OT rule changes could lead to shootouts
Rule changes in New Jersey high school hockey this season have altered the way that games end, and will look even different in tournament play.
Beginning with current county tournaments and extending to cup and state tournaments later this season, do-ordie games can now end with a shootout.
The new overtime rules have already had an effect. Regular season games now go into a 4-on-4 sudden death overtime period of five minutes, with the game ending in a tie if neither team scores. That change alone has drastically impacted results across the state.
New Jersey high school teams combined for 215 ties last season, including games against out-of-state opponents. During the first five weeks of this season, there were only 38 ties.
"There were teams that had seven ties last year," Ramapo coach Michael McLachlan said. "We had games that we played hard in and ended up tying and it wasn't quite the same. You can be proud of the effort in an overtime loss."
The Big North Conference, which saw 43 games end in a tie a season ago, only listed four ties in their standings through Jan. 15. Ramsey and Indian Hills are now a co-op but were separate teams a season ago. The separate teams combined for nine ties last season but the co-op has just one this year, tying Glen Rock on Dec. 17.
Tournament games used to be played until there was a winner, but new rules this season state that if the score remains tied after regulation, one overtime period of 15 minutes at full strength will be played. If no goals are scored during that time, teams will compete in a shootout to determine who advances.
"It doesn't change our style of how we want to play," McLachlan said. "We still want to try and win in regulation."
The situation came up for Ramapo in its Bergen County tournament quarterfinal game against Northern Highlands. Tied after three periods, the game went to overtime with Highlands emerging as a 5-4 winner.
The changes have led to teams putting more preparation into a shootout scenario at this point of the season. Travel leagues also have shootouts built into the rules, so North Jersey teams do have some players with shootout experience to tap into.
Passaic Tech coach Andrew Frey has an experienced team with travel experience, including an advantage that most teams don't have in between the pipes. Goalies Mason Katz, Jack Bernice and Jack Cozine are all juniors and all have travel league experience, so all three have prior experience in shootouts.
"All three of our goalies are talented and they're good at what they do," Frey said. "I trust them. They've been making big saves since they were freshmen. I don't know how many of the other teams have goalies that have experienced shootouts, but I know my guys have."
Passaic Tech did not have to endure a shootout on the way to winning its second straight Passaic County tournament title this year, but the Bulldogs know to be prepared for anything that may come during postseason cups and state tournament games.
"It's attention to detail," Frey said. "For some reason, the more pressure on our kids, the more they tend to respond. We go through situations all the time and we go over overtime to make sure we have the right personnel at all times."
The only exception to the rule changes are the tournament finals, including the state finals scheduled for March 4 at Prudential Center. If a champion is required, a 15-minute sudden death overtime will be played at full strength. Following that initial period, any additional overtime sessions will see teams play 4-on-4 for seven-and-ahalf minute periods until a goal is scored to crown a champion.