Hockey operations for the 3-on-3 tournaments at the Youth Olympics were recently tested by the IIHF in Vierumaki, Finland.
photo: Toni Saarinen
For the first time the IIHF will organize 3-on-3 hockey with men's and women's tournaments at the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games.
The 3-on-3 tournament will be played cross-ice with two games running simultaneously, one in each end of the rink. The tournaments will consist of 8 teams per gender category. The teams will be mixed-NOC and therefore consist of players from numerous countries all over the world, mixed into teams of 11 skaters and two goaltenders. These teams play a round-robin tournament followed by semi-finals and medal games. The players will be selected through national skills challenge competitions and the goaltenders will be selected on a youth ranking which is also used for the allocation of team quote for the 6-team tournaments.
The 3-on-3 tournament will be played cross-ice with two games running simultaneously, one in each end of the rink. The tournaments will consist of 8 teams per gender category. The teams will be mixed-NOC and therefore consist of players from numerous countries all over the world, mixed into teams of 11 skaters and two goaltenders. These teams play a round-robin tournament followed by semi-finals and medal games. The players will be selected through national skills challenge competitions and the goaltenders will be selected on a youth ranking which is also used for the allocation of team quote for the 6-team tournaments.
Check out our YOG page for more information on the 3-on-3 and the "classic" ice hockey tournaments as well as the qualification system.