Three-on-three overtime isn’t going anywhere.
IIHF president Luc Tardif told The Athletic Tuesday that international hockey will stick with its current extra-time format.
Both the men’s and women’s gold-medal games at the Olympics ended in three-on-three action, with the U.S. prevailing 2-1 over Canada in both instances.
“It’s the best rules to fit in a tight schedule,” Tardif said. “We have to figure out 30 games in 11 days for men and for the women 28 games in 13 days — 58 (games) all together in 16 days. … Huge challenge.”
The format drew criticism during the Games for straying too far from the way regulation is played with five skaters per side.
Canada head coach Jon Cooper said after the gold-medal game that it is “not hockey.”
“You take four players off the ice, now hockey’s not hockey anymore. There’s a reason overtime and shootouts are in play — it’s all TV-driven to end games, so it’s not a long time. There’s a reason why it’s not in the Stanley Cup Final or playoffs,” Cooper said.
Ottawa Senators head coach Travis Green also spoke out against the format on Tuesday, saying he was not a fan.
“I’m not sure I’ve heard a hockey person tell me otherwise,” he said.
