Spectators to the B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League will witness some new changes for overtime and playoffs in the upcoming season.
Representatives from the seven affiliated clubs, including the Simon Fraser University club team, voted included overtime and a possible shootout during league play, as well as a new playoff format the the league's annual general meeting at Selkirk College last week.
Beginning in September, league games that end tied after regulation time will play a four-on-four, five-minute overtime period, followed by an NHL-style shootout if still tied.
The league also voted in favour of a three-round, best-of-three format in the playoffs, rather than stick with the traditional weekend championship format.
"I think (the changes) are all good," said SFU head coach Mark Coletta. "It gets in line with the rest of the (hockey) leagues. Overtime is a definite bonus. I think it's a good, progressive move by the league."
In the playoffs, the fourth- and fifth-finishing teams will will playoff with the winner taking on the regular season champion in a best-of-three, home-and-away semifinal. The second- and third-place teams would contest the other semifinal.
The two winners would then play a similar three-game series in the provincial final.
There was also talk about looking into the possibility of holding a regional championship series with the Alberta champions for the 2013/14 season.
