Clarkson University Athletics

Breaking Down the Updated OT Formats and Point Structures
Fans watching ECAC Hockey contests may notice something new this season once the
the third period game clock hits zero and the teams on the ice are still tied. That’s because
3-on-3 overtime has come to college hockey. We’ve broken down how games will play out
in both the men’s and women’s league, as well as the implications on ECAC Hockey
league points.

MEN’S HOCKEY: Non-Conference Games
In games that involve teams from different leagues, the five-minute, 3v3 overtime frame
will be the last chance to break the tie. If the OT game clock hits zero and nobody has
scored, the game will officially end in a tie.  Wondering why you’ve seen shootouts in
non-conference games this year? The ONLY time this is allowed is in a tournament
format, where a winner is needed to determine advancement. Think Icebreaker,
Beanpot, etc. In those cases, the game will “officially” go down as a tie in the NCAA
record book, and the results of the shootout will only be applicable to that tournament.
If you follow the Pairwise Rankings/Team RPI, it’s important to note that an overtime
win does not impact your RPI the same as a regulation win would. OT winners receive
55% of the RPI points, while OT losers receive 45%.
ECAC Hockey Conference Games
For fans of the shootout, we have good news. ECAC Hockey men’s contests will be
utilizing a three-person shootout in league games this season to determine which team
receives the extra league point. After regulation, teams will play the NCAA-
mandated 3v3 overtime for five minutes. If no winner, the shootout will ensue. A
breakdown on how points will be awarded is at the top of the next column.

— 3 points for a win in regulation
— 2 points for a win in overtime OR shootout
— 1 point for a loss in overtime OR shootout
— 0 points for a loss in regulation
 
It should be noted that, similar to non-league games, if teams are still tied after the 3v3
overtime period, the game “officially” goes into the NCAA and ECAC Hockey record
book as a tie. The shootout is only conducted to determine the additional
league point.  Shootouts will not be used as a determining
factor in head-to-head tiebreaker scenarios, either.