Quebecers can discover the 3ICE professional ice hockey league starting June 28, as TVA Sports broadcasts its summer games.
• Also read: NHL Series: The Kraken’s recipe for success in 5 ingredients
• Also read: A Quebec star joins the troupe
• Also read: Here are the two candidates for the Flyers’ presidency
The fledgling circuit features a three-on-three game format that pits two teams against each other on a National League (NHL)-sized rink. Eight teams will compete for seven weeks before the Patrick Cup finals on August 12 at 1 p.m. Each team is represented by coaches, all former NHL players: Hall of Famers Raymond Bourque, Guy Carbonneau, Grant Fuhr, as well as John LeClair, Joe Mullen, Larry Murphy, Ed Johnston and Craig Patrick.
Next season, nearly half of the players participating in the 3ICE league will be NHL alumni. The 3ICE was designed and engineered to provide hockey fans with the spectacle they have enjoyed since the introduction of three-on-three overtime in the NHL. Games are played on full ice over two eight-minute periods. The game is played in continuous time to keep a fast pace.
“TVA Sports is excited to add the 3ICE league to its schedule and to offer ice hockey to fans all year round,” said Louis-Philippe Neveu, general manager of TVA Sports, in a press release. This is a young and growing league that offers an innovative and very fast-paced format that will appeal to viewers.
According to EJ Johnston, President and CEO and Founder of 3ICE, the coverage of the games on Quebec television should attract a growing number of fans.
“We are extremely pleased with this partnership with TVA Sports,” he said. Their brand, their quality work and the marketing power they will devote to 3ICE throughout the summer will benefit everyone, especially the fans.”
TVA Sports will present the games on June 28th, July 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th and August 2nd at 7pm. The Coupe Patrick will then be broadcast.