Three-on-three hockey is an exciting fast-paced game that requires high-caliber players. Played on half-sized rinks to provide more open space for speedy, skilled gameplay; additional rules add extra energy into this captivating sport.
Each stop on the tour features a bracket-style tournament format. Teams do not represent any specific city; rather they take their name from their head coach – typically an experienced NHLer who retired years prior.
Founded by E.J. Johnston
Johnston, a former Fox Sports and IMG executive, began pitching the concept for 3ICE to investors in 2020 and estimates he received between 80 to 100 “Nos.” However, Johnston persisted until he found investors who believed in its long-term vision and understood profitability would only become an objective by season three.
The six-team league holds a thrilling weekly tournament schedule in nine tour stops across North America. Each game consists of two eight-minute periods played on full-sized ice with a running clock; players can earn prize money depending on their performance and teams can collect up to $50K every time they win!
One of the biggest draws to 3-on-3 hockey league is its roster of iconic hockey figures on each bench – such as former NHLers such as Joe Mullen, Bryan Trottier, Grant Fuhr, and Larry Murphy (all Hall-of-Famers!). Each bench coach also brings something special to each matchup.
The league is a traveling tournament
The inaugural season of The Hockey League took place over nine weeks, with teams traveling to eight tournaments across North America for one-day tournaments featuring two eight-minute halves with no break for injuries or penalties; teams consisting of six skaters and one goalie compete for $50,000 prize money at each stop, coached by former NHLers such as Ray Bourque, Guy Carbonneau, Grant Fuhr, John LeClair Joe Mullen or Larry Murphy.
Brodeur credits the league’s unique rules as being what distinguish it from other three-on-three hockey competitions. For instance, intentional icing is considered a penalty and tied games go straight into a shootout, keeping play moving at a rapid pace while creating more scoring opportunities and keeping pace with game play. That style has already won over sports wagering operators such as Sportradar who is betting on its outcome this summer.
The league is based in Canada
Even without Crosby, Malkin, and Letang to draw viewers in, the league still benefits from having plenty of former NHL stars at its disposal. Each team features coaches with NHL All-Star or Stanley Cup champion experience who have also been honored by being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
This season, teams will compete in nine tournaments across North America. Each game will consist of two eight-minute periods with a running clock for maximum intensity; four teams will advance to the finals where one team will win a $2 Million prize pool.
Tournaments take place in full-sized arenas, and their rules encourage fast-paced action. Additionally, this league boasts several innovative rules such as no penalty box and intentional icing rules; players are expected to respect “the clear zone,” a circle of blue ice surrounding the net that must be avoided; these changes make games much faster than their NHL counterparts.
The league is based in the United States
The 3ICE League features a bracket-style tournament in each of the nine cities on their tour, consisting of three first-round games, two semifinal matches, and an eventual championship game. No contact rules exist to facilitate speed and skill.
Each team in the league is led by former NHL players such as Ray Borque, Guy Carbonneau, Grant Fuhr, John LeClair, Ed Johnston and Joe Mullen – all either Stanley Cup champions or Hockey Hall-of-Famers themselves.
This United States-based league features its own set of rules to differentiate itself from the NHL. Instead of power plays, opposing teams get penalty shots instead – with coaches selecting who takes them and no icing allowed! Furthermore, players cannot fight within this league, creating faster and more exciting gameplay.