Changes for 2017-18: rebranding of the top leagues, longer intermissions, and more

In the past two days, the representatives of the NLA- and NLB clubs have met at the ordinary assembly in Konolfingen, Bern. Their discussions and final decisions resulted in several changes for the 2017-18 season.​

Photo: Swiss Ice Hockey Federation

The repositioning of the National League B, one of the clubs' common objectives, will be implemented with the beginning of the new season. It contains a rebranding of both the NLB's- and NLA's official logos and names. While the National League B gets transformed into the "Swiss League", the National League A will be called "National League" from now on.

Other major changes for the 2017-18 season:

- in the "Swiss League", game misconduct penalties will be no longer handed out during the game; from now on, it will be decided by the league's single judge until 10am on day 2 after the game, at the latest

- during the regular season, the overtime will be played without changing ends after regulation time

- the intermissions will be increased by three from 15 to 18 minutes, which applies to both the regular season as well as the playoffs

- additional scenes will be shown on the video cube (e.g. replays of goal scenes, coaches challenge, penalties); scenes containing violence or consequential major injuries to players must not be shown

In other news, regarding the situation of Martigny Red Ice, the "Swiss League" clubs have decided to play the 2017-18 season with only eleven teams, in case the imposed bankruptcy on the Valaisan team indeed becomes legally binding.

Last but not least, Karl Knopf has been elected SIHF's deputy single judge. He will thus become successor of Victor Stancescu, who decided to threw in the towel during the playoffs in mid-March this year following a complaint by HC Lugano.