IIHF moves to NHL rink size

[Theokritos]

So the IIHF has decided to move to NHL rink size, but I can neither find any primary source on it nor any discussion. But apparently various European leagues are opposed.

Does anyone have an IIHF source?
What are the reactions in the individual countries and how serious is the opposition?

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[Boonk]

Source on this news?

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Source on this news?

International hockey competitions may move to NHL-sized ice - Sportsnet.ca

 

[Critical13]

I would rather see it go the other direction - NHL to the international size. More room to skate.

 

[Albatros]

I'm fine with hybrid or non-standard variations, but uniform NHL size in Europe is a terrible, terrible decision with no upside.

 

[ForumNamePending]

I'm fine with hybrid or non-standard variations, but uniform NHL size in Europe is a terrible, terrible decision with no upside.

Ya, if true this seems like a solution to a problem that doesn't really exist.

Not surprising that various European leagues would be opposed. Having (an additional) 7-8 feet between the actually rink and the first rows of seats isn't exactly a ideal arena layout.

 

[Albatros]

Major teams will have to renovate their arenas which will cost millions for no good reason. And for smaller teams getting a new rink of a different size is going to be a big burden even without altering the building otherwise.

 

[Oddbob]

Major teams will have to renovate their arenas which will cost millions for no good reason. And for smaller teams getting a new rink of a different size is going to be a big burden even without altering the building otherwise.

They are making it smaller potentially, so why would it need major renovations? They would likely just put chairs in the new spaces for seats. Your point makes sense if they are making it bigger, not if they make it smaller. All it really is, is making less ice, and the boards get moved in where needed.

 

[ForumNamePending]

Unless you want multiple rows of "floor seating", which would probably result in some poor sight lines for watching hockey, you would probably have to change the pitch of the arena's (lower) seating bowl... Or like I said up thread, just have a weird 7-8 foot gap between the first row of seats and the rink boards.

 

[Albatros]

They are making it smaller potentially, so why would it need major renovations? They would likely just put chairs in the new spaces for seats. Your point makes sense if they are making it bigger, not if they make it smaller. All it really is, is making less ice, and the boards get moved in where needed.

Many arenas are not constructed in a way that will simply allow to add more rows at will. And even in the fortunate cases where the elevation of the entire stand does not have to be changed there are typically other structural hindrances that must be rebuilt at a significant cost anyway, like we can see for example in Wolfsburg:

Although you can likely just reshape that existing stand bringing the front rows four meters closer it will still require construction work of a magnitude that will cost a million euros or more.

 

[gstommylee]

I would rather see it go the other direction - NHL to the international size. More room to skate.

That'll never happen. That would require all NHL arenas to basically redesign the lower bowl seats and remove seats in order to meet that. Teams would lose money.

 

[cptjeff]

It's much, much easier to add a set of risers on top of the old bowl to make it flatter than to reshape the entire bowl to a steeper angle.

 

[cptjeff]

That'll never happen. That would require all NHL arenas to basically redesign the lower bowl seats and remove seats in order to meet that. Teams would lose money.

Also, wider ice is terrible. You're adding space far away from the nets, so teams just collapse down and let opposing players just skate around in low danger areas. On NHL ice, you have to make your move quickly to beat a defender, but once you do it, you're in a much better position to actually score.

 

[Jussi]

Already a thread on this on page 2: International hockey competitions may move to NHL-sized ice: IIHF president

 

[Albatros]

Also, wider ice is terrible. You're adding space far away from the nets, so teams just collapse down and let opposing players just skate around in low danger areas. On NHL ice, you have to make your move quickly to beat a defender, but once you do it, you're in a much better position to actually score.

In the KHL the most defensive teams all use NHL or hybrid ice size.