3ICE, the three-on-three professional North American ice hockey league has announced an expansion to eight teams.
League officials also announced 3ICE will begin its second season on Wednesday, June 28 in Hershey, Pa., at Giant Center.
The league features a three-on-three, bracket-style, single-elimination series of games in seven cities across North America on consecutive Wednesdays from June 28 through Aug. 2. The season culminates with the Patrick Cup Championship at Wells Fargo Center, home of the
Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL, on Saturday, Aug. 12 at 1 p.m. 3ICE will also make a stop in Pittsburgh; Boston; Clarksville, Tenn.; Newark, N.J.; and Grand Rapids, Mich. The full schedule is below.
Each stop on the 3ICE tour features four of the eight league teams, comprised of professional ice hockey players competing in three-on-three—a la the NHL’s overtime format—for two eight-minute periods with a running clock. The single-elimination format includes two first-round games, a consolation match, and a title game, for a total of four games each night.
“We offer family affordable, entertaining hockey featuring professional hockey players from literally every top league in the world competing in a format featuring the most exciting part of the sport–three-on-three,” says EJ Johnston, founder, 3ICE. “In addition to the high-paced, non-stop, end-to-end action, we have some new and exciting fan-engaging experiences planned in each city and we look forward to bringing 3ICE to Hershey, Boston, Nashville, Philadelphia, Newark, Boston, and Grand Rapids this summer.”
Each team is coached by a former NHL All-Star Stanley Cup Champion or Hockey Hall of Fame member, including returning coaches John LeClair, Guy Carbonneau, Grant Fuhr, Joe Mullen, and Larry Murphy, with the addition of Hall of Famers Ray Bourque, Ed Johnston, Sr., and Craig Patrick.
The league will announce individual rosters on Tuesday, March 21, 2023.
All 3ICE Wednesday evening events will air live on CBS Sports Network, beginning at 7 p.m. (EST), and the Saturday, Aug. 12 matinee will also air on CBS.
