(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)
(Photo used with permission from 3ICE/Getty Images)
Craig Patrick has been in the middle of many a moment in the history of the NHL during his tenure as head coach, general manager, and several other roles. Now he is seeking to do the same as commissioner of a brand new summer league.
The 3ICE hockey league is in its first year of operations, featuring 3-on-3 action (similar to that of NHL overtime) featuring a mix of former NHLers and young upstarts in fast-paced back-and-forth battles every week. Patrick–who is the commissioner of the 3ICE league–joined Matt Drzik on the July 8 edition of A.M. Beaver County to talk about the creation of this league and what it offers to the many audiences who be witness to the action.
Patrick noted that the origins of 3ICE have deep connections to the Pittsburgh area, as the founder was Eddie “EJ” Johnston, the son of the former Penguins head coach and GM. “He would go to the Penguins’ rookie camp and the [New Jersey] Devils’ rookie camp, and at those rookie camps they play 3-on-3 hockey,” Patrick said. “He noticed that all the people that werethere were sitting on the edge of their seats, just enamored with these no-name guys doing their skill things. And he thought that this would be great for TV.”
Thus began a four-year process of putting 3ICE together, making Patrick the Commissioner and–after waiting to begin due to the pandemic–beginning action on June 18 with games in Las Vegas. The league runs weekly throughout the summer making stops in eight different North American cities, including a stop at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh on July 23. As far as being “great for TV”, the games will be airing throughout the season on the CBS Sports channel.
Each of the six teams in the 3ICE league is coached by a former NHL star, including former Penguins players Bryan Trottier, Larry Murphy, Joe Mullen and John LeClair. Another former Penguin–Pittsburgh native Ryan Malone–is a player in the 3ICE league, but according to Patrick: “we have some former NHL players, but they haven’t been the standouts…the guys who are standing out are the guys just out of college, and some guys playing in Europe who are coming back for the summer.” The top scorer after each week gets to don a golden helmet as a symbol of achievement–and also a target for other players to try and top.
For more information about the 3ICE hockey league, check out their website for upcoming tour dates and information about players, coaches, and game results. To hear the full conversation with 3ICE commissioner Craig Patrick, click on the player below!