Shootouts are not part of hockey, they are their own game. It is similar to a
game I used to play when i was young.  We called it hot box.  It was a
baseball type game in which you tried to get caught between bases and make
the two fielders mess up and get to the next base safely.  All though the
game used a baseball and gloves it was not baseball.  the same goes for
shootouts.  It uses sticks pucks and a goalie but it is not hockey.  If you
don't want ties PLAY HOCKEY until someone wins.
 
 
                              Rich Peach
                              Western Michigan University