NCAA four-on-four overtime proposal tabled

By @MichaelCaples –

The NCAA announced today that they are tabling a five-minute, four-on-four overtime format rule change proposal that would have been required for all NCAA regular-season contests.

The Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey Rules Committee made the decision to table the proposal before the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel discussed whether to approve the rule change during its conference call on Wednesday.

“As part of the rules process, the committee has been gathering input from our membership on all of our proposals, including this issue,” said Tom Anastos, the committee chair and men’s ice hockey coach at Michigan State University. “While there remains support for some change to our current system, the committee believes that the best course of action at this time is to pause for at least another season to allow for more dialogue, examination and consideration to occur.”

The rule proposal would not have impacted overtime for postseason tournament games. It also carried a provision that would have allowed for teams to play three-on-three for five minutes and then determine a winner via sudden-death shootout. The NCAA release says any conference interested in using the experimental rule may do so.

The rules oversight committee approved the rule that will require a coach’s challenge for video replay to be used when wanting a goal review relating to offsides or too many men on the ice – except for the last two minutes of regulation and any overtime play.

Officials will be able to review offsides during the aforementioned timeframe.

In OT, all aspects of video replay criteria will be used without needing a coach’s challenge.

The panel also approved the rule that requires all officials and players to wear helmets at any time on the ice, with the exception of the playing of the national anthem.