>> Just to clarify the rules regarding overtime, I quote from the 1997 NCAA >> Ice Hockey Rulebook, rule 6, section 44a: >> >> "Where advancement in a bracket or the determination of a tournament >> champion is necessary, any series in a format (e.g., total-goals series, >> single game, minigame series) that results in a tie will be broken by >> 20-minute, sudden-death overtime periods. The ice shall be resurfaced upon >> completion of regulation play. The teams shall not change ends (except as > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > ***************************** > >please define regulation play in the context of this rule. Does >regulation play include or exclude the 5 minute overtime period that >is part of the "normal" game? Is it not true that a SINGLE game can >not be thought of as ending in a tie until AFTER the 5 minute overtime >is played? According to the other rules governing the time of the game and overtime, it would appear that the 5-minute overtime is NOT a part of regulation time, even though it is a part of a normal game. The relevant rule sections are as follows: Rule 6-42 (Time of Game) a. The time allowed for a game shall be three 20-minute periods of actual play with a rest intermission of 12 minutes between each period... (Goes on to clarify some details concerning intermissions which are not relevant to this discussion.) Rule 6-43 (Tied Games) a. If the score is tied at the end of three regulation 20-minute periods, the following shall take place: (1) There shall be a two-minute intermission. (2) The teams shall not change ends. (3) A five-minute period shall be played. (4) The team that scores first wins and the game is ended. If no goal is scored in the five-minute period, the shall be declared a tie. b. Any overtime period shall be considered part of the game and all unexpired penalties shall remain in force. Based on the fact that rule 6-44 regarding tournament competition states that "The ice shall be resurfaced upon completion of regulation play.", and rule 6-43 indicates that regulation period includes only the three regular 20-minute periods, it would appear that the rules define two alternate overtime formats: one five-minute period for regular games, and 20-minute periods to completion for tournaments when a winner must be determined. Howie ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Howard Stein Go Big Red! Cornell '91 Kill, Schafer, Kill! "Hooligans with horns" alumni "The income tax has made liars out of more Americans than golf." - Will Rogers HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.