3ICE: 3-on-3 hockey league launching '21

[Bondurant]

An 8 team 3-on-3 league starts play in '21. Targeting the summer with a 9 city tour. League is bringing in some big names for the coaches. Not something I'd go out of my way to see but it comes to Phoenix (HA!) I'll check it out.

3ICE: Star-studded coaching group to head new 3-on-3 hockey league

3ICE - THE BEST PART OF HOCKEY

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[Kshahdoo]

Why not, minifootball has become pretty popular in the world, so can minihockey.

 

[BadgerBruce]

I love traditional hockey .... but there’s no doubt that 3-on-3 is really exciting. There’s going to be one high premium on goaltending, that’s for sure.

 

[namttebih]

Why not, minifootball has become pretty popular in the world, so can minihockey.

As well as sevens rugby.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I love traditional hockey .... but there’s no doubt that 3-on-3 is really exciting. There’s going to be one high premium on goaltending, that’s for sure.

It’ll be interesting to see how this goes. To some extent, it could serve as a proving ground for innovations as the NHL gradually moves in the direction of having fewer players on the ice.

 

[BadgerBruce]

It’ll be interesting to see how this goes. To some extent, it could serve as a proving ground for innovations as the NHL gradually moves in the direction of having fewer players on the ice.

Much of the talk in Canadian youth hockey circles these days is about how 3-on-3 is likely to be the format for the 20-21 season, assuming there is any kind of season at all. Hockey Quebec, I believe, has already disseminated information indicating this is one of their fallback strategies if public health authorities maintain strict rules about physical distancing and the number of people permitted to congregate. 3-on-3 could conceivably work, since the proposed roster size is 6 skaters + 1 goalie. 3 skaters on the bench can maintain the 6 foot physical distancing requirement and locker room management is also doable, at least in most facilities.

The 3-on-3 game itself? I’m a proponent of the format at the youth level and have been for a long time. The pluses? Nobody sits on the bench for very long, positions are fluid, systems are virtually non-existent, wannabe bench-maestro coaches are gone, goalies actually play the puck, and the game is almost taken back to its pond hockey roots, which young kids quickly love. There are negatives — increased cost being the most obvious — but in my view they are outweighed by the positives.

At the pro level, I’ll reserve judgment largely because I’m not so sure the 3ice “PGA Tour” style tournament setup is going to fly. I could see the league becoming a Harlem Globetrotters travelling circus playing in (post-coronavirus) empty buildings unless fans are given reasons to follow “their hometown team,” which doesn’t appear to be part of the plan. How many people will buy tickets to watch a single weekend of tournament-style 3-on-3 hockey in the middle of July? That’s the big question.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Much of the talk in Canadian youth hockey circles these days is about how 3-on-3 is likely to be the format for the 20-21 season, assuming there is any kind of season at all. Hockey Quebec, I believe, has already disseminated information indicating this is one of their fallback strategies if public health authorities maintain strict rules about physical distancing and the number of people permitted to congregate. 3-on-3 could conceivably work, since the proposed roster size is 6 skaters + 1 goalie. 3 skaters on the bench can maintain the 6 foot physical distancing requirement and locker room management is also doable, at least in most facilities.

The 3-on-3 game itself? I’m a proponent of the format at the youth level and have been for a long time. The pluses? Nobody sits on the bench for very long, positions are fluid, systems are virtually non-existent, wannabe bench-maestro coaches are gone, goalies actually play the puck, and the game is almost taken back to its pond hockey roots, which young kids quickly love. There are negatives — increased cost being the most obvious — but in my view they are outweighed by the positives.

At the pro level, I’ll reserve judgment largely because I’m not so sure the 3ice “PGA Tour” style tournament setup is going to fly. I could see the league becoming a Harlem Globetrotters travelling circus playing in (post-coronavirus) empty buildings unless fans are given reasons to follow “their hometown team,” which doesn’t appear to be part of the plan. How many people will buy tickets to watch a single weekend of tournament-style 3-on-3 hockey in the middle of July? That’s the big question.

Another plus at the youth level — it effectively doubles the number of teams. Leagues with only 2 or 3 teams aren’t nearly as much fun as 4 or 6, and for very small leagues it could make the difference in having a season or not.

 

[BadgerBruce]

Another plus at the youth level — it effectively doubles the number of teams. Leagues with only 2 or 3 teams aren’t nearly as much fun as 4 or 6, and for very small leagues it could make the difference in having a season or not.

Exactly. Ironically, the move to 3-on-3 could actually help small associations and leagues.

But here’s a funny story. A parent of a kid I coached last season asked me if I would reach out to the local AAA team’s coach (who I know well because he was my assistant for years) and recommend his son for the team. My response was this: “in all likelihood, the game will be 3-on-3 next season with just 6 skaters per team. Your son is not one of the 6 most highly skilled 11 year olds in the area. Sorry, but that’s the truth.“

Guy is probably still pissed off at me for telling him that, but most parents seem unable to appreciate just how much the youth game is going to change in 2020-21. If I still had a young kid, last thing I’d be doing is chasing something that doesn’t even exist next season. Just play local 3-on-3 and have a blast.

 

[Burke the Legend]

This is going to be bad if it's on 200 foot ice sheets unless they do something like put in shot clocks. The keep-away that we often see in NHL OTs is going to be excrutiatingly well practiced in a dedicated league. A 3v3 league would be alright if they play on the specialized rinks that are 130 to 150 feet.

 

[BadgerBruce]

This is going to be bad if it's on 200 foot ice sheets unless they do something like put in shot clocks. The keep-away that we often see in NHL OTs is going to be excrutiatingly well practiced in a dedicated league. A 3v3 league would be alright if they play on the specialized rinks that are 130 to 150 feet.

I’d agree, but this isn’t a “dedicated league” in the traditional sense. According to the news releases posted in the OP, the vision is partly UFC and partly PGA Tour — players earn more money for winning and putting up big offensive numbers.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

This is going to be bad if it's on 200 foot ice sheets unless they do something like put in shot clocks. The keep-away that we often see in NHL OTs is going to be excrutiatingly well practiced in a dedicated league. A 3v3 league would be alright if they play on the specialized rinks that are 130 to 150 feet.

Aside from this league, the mention of using 3-on-3 in minor hockey on big ice could be a little excruciating also. I've seen it in OT at tournaments at times of course... but even at say Bantam AAA it was a little hard to watch. If you start carrying it down to younger ages, well. Lots of skating anyway. (Of course, there'd be no sense in playing it on half-ice, would defeat the distancing purpose). Lots of skating, lots of breakaways on the goalies. Really won't be able to hide average goaltending the same way, probably. Kids who love hockey tend to love it in any format, though, so I'm sure it'll be loads of fun to play.

 

[JMACole]

There has been very little news about this league lately. The latest news on the leagues official site says they have delayed starting until 2022. 3ice News and Articles
I wonder if this will ever get off the ground. They don’t seem like they’re doing much to get any excitement building.

 

[JMCx4]

There has been very little news about this league lately. The latest news on the leagues official site says they have delayed starting until 2022. 3ice News and Articles
I wonder if this will ever get off the ground. They don’t seem like they’re doing much to get any excitement building.

As long as they continue to keep their Twitter feed active, they will remain relevant in a social media-driven world. Many traditional NA ice hockey leagues have neglected their standard website content to focus on Twitter & Facebook & Instagram options. Doesn't mean 3ICE will ever hit the ice, but it also doesn't mean they won't.

 

[cutchemist42]

I like the idea.

I mean if I were designing the game of hockey with 2021 modern eyes, the sport would be better as 4o4 IMO.

 

[Garyboy]

Nice as a gimmick, but hopefully it doesn’t bleed into AAA and real hockey.

 

[No Fun Shogun]

I’ll give it a gander if it comes to Chicago.

 

[Rigafan]

3ICE Hockey

It appears to be launching in 'summer 2022' now, thanks to covid.

 

[JMCx4]

3ICE Hockey

It appears to be launching in 'summer 2022' now, thanks to covid.

COVID was just a convenient excuse for the investors to change "summer 2021" to "summer 2022." Plenty more summers left to choose from for "The Best Part Of Hockey."

 

[LadyStanley]

Start delayed by pandrmic.

 

[No Fun Shogun]

3 on 3 basketball has found a niche that got elevated up to an Olympic sport in short order, I would not at all be surprised if the IIHF/IOC uses 3 on 3 hockey and tries to promote it as another Olympic option as well. Smaller squads and shorter games might be a real attention grabber.

 

[Spydey629]

Here’s your schedule:

Home | 3ICE

3ICE has been created to bring the fans one thing…pure, unadulterated excitement. Our players and coaches will be names and faces you know and love. This is the best part of hockey. This is 3ICE.

www.3ice.com

I live near Hershey. Interesting that tickets in Chocolate Town are more expensive than two weeks later in The Burgh.

 

[Albatros]

3 on 3 basketball has found a niche that got elevated up to an Olympic sport in short order, I would not at all be surprised if the IIHF/IOC uses 3 on 3 hockey and tries to promote it as another Olympic option as well. Smaller squads and shorter games might be a real attention grabber.

Many more countries could potentially be competitive if you need 7-10 players instead of 20-22.

 

[garbageteam]

The league is slated to drop the puck June 18 in Las Vegas before traveling to Denver, Nashville, Pittsburgh, Quebec City, London (Ontario), Hershey, and Grand Rapids. The playoffs and championship event will take place August 20 back in Las Vegas with $2-million in prize money on the line.

Per Former NHLers Highlight First 3ICE Signings