament. The question is how will anything other than five-on-five affect a team’s eligibility and status for the NCAA tournament.”
Northeastern coach Jim Madigan agrees that the current system works and that any future change must include a consideration for how it alters the outcome.
“For me, I like overtime five-on-five, winner-take-all. I don’t want to alter the entire game in that first five minutes of overtime. Once you drop the puck four-onfour in overtime, it’s an alltogether different game,” Madigan said. “There’s been a lot of discussion on this for about, oh, the past year-and-a-half or so, and I think there will continue to be a lot of discussion. This isn’t the end of it.”
BU women’s coach Brian Durocher took the traditionalist path.
“I’ve always been a fan of five-on-five. I do see the entertainment value in four-on-four, or three-onthree but it does put more stress on the goaltender and the three skaters,” said Durocher. “I’d just love to see everything universal. Just give us the system and we’ll deal with it. I’m still a little old-school traditionalist. I still feel there are good ties.”
New Boston University coach Albie O’Connell sees the NHL system as a good benchmark.
“I like the way the NHL does it. It’s really exciting for the fans. But you definitely need a points system so that a team doesn’t get penalized for NCAA purposes. That’s definitely the issue if they can work it all out,” O’Connell said.
Atlantic Hockey Commissioner Bob DeGregorio and Bentley coach Ryan Soderquist could not be reached for comment.