Elevate your local knowledge

Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!

Select Region

Selecting your primary region ensures you get the stories that matter to you first.

Source: NHL changes all-star game format to adopt three-on-three tournament

TORONTO – The NHL all-star game will have a new format this season, a source has told The Canadian Press.

A mini three-on-three tournament will replace the traditional game for the 2016 event in January in Nashville.

Two teams from the Eastern Conference will face off and two teams from the West will face off with the winners meeting for the championship.

An official announcement is expected Wednesday.

The NHL had been considering changes to the all-star format and needed approval from the Players’ Association.

According to reports, the popular Friday night player draft will be scrapped.

Three-on-three overtime is in its first season of existence and has drawn mostly positive reviews, though all-stars Erik Karlsson and Dustin Byfuglien have come out against it.

The NHL all-star game has gone through several formats, most recently the past three times featuring two captains picking teams.

Others have included the East vs. the West, North America vs. the World, the Wales Conference vs. the Campbell Conference, all-stars vs. Stanley Cup champions and NHL players against the Soviet Union.

The first all-star three-on-three tournament will take place Sunday, Jan. 31 at Bridgestone Arena.

The skills competition, slated for Saturday, Jan. 30, is still expected take place.

___

Follow @SWhyno on Twitter

News from © The Canadian Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

The Canadian Press

The Canadian Press is Canada's trusted news source and leader in providing real-time, bilingual multimedia stories across print, broadcast and digital platforms.