Now that we have completed the second regular season using the shootout as a means to settle ties, I am wondering what the sentiment among CCHA fans is on its implementation. In the original press release, both CCHA commissioner Tom Anastos and FSN Detroit vice president and general manager Greg Hammaren said that the shootout would prove to add excitement to the regular season games. Has the shootout enhanced watching regular season CCHA hockey for you? Do you believe that it has proven to be an acceptable means to break ties in league standings?
For me, the shootout has been an interesting experiment but not a resounding success. Michigan State has won five shootouts in ten opportunities over the last two seasons; I personally view these as ten ties, not view these as five “wins” and five “losses” since for me they feel like ties used to and not really like a “win” or “loss.” Without shootouts, the only changes to the final league standings this year would have been that Northern would be the third seed based on head to head with Ferris, and Western would have swapped with Bowling Green.
For me, the shootout has been an interesting experiment but not a resounding success. Michigan State has won five shootouts in ten opportunities over the last two seasons; I personally view these as ten ties, not view these as five “wins” and five “losses” since for me they feel like ties used to and not really like a “win” or “loss.” Without shootouts, the only changes to the final league standings this year would have been that Northern would be the third seed based on head to head with Ferris, and Western would have swapped with Bowling Green.
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