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IIHF working on proposal to include 3on3 hockey as "separate sport" in 2030 Winter Olympics: Report
While NHL players haven't participated in Olympic games for several years, it seems the IIHF is considering introducing a 3x3 hockey tournament for the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps. According to noted NHL agent Allan Walsh, the IIHF is preparing a proposal to include 3x3 hockey in the upcoming Olympic games, which will take place in Lyon, France, from Friday, February 1, 2030, through Sunday, February 17, 2030.
"I’m hearing the IIHF is working on a proposal to include 3on3 hockey as a separate sport for the upcoming Olympics," Walsh tweeted on Monday.
Last month, IIHF president Luc Tardif hinted that 3x3 hockey could be added to the Olympics while noting the positive reception of similar formats in basketball, rugby and beach volleyball. He pointed out the positive impact these events have had on financial opportunities and recruiting in those respective sports, suggesting that 3x3 hockey could yield similar benefits for hockey.
The NHL has already embraced the 3x3 format, introducing it in overtime sessions starting in June 2015. Before then, all teams played regular-season overtime sessions in a 4x4 format, with the shootout rule introduced in 2005 if no goals were scored during the five-minute extra session.
The potential 3x3 format for the 2030 Olympics has been well-received
The introduction of 3x3 hockey presents an exciting new challenge for athlete and investor Danny Meyers, who invested his own money to build a rink specifically designed for this format near London.
Meyers is excited about the potential for players to further develop their hockey skills through the fast-paced nature of 3x3 hockey, via Andy Potts of IIHF.com.
“And it’s fast. You make quick decisions, and those decisions have immediate consequences," Meyers said. "In 5x5 if you lose the puck in the opposition’s corner, they still have to come 200 feet up the ice. In 3x3, it’s an immediate breakaway. On the smaller pad, the edgework has to be spot on, the decision making has to be better.”
"It’s also a new challenge for coaches. “It’s exhilarating, seeing the new stresses it places on the players,” Meyers added. “I feel like I’m a better coach on the smaller ice – I can get to players quicker, the communication is better.”
According to the official IIHF website, the deadline to decide whether 3x3 hockey will be coming to the 2030 Olympics is Jan. 2025.
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