I don't know how the College game decided to have 5 minute overtimes other than
what Mike M. has said, but I do remember how the NHL decided upon 5 minutes
when they were debating the length of the extra period when the overtime rule
was started for the regular season.  The NHL did a study on all the playoff
games that went into overtime (I can't remember how far back they went -- it
would have an effect on the study) and found that the majority of the games
ended in the first 5 minutes.  For this reason they didn't feel it was necessary
to tack on an additional 5 minutes for a total of 10.
 
BTW, there use to be a 10 minute overtime in college.  Does anyone know if they
changed it when the NHL came out with their 5 minute rule?  I know it was after
I graduated in '82.
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Russell Jaslow         | Official Contact - Potsdam College Hockey|My employer
Eastman Kodak Company  |  Potsdam Bears - 1981 and 1986 NCAA Div. |has nothing
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