Could a BIG3 Hockey league work?
The basketball league created by rapper Ice Cube that features former NBA stars has been a ratings hit in its two seasons. Other media outlets like ESPN and NBA TV have added programming like NBA Summer League and The Basketball Tournament, which consists of former college basketball players.
BIG3’s success of the league has gotten people thinking if BIG3 hockey league could work. Would people watch a league of 3-on-3 hockey with former NHLers?
Background on BIG3
Here’s a little background on BIG3 for those that may be unfamiliar with it. The league is the brainchild of Ice Cube and entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz. Players are mostly retired from the NBA or ones that are not on an NBA roster.
The eight teams are not tied to a specific city and are drafted together. Rosters are made up of six players and games are played to 60 points. The regular season is eight weeks and tours various cities. The top four teams qualify for the postseason and play a single elimination tournament.
Feedback to the league has been positive and ratings have been solid. Live crowds have been much better as the league has been playing in bigger venues this season.
A History of Exhibition Hockey
Exhibition tournaments have happened before as the 4-of-4 Challenge occurred during the 1994-95 lockout and it raised more than half a million dollars to support the Ronald McDonald Children’s Charities of Canada and minor hockey associations throughout North America.
The tournament brought out big stars like Patrick Roy, Rob Blake, Brett Hull, Mike Richter and others. They tried this again during the 2004-05 lockout with the short-lived Original Stars Hockey League.
The last three NHL All-Star Games have been played 3-on-3 and it’s been popular in the ratings. Games were actually close and some doubt in the outcome forced urgency.
BIG3 Hockey?
The NHL reaction to 3-on-3 has been mixed at times because the fast-paced action is loved by some but not by others. Some dislike that an exhibition decides a regular season game.
The legends games at many of the Winter Classic and Stadium Series games are usually the best-attended events of the weekend and finding alumni to play in those games isn’t hard. It should be easy to fill rosters of willing players.
The Format
The league would be three skaters versus three skaters and a goalie. It is a format NHL fans are already familiar with. The All-Star Game gets excitement despite some fans not liking it as a way to decide regular season games.
The Players
There are plenty of retired NHLers that are still in good shape and could put out a good effort. Former players that have turned into executives (Blake and Sakic) or coaches (Roy) would likely skip it, but there are others that would chomp at the bit.
Critics of the BIG3 wrote off the league as payday or showing over-the-hill players. However, the effort has been there from the players. Corey Maggette made sure he was ready to go for this season after tearing ACL in the first week of 2017.
A draft for teams just like the basketball BIG3 would happen and general managers of teams could get creative in how they want to assemble teams.
Teams
General managers may put teams together based on nationality or other connection. Imagine seeing a contingent of Russian players taking the ice in Detroit? How about seeing former teammates reunite for some nostalgia?
There’s a chance to do some creative stuff in constructing teams. GMs could play on old rivalries like the one between Roy and Jeremy Roenick. (Remember the Stanley Cup rings in the ears quip?)
Where to Play
The BIG3 holds their games in basketball-mad cities that receive would receive the event well. It’s safe to assume putting the hockey version of the league in cities like Toronto, Montreal, Boston, Buffalo and New York would love to watch hockey.
Programming Option
The NHL Network, TSN, NBC Sports Network and other outlets hurt for programming at times during the summer. However, this would serve as a good filler. ESPN could make a play and put these games on to extend an olive branch to disenfranchised fans of the sport.
NHL Network’s schedule is a barren wasteland after free agency dies down after July 1. This would be a good way to fill those big gaps before the training camp and the regular season start.
Final Analysis
Could a BIG3 Hockey League succeed? That’s hard to say, but someone should look into it. The league would keep hockey on the brains of people that may not think about until October or even the playoffs and may get people more excited for the next season.
These basketball leagues help keep the sport in their fans minds and it helps bridge the gap between seasons. Hockey’s main problem in the United States is keeping interest and this league might be a step in the right direction.
