There are several noteworthy changes this season to the hockey program run by the Rhode Island Interscholastic League (RIIL).  Following are the most significant items that that will affect the entire league.

First, while both Divisions 1 and 2 maintained the same basic organization as last season, there was some movement within each division.  While Division 1 maintained its balance, the move that is significant to PHS this season occurred in Division 2.  Last season’s Providence Country Day, Saint Raphael Academy, and The Wheeler School cooperative team (PSW) joined forces with last season’s North Smithfield, Johnston, and North Providence cooperative squad.  The new six-school co-op team established for this season has branded itself as Blackstone Valley Schools, or BVS for short.  The change leaves Division 2 with only 11 teams, instead of the 12 it had last season.  Because of that, a bit of randomness was injected into the schedule in order for all teams to have 16 regular season games.  That aspect of chance resulted in PHS having two games with BVS despite the teams playing in separate D-2 subdivisions.

Two rule changes this season will affect games that end regulation play in ties.  One change applies to the regular season and one to the playoffs.

In past regular seasons, when a contest was tied at the end of the third period, the teams played a five-minute, five on five, sudden death overtime period.  If neither team scored and the game was still tied at the end of overtime, it entered the record books as a tie.  This season, the overtime period will feature only four skaters per team, and if neither team scores a goal before the five-minute period ends, the game will proceed to a single-round shootout.  Five players from each team will participate in the shootout.  If neither team prevails in the shootout the game will be considered a tie, and each team will earn a single point in the standings.

For post-season games, where ties are not allowed, the overtime rules have changed, as well.  In past seasons, if a playoff game was tied at the end of regulation time, the game proceeded to a seven minutes and 30 seconds, sudden death, overtime period with four skaters per side.  If the game remained tied after that overtime period, a second overtime with the same parameters would be played.  If still tied after the second overtime period, the game would have progressed to a shootout which would continue until a winner was determined.  This year the league has added a third overtime session before proceeding to the shootout if the game remains tied, before moving to the shootout phase.  In the first overtime period teams will skate five-on-five, in the second OT period it will be four-on-four, and in the third OT it will be three-on-three.  If the game progresses to a shootout, that process will continue until a winner is determined.