3ICE

Last updated

3ICE
Logo of 3ICE.png
Sport Ice hockey
FoundedJanuary 13, 2020;4 years ago (2020-01-13)
FounderE.J. Johnston
First season2022
CEO E.J. Johnston
Commissioner Craig Patrick
No. of teams8
Most recent
champion(s)
Team Murphy [1]
(2023)
TV partner(s) CBS Sports (United States)
TSN/RDS (Canada)
Official website www.3ice.com

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.

Contents

History

The 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]

Format and rules

3ICE takes place from June to August during the NHL offseason. [12] 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] [13] 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. [13]

Games consist of quick eight-minute halves, with the clock stopping only for penalties and injuries. [13] 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. [13] [14] Intentional icing is a penalty, but goalies can play the puck anywhere and have a larger crease than in the NHL. [13] [14] Face-offs are limited to the start of halves; goalies begin with the puck after stoppages. [13] [14] 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. [13] [14]

Teams

TeamLocationArenaFoundedCoach
3ICE MinnesotaMinneapolis, MN 3M Arena at Mariucci 2022 Larry Murphy
3ICE NY/NJNewark, NJ Prudential Center 2024 Ken Daneyko
3ICE BostonLowell, MA Tsongas Center 2023 Ray Bourque
3ICE BuffaloBuffalo, NY LECOM Harborcenter 2024 Pierre Turgeon
3ICE PittsburghPittsburgh, PA PPG Paints Arena 2022 Joe Mullen
3ICE ChicagoGeneva, IL Fox Valley Ice Arena 2022 Grant Fuhr
3ICE TennesseeClarksville, TN F&M Bank Arena 2022 John LeClair
3ICE DallasAllen, TX Credit Union of Texas Event Center 2022 Guy Carbonneau

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ice hockey</span> Team winter sport

Ice hockey is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice hockey sticks to control, advance, and shoot a closed, vulcanized, rubber disc called a "puck" into the other team's goal. Each goal is worth one point. The team which scores the most goals is declared the winner. In a formal game, each team has six skaters on the ice at a time, barring any penalties, one of whom is the goaltender. Ice hockey is a full contact sport, and is considered to be one of the more physically demanding team sports. It is distinct from field hockey, in which players move a ball around a non-frozen pitch using field hockey sticks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Hockey League</span> North American professional ice hockey league

The National Hockey League is a men's professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 33 teams – 26 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The Stanley Cup, the oldest professional sports trophy in North America, is awarded annually to the league playoff champion at the end of each season. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada and is considered to be the top ranked professional ice hockey league in the world, with players from 17 countries as of the 2023–24 season. The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) also views the Stanley Cup as one of the "most important championships available to the sport". The NHL is headquartered in Midtown Manhattan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goal (ice hockey)</span> Point scoring in ice hockey

In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck entirely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to. Typically, a player on the team attempting to score shoots the puck with their stick towards the goal net opening, and a player on the opposing team called a goaltender tries to block the shot to prevent a goal from being scored against their team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marc-André Fleury</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1984)

Marc-André Fleury is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). Drafted out of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) first overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Fleury played major junior for four seasons with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, earning both the Mike Bossy Trophy as the league's top prospect and the Telus Cup as the top defensive player in 2003. He joined the Penguins in 2003–04 and during his 13 seasons with the team won Stanley Cup championships in 2009, 2016, and 2017. He received the William M. Jennings Trophy and the Vezina Trophy in 2021. He is the third goaltender to ever reach the 500 victories mark in the NHL, after Patrick Roy and Martin Brodeur, and the fourth goaltender to reach 1,000 games played, after Roy, Brodeur, and Roberto Luongo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goaltender</span> Person who tends the goal in ice hockey

In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player responsible for preventing the hockey puck from entering their team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring. The goaltender mostly plays in or near the area in front of the net called the goal crease. Goaltenders tend to stay at or beyond the top of the crease to cut down on the angle of shots. In the modern age of goaltending there are two common styles, butterfly and hybrid. Because of the power of shots, the goaltender wears special equipment to protect the body from direct impact.

In ice hockey, a penalty shot is a type of penalty awarded when a team loses a clear scoring opportunity on a breakaway because of a foul committed by an opposing player. A player from the non-offending team is given an attempt to score a goal without opposition from any defending players except the goaltender. This is the same type of shot used in a shootout to decide games in some leagues.

Overtime is a method of determining a winner in an ice hockey game when the score is tied after regulation. The main methods of determining a winner in a tied game are the overtime period, the shootout, or a combination of both. If league rules dictate a finite time in which overtime may be played, with no penalty shoot-out to follow, the game's winning team may or may not be necessarily determined.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sidney Crosby</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1987)

Sidney Patrick Crosby is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre and captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed "Sid the Kid" and dubbed "The Next One", he was selected first overall by the Penguins in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Born and raised in Halifax, Crosby was considered one of the most lauded prospects in ice hockey history and is widely regarded as one of the greatest ice hockey players of all time.

An extra attacker in ice hockey and ringette is a forward or, less commonly, a defenceman who has been substituted in place of the goaltender. The purpose of this substitution is to gain an offensive advantage to score a goal. The removal of the goaltender for an extra attacker is colloquially called pulling the goalie, resulting in an empty net. This article deals chiefly with situations which apply to the sport of ice hockey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Craig Patrick</span> American professional ice hockey executive and former player

Craig Patrick is an American former hockey player, coach and general manager, the son of Lynn Patrick and the grandson of Lester Patrick. During the 1980 Winter Olympics, Patrick was the Assistant General Manager and Assistant Coach under Herb Brooks for the United States men's national ice hockey team, which won the gold medal and defeated the Soviet Union in the "Miracle on Ice". From 1989 to 2006, Patrick was the General Manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins where he oversaw back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 1991 and 1992, as well as the drafting and signing of some players that would later win a Stanley Cup title for the Penguins in 2009.

The 1927–28 NHL season was the 11th season of the National Hockey League. Ten teams played 44 games each. The New York Rangers won the Stanley Cup beating the Montreal Maroons, becoming the first NHL team based in the United States to win it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordan Staal</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1988)

Jordan Staal is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre and captain of the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is regarded as a premier penalty-killer and skilled two-way forward. In 2007, he became the youngest player to score a hat trick in league history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pascal Dupuis</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1979)

Pascal Dupuis is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger. Dupuis played 14 seasons in the NHL for the Minnesota Wild, New York Rangers, Atlanta Thrashers, and Pittsburgh Penguins. Dupuis retired in December 2015 due to health issues, although contractually he remained on the Pittsburgh Penguins’ long-term injury reserve list until the end of the 2016–17 NHL season. He was part of 2 Stanley Cups championships in his career both with Pittsburgh in 2009 and 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colby Armstrong</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1982)

Colby Joseph Armstrong is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger. He was selected in the first round, 21st overall, by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. Armstrong also previously played for the Atlanta Thrashers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens. He currently serves as an analyst for NHL on Sportsnet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob Scuderi</span> American ice hockey player

Robert John Scuderi is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman, currently serving as an assistant coach for the National Hockey League's Nashville Predators.

The 2005–06 OHL season was the 26th season of the Ontario Hockey League. The Canadian Hockey League adopted the new playing rules and enforcement recently adopted by the National Hockey League in efforts to speed up the game, and make it more exciting for fans. Twenty teams each played 68 games. The J. Ross Robertson Cup was won by the Peterborough Petes, who defeated the London Knights in the final.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phil Kessel</span> American ice hockey player (born 1987)

Philip Joseph Kessel Jr. is an American professional ice hockey winger who is an unrestricted free agent. He has previously played for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, Arizona Coyotes, and the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL). Kessel is a three-time Stanley Cup champion, winning back-to-back championships with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017 and with the Golden Knights in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrick Kane</span> American ice hockey player (born 1988)

Patrick Timothy Kane II is an American professional ice hockey right winger for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks with the first overall pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft and played for the Blackhawks until February 2023 when he was traded to the New York Rangers. Kane has represented the United States at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flyers–Penguins rivalry</span> National Hockey League cross-state rivalry in Pennsylvania

The Flyers–Penguins rivalry, also known as the Battle of Pennsylvania, is a National Hockey League (NHL) rivalry between the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins ice hockey clubs. Both teams compete in the NHL's Eastern Conference Metropolitan Division. The rivalry began in 1967, when the teams were introduced into the NHL's "Next Six" expansion wave. The rivalry exists due to divisional alignment and geographic location, as both teams play in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Flyers and Penguins met in the Stanley Cup playoffs four times in 11 years from 2008 to 2018, strengthening the rivalry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Nylander</span> Swedish ice hockey player (born 1996)

William Andrew Michael Junior Nylander Altelius is a Swedish and Canadian professional ice hockey right winger for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nylander was selected by the Maple Leafs in the first round, eighth overall, of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. In international play, Nylander represents Sweden. In the 2017 IIHF World Championship, he won gold and was named the tournament's most valuable player (MVP).

References

  1. Kennedy, Ian (August 14, 2023). "3ICE Wraps Up Second Season With Down-to-the-Wire Final". The Hockey News . Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  2. 1 2 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.
  3. 1 2 3 4 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.
  4. 1 2 3 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 1 2 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. "3ICE Teams". 3ICE. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  11. "Las Vegas Weekend Recap of the Patrick Cup Championship". 3ICE. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  12. 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.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Wyshynski, Greg (August 18, 2022). "Inside 3ICE 3-on-3 hockey's revolutionary first season". ESPN . Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  14. 1 2 3 4 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.