IIHF announces OT/shootout rule changes

The International Ice Hockey Federation has announced some rule changes for the 2019 World Championships and beyond.

Check it out:

From this point forward, Gold medal games will no longer be decided by a shootout, but rather by a three on three sudden death overtime. 

The new format will be applied as followed:

Preliminary round games: 5-minute 3-on-3 + shootout
Quarter-finals/semi-finals/bronze medal game: 10-minute 3-on-3 + shootout
Gold Medal Game: 20-minute periods 3-on-3 sudden-death

Unfortunately these rules will NOT be in effect for the upcoming 2019 World Junior Championships. Fans may recall the the United States earned a Gold Medal victory over Team Canada in the 2017 World Juniors via shootout. The following year, it was USA once again besting Canada in a shootout during an outdoor game at New Era Field in Buffalo, New York during the preliminary round. Canada would go on to prevail in the Gold medal game over Sweden, however.