Hockey team gets league approval to test a very odd rule change before their remaining home games

BarDown Staff

Carolina Thunderbirds , Twitter/carolinatbirds

Sports leagues around the world are always trying to come up with new ways to try to grow the game and the brand. From changing the rules of the game to adjusting equipment, it seems like there’s always some sort of new change we need to be aware of when it comes to sports.

On Wednesday, the Carolina Thunderbirds of the Federal Hockey League received approval from the league to experiment with a new rule that will only be in effect at their home games at the Fairgrounds Annex for the remainder of the 2018-19 regular season. As an attempt to grow both the game of hockey in North Carolina and the franchise’s brand, the T-Birds will host a five-man shootout prior to the opening faceoff as a way to settle a potential tie at the end of overtime.

Flock, get ready for a new rule that changes the beginning of games in the Annex this season!https://t.co/4zJ3T2x1AT pic.twitter.com/n4NbTKcsuF
— Carolina T-Birds (@carolinatbirds) November 28, 2018

That’s right, before every remaining T-Birds home game this regular season, the two teams will take part in a five-man shootout in hopes of getting fans out to the arena a little earlier than usual. The result of the shootout will also hold up after the game if the two teams go through overtime without figuring out a winner.

“As a hockey guy, I am not big on shootouts, but it’s part of today’s game and the fans seem to like it,” Thunderbirds President and General Manager Scott Brand told the team’s website on Wednesday. “With the advent of 3-on-3 hockey, shootouts are becoming a very rare event and for those fans that like it, this is a way to satisfy them.”

An upside to this is that fans will get a chance to see a shootout every home game regardless of if the game even goes to overtime, but it’s going to be a little odd to see the night start with a shootout.

“My thought was let’s try it and give it a chance, let the fans vote on it and see if it works. I am sure like the icing rule, we will need to make some tweaks overall, but I think it could add more excitement and marketing opportunities for the game,” Brand added.

While this is certainly a creative way to try to get fans out to the game a little earlier, we don’t think it’s a rule change that’s going to pick up and make its way to the NHL.

(H/T CarolinaThunderbirds.com)