Pittsburgh brings 'biggest crowd thus far' for 3ICE

The 3ICE hockey league made its tour stop in Pittsburgh on Saturday, and Pittsburgh turned out.

"This is the biggest crowd we've had thus far," 3ICE commissioner and former Penguins general manager Craig Patrick told me during the games. "I've been sitting in the crowd and it's fun to listen to the 'oohs' and 'ahhs' cheer. There's been great saves, there's been highlight-reel goals, and it's just fun to be here enjoying it with the fans."

Former Penguin and current 3ICE forwad Bobby Farnham agreed.

"I think that this was best venue so far, the crowd capacity and the setup," he said. "I really think that this was a really good turnout and we had a really good time."

The tournament at PPG Paints Arena was the sixth of nine stops for 3ICE in its inaugural season this summer, and the first to be played in an NHL arena. Only lower-bowl seats were made available, and the attendance was close to 3,000 fans, not bad for a brand-new summer league.

The three-on-three league is the creation of E.J. Johnston, son of former Penguins coach and general manager Eddie Johnston. Each city hosts a mini-tournament between the six teams, each named for the former NHL player who is serving as the team's coach: Joe Mullen, Bryan Trottier, Larry Murphy, John LeClair, Grant Fuhr and Guy Carbonneau.

All three winners of the preliminary games advance to the semifinal round, along with the losing team with the highest goal total. The winners of each semifinal game face off in the championship round, and the team that wins the tournament in each city wins $10,000. Teams also accumulate points in the standings over the course of the full season, and the season ends with a playoff tournament to award the Patrick Cup and a $1 million prize pool.

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This isn't your ordinary summer league. There's a lot on the line, and that's reflected in the intensity, energy and compete level of the games. These felt like high-stakes games, between the pace of play and intensity of the puck battles. 

Farnham's game-winning goal sent his Team Trottier into the championship round against Team Murphy on Saturday. Chad Costello, who captained the ECHL's Allen Americans last season and is now the team's head coach, scored twice in the championship game to propel Team Trottier to a 4-2 victory and capture the Pittsburgh tournament win.

"It's awesome," Farnham said of the experience after the tournament win. "It's awesome to be back in Pittsburgh, and obviously winning is really fun. We had a blast."

Even though 3ICE games are broadcast on television on CBS each Saturday, I hadn't watched a full game or tournament until it came to Pittsburgh. All I had seen are the highlights, like ex-Nailers forward Brandon Hawkins earning the top spot on the SportsCenter Top Ten list with a penalty shot goal during the Grand Rapids tour stop:

After actually watching 3ICE games in person, I can confirm that the concept is seriously cool.

Aside from playing three-on-three, 3ICE ensures a fast pace of play with a number of modifications to the rules. There is a running clock, and there are only stoppages for injuries or penalties, and all penalties result in a penalty shot. If the puck goes into the netting at either end of the ice, it's still in play, play doesn't stop. Play continues after goals, and the goalie can't freeze the puck with a save. There's a large blue arc painted onto the ice, and once opponents clear the arc area, the goalie can put the puck back into play. 

3ICE also borrows different fun elements from other leagues and sports to just add to the uniqueness of the league. The leading scorer can be identified by a shiny golden helmet during games, similar to that of the Finnish Liiga. Music plays during play as it does in basketball leagues. Some players are identified by nicknames in the play-by-play (like Peter Lenes going by "Swaggy P"), somewhat similar to the old XFL. 

Former Penguin Ryan Malone said that they've had good turnouts in attendance throughout the summer. Something that he has noticed that's grown is the interest from other players, though. The rosters for this season are already set, but players from around the hockey world are expressing interest in playing in the league next summer, drawn in by the fun atmosphere and prize money pools.

"it's getting some traction," Malone said. "I think the hockey world is noticing, especially those guys in between contracts and coming out of college like, 'Oh, jeez, it's pretty fun, and I'm gonna make some money too for eight or nine weekends,' It's pretty lucky and special."

With the success of 3ICE in its inaugural season, the league is looking to grow in Year 2, and potentially expand into European markets. It's a concept that the league thinks can work anywhere, and the turnout in its first year in cities like Pittsburgh reinforces that. 

There is traditionally a void for professional hockey in the summers, and 3ICE is going to continue to try to fill it with what it calls "the best part of hockey."

"I knew how much fun it was to play three-on-three hockey as a youth," Patrick said. "I just I wish I could play, honestly."

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• Malone and Team Fuhr fell to 1-9 on the season, losing in the preliminary round but advancing to (and losing in) the semifinals based on goals scored. They kept it close against Team Trottier in the semifinals, falling 3-1 with an empty-netter. Malone had the biggest grin on his face afterward, just happy to be playing in front of his hometown crowd again.

"It's great to be back," he said. "It's crazy when you dig deep into how I fell in love with the game, a lot of these people around influenced my passion for it. So to be a part of this and grow the game of hockey is very, very special to me."

• Malone seemed out of breath when he was talking, having just stepped off the ice after all the skating that goes into playing three-on-three hockey. He was asked how he was feeling, and his answer was just gold.

"I've been -- knock on wood -- staying in shape, you know, eating a little healthier. Drinking less beer, so that always helps," he said. "Just staying in shape, the body feels pretty good. So who knows? Maybe Burkie is watching and they need a 13th forward here to help pound faces for Sid." 

• Craig Patrick was the one who scouted Malone for the league, saying it was a "no-brainer" after seeing him play in Mario Lemieux's Fantasy Camp. 

• Farnham tried a Michigan goal when the championship game was tied, but couldn't get the puck up on his stick. I asked him about it after and he cracked up and said, "Not really my skillset."

• Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Hershey are each other's biggest rivals and play each other 12 times a year. Obviously, when Farnham was in Wilkes-Barre from 2012-15 in sort of an agitator role, he was public enemy No. 1 in Chocolate town. 3ICE was in Hershey earlier this month. I asked Farnham what kind of reception he got there, even though it's been seven years since he last played there as a Penguin. He laughed and said, "I heard there were boos."

• Former Steelers kicker Shaun Suisham was in attendance with his daughters. Tyler Kennedy was at the game too with some of the kids from his hockey camps. I also saw Robert Morris alum and former goaltender for Team USA Brianne McLaughlin, as well as Team USA forward Amanda Kessel, who is currently working in the Penguins' executive management program.