College hockey's tie system sparks debate. Shootouts lack meaning, confusing fans and hindering development. It's time for a points system that truly counts.
Literally nobody is on page when it comes to ties in college hockey. Conferences look at them differently, fans look at them differently.
A main factor of losing potential fans in college hockey is simply a lack of clarity and increased confusion towards the points system in each respective conference when it comes to ties and shootouts.
Most shootouts you see in college hockey have minimal meaning. A shootout win against a team you enjoy beating at home? Cool for maybe 15 minutes. Then you realize whatever you just did means nothing in the standings or to your record, even if you beat a ranked team. The polls still view it as a tie.
The NCAA is stuck on its own island, with competitors like the Canadian junior leagues all adapting the addition of shootout wins and losses into their standings. And heck, even the NHL has the same suit where shootouts count. So why wouldn’t the apparent NHL pipeline follow those same rules so that their players can feel the weight of the moment when they make the big leagues?
There have been adjustments over time, but why is there no points intended? The NCAA passed a rule that started in 2024, when teams would have to go to shootouts no matter what if tied after the overtime period. Previously, the NCAA allowed teams to waive off the shootout if they desired.
In the past, non conference games used to be as confusing as ever, due to the lack of being on the same page with respective conferences having their own rules for what mattered after regulation.
From a marketing standpoint, it is great to have a shootout, but you could only sit there and wonder how much more electric an experience like that could be with points and rankings on the line.
With the force of playing a meaningless shootout, what does it really mean for these teams?
There is nothing wrong with trying to be different, but when you are taking away the meaning of a shootout, it just feels like a waste of time.
In a perfect world where time is unlimited, it would be perfect to just have teams play until the end of overtime. But financially and ethically, that is not an option.