As VIJHL President Barb Byrne said in an internal communique, “It’s now official, we will be using the 3 point game system and shoots-outs for the upcoming season.” The VIJHL received confirmation from BC Hockey on June 14 that the implementation of a three (3) point standings
structure during regular season play as well as shoot-outs to break deadlocks if four-on-four and three-on-three overtimes are unsuccessful in determining a winner has been approved as a pilot project for the 2018-2019 season.
The league owners/governors had voted for the changes back in May but required support from the PJHL and KIJHL to make changes to the BC Junior B Supplemental rules. When that didn’t occur at the beginning of June, the Vancouver Island league requested the implementation on these changes as a pilot project.
Approval was granted for the 2018-2019 season and the VIJHL is now responsible for the submission of a complete report on the impact of this pilot project by March 15, 2019.
In making their decision, BC Hockey cited the VIJHL rationale that both the three (3) point standings structure and shoot-outs are used at the Cyclone Taylor Cup (BC Junior B) Championships to determine the provincial champion.
The breakdown of points for the 2018-2019 VIJHL standings will be three (3) points to a regulation win, two (2) points for an overtime or shoot-out win and one (1) point for an overtime or shootout loss.
Shoot-outs will occur if the four-on-four five minute overtime and three-on-three five minute double overtime fail to produce a winner. The league will be utilizing the familiar minimum three shooter shoot-out system used by most leagues.
The changes are being heralded by most observers as giving the fans what they want particularly with the shoot-out. Outside North America, the three (3) point standings structure is very common.
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