3ICE is a professional three-on-three ice hockey league based in the United States. It debuted in 2022 and takes place during the National Hockey League (NHL) offseason. The league plays one-day tournaments of several 16-minute games in different cities through the season. Rosters consist of mostly minor league and some NHL players. Rule changes compared to the NHL keep the puck in play more continuously.
 | |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
|---|---|
| Founded | January 13, 2020 |
| Founder | E.J. Johnston |
| First season | 2022 |
| CEO | E.J. Johnston |
| Commissioner | Craig Patrick |
| No. of teams | 8 |
| Most recent champion(s) | Team Murphy[1] (2023) |
| TV partner(s) | CBS Sports (United States) TSN/RDS (Canada) |
| Official website | www |
History
editThe National Hockey League (NHL) introduced three-on-three overtime in 2015.[2] Reality TV producer E.J. Johnston, the son of former NHL goaltender and coach Eddie Johnston, observed the new overtime format's popularity among fans, including at a Pittsburgh Penguins training camp and as an option in NHL video games, and began conceiving a three-on-three league as early as 2016.[3][4] Johnston felt the three-on-three format highlighted players' "creativity" and thought the extra spacing allowed shorter "waterbug guys" to thrive.[2][3][4]
3ICE was announced on January 13, 2020, along with television broadcast deals with CBS Sports in the United States and TSN and Quebec's RDS in Canada.[3][5] The Hockey Hall of Fame coach Craig Patrick was named as the first commissioner.[3] Johnston pitched the concept to hockey agents, players, TV executives, and other investors, raising almost US$10 million by the end of 2021.[4][6][7]
Originally scheduled for the summer of 2021, 3ICE's inaugural season was delayed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic causing possible attendance restrictions.[8] The league's first tournament took place at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on June 18, 2022.[9] Joe Mullen's team won the first 3ICE regular season, and Brian Trottier's team won the first Patrick Cup.[10][11]
In June 2024, it was announced that the 2024 season would be cancelled, with tentative plans to return for 2025.[12]
Format and rules
edit3ICE takes place from June to August during the NHL offseason.[13] Every week, teams compete in a one-day tournament in a different city, with US$7,000 awarded to players on the winning team, ending with a four-team tournament for the Patrick Cup and US$1 million for the winning team.[6][14] There are six skaters and one goaltender on each team. In the first season, most players were current or former minor league players, but about one third had played in the NHL.[14]
Games consist of quick eight-minute halves, with the clock stopping only for penalties and injuries.[14] Unlike in NHL overtime, where penalties create four-on-three power plays, penalties in 3ICE lead directly to penalty shots; these are "jailbreak" penalty shots, where other players can race behind the shooter after he touches the puck.[14][15] Intentional icing is a penalty, but goalies can play the puck anywhere and have a larger crease than in the NHL.[14][15] Face-offs are limited to the start of halves; goalies begin with the puck after stoppages.[14][15] The puck remains in play after hitting the netting and, similar to basketball's half-court rule, may not be taken back across the center line on attack.[14][15]
Teams
edit| Team | Location | Arena | Founded | Coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3ICE Minnesota | Minneapolis, MN | 3M Arena at Mariucci | 2022 | Larry Murphy |
| 3ICE NY/NJ | Newark, NJ | Prudential Center | 2024 | Ken Daneyko |
| 3ICE Boston | Lowell, MA | Tsongas Center | 2023 | Ray Bourque |
| 3ICE Buffalo | Buffalo, NY | LECOM Harborcenter | 2024 | Pierre Turgeon |
| 3ICE Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, PA | PPG Paints Arena | 2022 | Joe Mullen |
| 3ICE Chicago | Geneva, IL | Fox Valley Ice Arena | 2022 | Grant Fuhr |
| 3ICE Tennessee | Clarksville, TN | F&M Bank Arena | 2022 | John LeClair |
| 3ICE Dallas | Allen, TX | Credit Union of Texas Event Center | 2022 | Guy Carbonneau |
See also
edit- Big3, 3x3 basketball league founded in 2017
References
edit- ^ Kennedy, Ian (August 14, 2023). "3ICE Wraps Up Second Season With Down-to-the-Wire Final". The Hockey News. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ a b Bumbaca, Chris (May 20, 2020). "New 3-on-3 hockey league, '3ICE,' set to debut in 2021 with star-studded group of coaches". USA Today. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Birnbaum, Justin (January 16, 2020). "3ICE's New Media Approach Geared To Attracting Younger Fans To 3-On-3 Hockey". Forbes. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ a b c DeFabo, Mike (May 20, 2020). "Craig Patrick, E.J. Johnston among driving forces behind new 3-on-3 hockey league". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ Vlessing, Etan (January 13, 2020). "CBS Sports Nabs U.S. TV Rights to New 3-on-3 Pro Hockey League". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ a b Shapiro, Sean (July 5, 2022). "Three-on-three summer hockey league, 3ICE, up and running with robust prize pool, TV deals". The Athletic. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ Zucker, Joseph (December 8, 2021). "3-on-3 Pro Hockey League 3ICE to Debut Next June; Raised Nearly $10M To Date". Bleacher Report. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ Bumbaca, Chris (February 21, 2021). "3ICE, 3-on-3 hockey league set to debut this summer, delays start plans until 2022". USA Today. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ Madden, Mark (June 22, 2022). "Debut of 3ICE hockey a raging success, should spark changes to NHL overtime". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ "3ICE Teams". 3ICE. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ "Las Vegas Weekend Recap of the Patrick Cup Championship". 3ICE. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ Silverman, Alex (June 3, 2024). "3ICE cancels 2024 season, eyes comeback in 2025". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
- ^ Wyshynski, Greg (January 13, 2020). "Visionary 3-on-3 league preparing to showcase skill and speed on ice during the summer heat of 2021". ESPN. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g Wyshynski, Greg (August 18, 2022). "Inside 3ICE 3-on-3 hockey's revolutionary first season". ESPN. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ a b c d McIndoe, Sean; Gentille, Sean; Mendes, Ian (August 31, 2022). "3ICE is a new league with weird new rules. Would they work in the NHL?". The Athletic. Retrieved November 12, 2023.