Dive into the world of 3ICE and all things hockey at Bitcasino!

Sports have become one of the most loved and well-known industries with popular variants such as basketball and football raved about all over the globe. In Canada, ice hockey is especially a well-loved sport that brings millions of people together in celebration of their favourite players and teams. You can be a part of that now with Bitcasino and 3ICE’s partnership! 

It’s an excellent way to immerse yourself in the world of sports and online casino games at the same time! To get to know this brand new ice hockey league and what you can expect, read on in the coming sections: 

A brief introduction to ice hockey

Hockey has been around for centuries and features different kinds of variants. Some of them are played on fields while others are on courtyards. In Canada, the most popular one is the iconic sport of ice hockey which was brought to the country back in the 1920s. As the name suggests, this sport is done on ice with players wearing skates and holding sticks.

How ice hockey works

The game begins with two opposing teams facing off on the ice. There are at least six members per team, with five in defensive and offensive positions and one guarding the goal post. 

Similar to hockey played on an outdoor field, the objective here is to hit the puck into the goal using hockey sticks without the other team blocking it. The team with the most goals at the end of the game is hailed the winner. 

Since skating at a fast pace can be dangerous, playing ice hockey requires wearing protective equipment. That’s why players wear helmets, chest plates, shoulder and knee pads and even gloves so they can move quickly and be safe at the same time. 

3ICE: One of the up and coming ice hockey leagues

Canada is known for its love of ice hockey. Did you know that the most popular coffee house in the country was even founded by and named after a pro ice hockey player? Now, you’ll find lots of leagues in this sport but one of the most recent ones that stand out among the rest is 3ICE.

Held in Canada, 3ICE is a pro hockey league founded back in 2021 by E.J. Johnston, the son of NHL player and legend Eddie Johnston. He created it to introduce a completely different way of playing ice hockey while remaining faithful to the original game. Instead of having six players per team, only four will battle each other on the rink in this newly-created league.

Now, the 3ICE hockey league has partnered up with a bunch of different organisations, with Bitcasino being one of them. What an excellent opportunity to bring together the world of sports and online gaming! After all, betting on games can be as adrenaline-pumping as watching your favourite athletes play.

3ICE rules

In the 3ICE league, all players and teams must follow some modified rules. Take a look at the list below to learn more about them: 

1. For every team, there will be four players on the ice, one goalkeeper and three offensive and defensive players
2. The game is split into two portions of 8 minutes each, with the clock only pausing for time-outs, penalties and injuries
3. Every team must have 6 skaters and 1 goalie 
4. The entire league shall have 6 games. The first 3 will be for the opening round, the next 2 are for the semi-finals and the last one is for the championships
5. Power plays are no longer enforced. Instead, a penalty shot will be performed with the coaches choosing which players to do it
6. Instead of overtime, single-round shootouts will be enforced until a winner is crowned
7. Goalies are allowed to take the puck anywhere on the ice 
8. If the puck leaves the gaming area and manages to return or bounce back, then the game continues with no penalty
9. The coaches are not allowed to issue challenges for offsides and instant replay Instead, the gameplay is quite straightforward and fast-paced.

The coaches behind the 3ICE league 

After learning more about the world of ice hockey and 3ICE, it’s time to see some of the faces behind Canada’s newest league! Meet the coaches who will help players and teams get into shape and potentially win the championship. See the coaches and their accomplishments in the section below: 

Guy Carbonneau

The first on this list is Guy Carbonneau, a coach who has hosted the Stanley Cup not once, not twice but thrice! He is also a three-time recipient of the NHL Frank J. Selke trophy and was elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2019. Carbonneau also boasts an impressive 182-point season with the Sagueneens before retiring in the season 1999-2000. 

Grant Fuhr

Another amazing coach you will see in action in 3ICE is Grant Fuhr. He has won five Stanley Cup Championships and six NHL All-Star Game nods throughout his career. He is one of the most well-known goaltenders who also happened to be named a Hall of Famer in 2003, with legend Wayne Gretzky even calling him the greatest goaltender in NHL history. 

John Leclair

A former pro-American ice hockey player in the NHL, John Leclair spent a whopping 16 seasons as a player for the Montreal Canadiens, Flyers and Penguins. He then became the first American to score 50 goals in three consecutive seasons! Now, he runs a foundation for non-profit organisations that support programs for children and has since agreed to become one of the coaches for 3ICE. 

Joe Mullen

Another great American player has joined the roster! Joe Mullen has undoubtedly gained icon status considering that he won 1,000 points and scored over 500 goals during his career. He also got to host the Stanley Cup for two different teams and even played with the national team of the United States. Plus, Mullen also played in three Canada Cup tournaments during the height of his career. 

Larry Murphy

Larry Murphy is another coach joining the roster to bring what he has to offer to the table. He made history back in the 90s as the only player to win four Stanley Cup championships after playing for and winning with the Penguins in 1991 and 1992 and the Detroit Red Wings in 1997 and 1998. Considering all that, it’s clear how he became elected as a Hall of Famer in 2004!

Bryan Trottier

Trottier is another decorated athlete in Canada and America who is returning to 3ICE as a coach. After winning seven Stanley Cup Championships both as a player for the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh and as an assistant coach for the Colorado Avalanche, he became acknowledged as a first-ballot Hall of Famer. As of now, he is named one of the 100 Greatest NHL players of all time. 

Get to know some of 3ICE’s players! 

After learning about the league’s coaches, it’s time to get a glimpse of some of the star players! Check out the list below to see a roster of some 3ICE hockey league players:

• Mark Auk 
• Jared Aulin 
• David Booth 
• Chris Bourque 
• Jeremy Brodeur 
• Chris Conner 
• Jayce Hawryluk 
• TJ Hensick 
• Leland Irving 
• Nick Kerdiles 
• Mike Lundin 
• Samson Mahbod 
• Greg Mauldin 
• Brennan Mennell 
• Chris Mueller 
• Griffen Molino 
• Patrick Mullen 
• Steven Olesky 
• Aaron Palushaj 
• Jeff Taffe 
• Brock Trotter

Bitcasino’s partnership with 3ICE

With all of the excitement coming about in the new Bitcasino and 3ICE partnership, what exactly can you expect? Aside from a bunch of promotional content, you can look forward to getting the latest information on the 3ICE games, teams and players here!

And whether you’re an ice hockey fan or not, additional prizes and bonuses are in store for you so keep an eye out for our announcements. Find out soon which select games and sports betting options on the platform become chosen and viable for bonuses!

Change the game with 3ICE and Bitcasino!

Tons of awesome opportunities and prizes await when you dive into the world of ice hockey! Now, you can experience it all firsthand when you place your bets on Bitcasino where the world of sports and online games is in the palm of your hands. 

When you create an account and start wagering on Bitcasino, you’ll be given a chance to immerse yourself in endless hours of fun and entertaining content! Get your fill of awesome slots, live dealers, skill games and sports betting when you register and experience online betting like never before. 

What are you waiting for? Head over to the Bitcasino platform now and learn more about 3ICE, additional partnerships, bonuses and games up for grabs!

Words by: Adi Gregorio