A change to the overtime format, adjustments to league office staff, additions to the Executive Committee, and more were discussed and approved by the BCHL Board of Governors after part two of the league’s annual general meeting on May 25 in Victoria.
The change in overtime will see the BCHL go to a 3-on-3 format for a 10-minute period in regular season games tied at the end of regulation. Previously, the league played a five-minute 3-on-3 overtime period. Regular season games tied at the end of overtime will continue to be decided by a shootout.
The 3-on-3 overtime is designed to create more space on the ice for a longer period of time, allowing for more goals to be scored and more games ending in overtime rather than the shootout.
According to a news release, the BCHL saw 41.5 per cent of overtime games go to a shootout under the previous five-minute 3-on-3 overtime format.
The BCHL has also promoted Brad Lazarowich from Director of Officiating and Player Safety to Vice-President of Hockey Operations and Jesse Adamson has his role changed from Manager, Communications and Events to Director of Communications and Events.
Returning to the league office in the same capacity as 2022-23 are Coordinator of Finance Mario Galea and Safe Sport Officer Monique MacKinnon. Alex Waddington is back with a new title, from Coordinator of Events to Manager of Events.
The league unveiled a plan to expand the league office staff and noted it will make a number of new hires prior to the start of the 2023-24 season, the BCHL’s first as an independent league since leaving Hockey Canada on May 1.
Executive Committee and Management Awards
The BCHL’s Executive Committee, which includes league Board of Governors Chair Graham Fraser from the Penticton Vees, Salmon Arm governor Brooks Christensen, Alberni Valley governor David Michaud, Trail governor Rich Murphy, and Victoria governor Ron Walchuk. BCHL CEO Chris Hebb and Commissioner Steven Cocker also sit on the Executive Committee.
Additionally, the BCHL announced that part of the AGM included Cranbrook Bucks owner and team president Nathan Lieuwen being voted as Executive of the Year and Wenatchee Wild Director of Sales and Marketing Gretchen Littler being selected as Marketer of the Year, each for 2022-23.
