SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
SIJHL MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Friday, Sept. 9, 2016
SIJHL announces OT and playoff format
THUNDER BAY, Ont. – The Superior International Junior Hockey League announced Friday its new regular season overtime format as well as its Bill Salonen Cup playoff set-up.
In regular season play, all games that are tied after regulation time will then move to a five-minute sudden victory OT, which will feature the club’s starting three skaters aside.
Should a team have a power play heading into the extra session that side will start with four or five skaters, depending on the man advantage opportunity they were holding prior to the commencement of overtime.
If the teams play the five-minute extra session without a goal being scored, a three-player per-side shootout will be held to determine a winner. The home club will have the option of shooting first or second.
In the event the teams are still tied after the first round of the shootout, each squad will then use one new participant each until the game is decided.
The point system for the league standings will remain the same with winners receiving two points per victory in regulation, OT or a shootout. Teams that lose in OT or a shootout will earn one point.
“Going right to the 3-on-3 overtime is sure to be very exciting for both our fans and players,” offered SIJHL commissioner Bryan Graham.
“This format has led to a much higher number of games being decided before a shootout in other leagues and we look forward seeing it in use across the SIJHL,” added Graham.
As for the Bill Salonen Cup playoffs, the top five of the SIJHL’s member clubs, in terms of points, will advance to the postseason.
The fourth and fifth place teams in the regular season standings will play a best-of-five quarter-final series.
From there the winning team will move on to meet the first place finisher (Regular season title holder) in a best-of-seven semifinal.
The second and third place clubs will square-off in the other league best-of-seven series.
The Bill Salonen Cup final will then feature the two semifinal winners meeting in a best-of-seven set for the league championship.
All SIJHL playoff games will have OT if tied after regulation (No shootout) with the clubs playing a sudden victory format until a winner is determined.
Awaiting the SIJHL champion will be a berth in the 2017 Dudley-Hewitt Cup Central Canada Jr. A championship next May in Trenton, Ont.
The DHC title holder will then move on to represent the Central region later in May at the RBC Cup Canadian Jr. A championship in Cobourg, Ont.
The SIJHL’s 16th season begins Friday, Sept. 23 with the start of its regular season.
For more information on the SIJHL, visit the league’s website at www.sijhlhockey.com.