3-on-3 hockey league launches with eye toward Olympics

International Ice Hockey Federation officials lamented that only two medal events were available on the biggest sporting stage.

The IIHF, IOC and other organizations have discussed expanding that league. A new 3-on-3 league was launched earlier this month and could be another step towards more hockey on a global level. 3ICE is another experiment that could make 3-on-3 hockey more mainstream. It features Hall of Famers Bryan Trottier, Grant Fuhr and Joe Mullen as coaches, and fast-paced, goal-oriented games.

“We want to get this thing off the ground and make sure it’s entertaining — it’s got the entertainment aspect to the degree we can possibly give it and give it some credibility,” saidTrottier, who was a six-time Stanley Cup winner as a player. “All of us would be thankful for the chance to grow with it to the point it does go bigger and better, Olympic, global: wherever it takes it.”

E.J., the founder of 3ICE, was born seven years after the NHL introduced 3-on-3 overtime in the regular season. Johnston has big plans for the future. Johnston envisions 3ICE becoming an international tournament, similar to the Little League World Series or the annual adult world championships.

Commissioner Craig Patrick, a back to back Cup winner in 1991 and 1992 as general manager of Pittsburgh Penguins, and a gold medallist in the 1980 U.S. Miracle On Ice teams, has been impressed by the talent available and sees 3-on-3 hockey as a way for him to make a mark in an already crowded entertainment scene.

Patrick stated, “A lot sports are going to short form type things, which is kind of what we’re, like BIG3 basketball.” said. “There is a cricket league that is extremely well-followed in India. There are rugby sevens. Everyone is doing something different in their sport and we believe this is the best way to go for hockey.”

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Youth Olympics recently added

This is not an uncommon thought. Luc Tardif, the new president of the IIHF, has set the goal to do the same for hockey after 3-on-3 basketball was made an Olympic event in Tokyo last summer.

It might not happen in 2026 in Milan and Cortina. A men’s tournament is expected to again feature NHL players after two Olympics. However, 3-on-3 was tested at the Youth Winter Olympic Games Lausanne 2020. This will be repeated in 2024 with more serious competition at the same South Korean event.

Tardif stated, “Maybe we could have a format that is more adaptable to a new audience.” said. “We’re going to continue to play traditional ice hockey. But why not try a new format?”

The format is off to a great start for 3ICE with games averaging nearly eight goals per game.

Joe Whitney, a former New Jersey Devils forward, is the leading scorer in a league which also includes T.J. Hensick, an ex-NHL winger, and goalies like Martin Brodeur’s son, Jeremy, or Ryan Zapolski, the U.S. starting goalie at the 2018 Olympics.

If the NHL resumes regular Olympic participation in 2016, a 3-on-3 tournament might be offered to players.

“The skillsets can be so different to play 3-on-3 versus 5-on-5 full contact.” saidParker Milner is now a goaltender in 3ICE after the pandemic ended his minor playing career. “You get the chance to showcase other guys, and there would be some other skillsets which would be useful in 3-on-3.”

Global appeal

Another incentive is 3-on-3, which could bring more countries into hockey. Tardif said that it’s easier for some national bodies to create rosters of 12 or 13, rather than the 22 or more required for traditional hockey.

Petr Briza, senior vice president of IIHF, said that the 3-on-3 opportunities could be great for small countries that aren’t able to get a full team. It might also be a starting platform to grow and show the hockey in other cities. said.

For now, these cities are Las Vegas (and Denver), which hosted the first two weekends of the games. There will be stops in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Tennessee, and Canada, before returning to Las Vegas for playoffs on August 20.

Milner saidIt’s a good opportunity to keep hockey playing throughout the summer, after the Colorado Avalanche has won the Stanley Cup. He said that the NHL could make overtime even more enjoyable by changing the 3ICE rules, including the fact that players are not allowed to take the puck past the red line.

He said, “At most in the first few weeks we’ve noticed that just creates a kind of an up and down game.” said. “I know that a lot people complain about the shootouts. If they could implement this, I believe you’d see a lot less shootouts.