Concerns Over Olympic Hockey Overtime Format
Team Canada’s men’s hockey coach, John Cooper, has voiced his dissatisfaction with the 3-on-3 overtime format used in the Olympics. However, it seems his opinion won’t change the established norm.
Luc Tardif, the president of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), explained to The Athletic that the format will remain in place for upcoming tournaments, regardless of Cooper’s critiques after Canada secured a gold medal against Team USA on Sunday.
“The best rule is to stick to a tight schedule,” Tardif noted, emphasizing the intense pace of the event. “The men have to play 30 games in 11 days, while the women are looking at 28 games in 13 days, totaling 58 games in 16 days.” It’s quite the undertaking.
The IIHF aimed to introduce the 3-on-3 format, similar to what the NHL employs during regular season play, in order to avoid shootouts. However, the NHL shifts back to 5-on-5 during the playoffs, a change that omits shootouts altogether.
After witnessing Jack Hughes score the decisive goal in the championship match, Cooper’s frustrations became more pronounced. “Once you take four guys off the ice, hockey isn’t hockey anymore,” he remarked. He further criticized the TV-driven nature of overtime, questioning why such alterations don’t occur in the Stanley Cup Finals or playoffs.
For the Olympic qualifying rounds, overtime lasted just five minutes, leading to a five-round penalty shootout if the game remained tied. This was extended to 10 minutes for the quarterfinals and semifinals, and even longer for the final.
Canada didn’t find the net as easily as Hughes had, but they did create numerous opportunities in the final period. The United States managed to hold the score for a full 60 minutes, aided by an impressive performance from goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who has been dubbed the “Secretary of Defense.”
In the aftermath, Cooper wasn’t alone in expressing disappointment. Assistant captain Nathan MacKinnon also had remarks that hinted at frustration, particularly about a missed opportunity in the third period. “You decide which team was better today,” he said, leaving the question hanging.
While Canada reflects on missed chances, Team USA celebrated with President Trump aboard Air Force One ahead of the State of the Union address. Each player received personal congratulations for their achievements.
In a remarkable feat, the USA claimed the most gold medals in a single Winter Olympics with twelve, including the women’s ice hockey team’s triumph over Canada in overtime, largely credited to Megan Keller’s standout performance.
