Overtime with the boys’ hockey stories: 4 episodes (without Super 8), 17 minute runs, goal margin

Most coaches believe the reorganization was long overdue. In previous years, Division 3 South teams often had to win at least four games for a section championship, while D3 West usually had only four teams in parentheses. Some coaches complain about the loss of partial tournaments and are concerned about issues such as field availability and post-season travel, but others see new opportunities brought by the state-wide format.

“For too long, I think Central Mass. Has been too regional,” Northbridge coach Ryan Neville said. “Giving kids the opportunity to increase visibility with teams, players and places outside of their historical models is very exciting and repeats a lot of what they do out of season.”

Cambridge coach Mark Marfione added: “It was quite frustrating to play league teams in the first round of the tournament every year. It’s nice to mix. I don’t like it when it’s the first state round and we’re playing the team for the third time.

▪ Not as easy as 1-2-3? The state-wide tournament comes with new MIAA power ratings that combine scores (the limit is 3 goals per game) and schedule strength.

In general, coaches like the idea of ​​a system that rewards teams for playing on challenging schedules. But the scoring margin component raises concerns about end-of-game situations.

“Even if we’re two goals apart in the last two minutes, this system will reward you for scoring another goal at that point,” Oliver Ames coach Mike Zucarelli said. “In the past, teams would have used puck control to run their time and win.”

That is not an unprecedented concern. From 2004 to 2012, MIAA used the pool game in the Super 8 tournament with a cut-off system that included a goal difference. More than once, the coach had a difficult decision to pull the goalkeeper to equalize the game or settle for a single goal loss.

Oh, speaking of “this tournament” …

▪ Super change or super headache? On the recommendation of the MIAA Blue Ribbon Committee, the tournament’s management committee voted to suspend 1A tournaments in boys’ hockey and baseball, citing equality concerns related to the notion of an “elite tournament” restricted to selected teams.

When parish schools ruled in the late 1980s, the Super 8 was created in 1991 to level the playing field. While only three public schools (Arlington twice, Reading, Hingham) won the 1A championship, public schools won 21 Division 1 state championships in the same period – including nine of the last 10.

John Maguire, whose Waltham teams won the D1 title in 2002 and 2018, says the change “fundamentally changed the Division 1 state tournament as we have known it for the past 30 years. Instead of 12-15 teams having a legitimate chance to win D1, you now have 3-4 teams – it doesn’t make sense.

Walpole coach Ron Dowd, whose team was champion Belmont in 2020, agreed.

“If we eliminate Super 8, what we did two years ago may not be repeated,” he said. “It’s a pity.”

▪ Time of change… or not: For several years Mass. The State Hockey Coaches Association pressured the MIAA to adopt a National Federation of High Schools standard that allows for 17-minute sessions, believing that longer games could help prevent the transfer of talent to coaching schools and juniors. It was finally adopted last spring as an optional rule change.

Ironically, only a few leagues – the Catholic Conference and the Commonwealth Athletic – have officially made the exchange, while others give teams leeway to use 17-minute periods in out-of-league games.

“The lack of uniformity really bothers people,” said Nashoba Tech AD Bob Callahan, the school’s collaborative team coach with Greater Lowell. “We’re all valued in power positions and some teams play for 15 minutes and others for 17 minutes. It doesn’t make any sense.”

Tri-County coach Bryan Harrington, who is also an official, said there is a potential problem with referee compensation.

“Hypothetically, but if ‘League A’ plays 17-minute periods and ‘League B’ makes 15-minute periods for the same payout, why would anyone accept those A-League games?” he asked.

Some coaches believe 17-minute sessions should be mandatory across the state, giving more ice time to more players, but that’s a problem for teams with a limited roster.

“While two minutes added to each episode may not affect much, smaller programs like mine struggle to play three solid college lines,” Monomoy / Mashpe coach Chris Peterson said. “Adding six minutes to the game will definitely take effect by the end of the third installment.”

In many cases, it is just a matter of ice age availability, a problem exacerbated by another MIAA rule change.

▪ Continuing to play: After a two-year pilot program, the MIAA formally approved a mandatory five-minute 4-4 overtime relationship.

Unlike other changes, support for overtime was overwhelming among coaches. However, just as many wanted the losing team to get a point, as in the NHL and other levels of hockey. But the power rating system makes it impractical, and the MIAA wanted consistency with the “all or nothing” nature of overtime in other sports (basketball, lacrosse).

Jim Clark can be reached at [email protected].