In recent years, American collegiate hockey has emerged as a legitimate rival to the Canadian junior hockey system in terms of producing NHL talent. The National Collegiate Athletic Association, the governing body for collegiate hockey, tends to stay in step with the NHL in terms of general game play and rules, except when it comes to overtime and tie games. While the NHL abolished ties years ago, most all NCAA leagues still allow for the possibility of ties.
Overtime
According to NCAA rules, college hockey games that remain tied after 60 minutes of regulation go to one five-minute overtime period, with the teams changing ends before play resumes. The first team to score in overtime wins and receives two points in the league standings. If no one scores, the game ends in a tie, with both teams receiving one point in the standings. In tournament play, the teams forsake the fivw-minute overtime and instead continue to skate 20-minute overtime periods until someone scores.
Statistics
According to NHL.com, 28 percent of NCAA college hockey games end in a tie after regulation. Sixty-five percent of those games remain tied after a five-minute overtime period, indicating the current overtime procedures may not be enough to reduce the number of tie games.
Exception
In 2008, the Central Collegiate Hockey Association -- home to teams such as Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Bowling Green -- decided to institute a shootout to decide tie games. Of the NCAA's five leagues, the CCHA is the only one that uses the shootout. If a game remains tied after a five-minute overtime period, CCHA teams compete in a best-of-three shootout format. If games remain tied, a sudden-death shootout decides matters. The CCHA awards three points for a regulation or overtime win, two points for a shootout victory and one point for a shootout loss.
Considerations
As of 2011, NCAA officials remain open to altering the rules governing overtime in college hockey for the expressed purpose of further reducing the number of tie games. One popular proposal would see teams skate the five-minute overtime with only four skaters per side, as opposed to the normal five. Some even favor dropping to three skaters per side. However, support is still lacking to establish shootouts across all leagues. The NCAA intends to make a ruling on any proposed overtime changes prior to the 2012-13 season.
References
- NHL; NCAA mulls change from five-on-five overtime; Bob Snow; Janauary 20, 2011
- USCHO; Rule Book Headed for Change, But by How Much?; Todd D. Milewski; May 10, 2010
- CCHA; News - CCHA to Continue Shootouts in League Play; August 17, 2010
- Ann Arbor; CCHA rule change rewards teams for winning in regulation or overtime; James Briggs; September 28, 2009
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