If you’re asking what is a tie in sports select hockey, it means both teams have the same score when the game ends under the rules being used. A tied score may stand, or the teams may play overtime or a shootout to decide a winner.
The key detail is that “select hockey” does not point to one universal rulebook. The league or tournament sets its own game-ending and standings rules, so the same score can have different consequences in different events.
Here’s how to tell whether a game is officially tied, what overtime and shootouts mean, how ties can affect standings, and what to check before your team plays.
What is a tie in sports select hockey?
A tie occurs when both teams have the same number of goals at the end of the game, and the competition’s rules allow that result to stand. For example, a game ending 2–2 is tied if no extra period or shootout is required—or if the game remains even after the required tiebreak procedure.
In hockey, a tie is about the official final result, not simply the score at the end of regulation. Regulation is the scheduled playing time before any extra time. If the score is even then, the game is tied at the end of regulation, but the final result may still become a win and a loss after overtime or a shootout.
There is no single rule for every select hockey league, age group, or tournament. The event’s rules determine whether a tied game ends immediately, goes to overtime, or uses a shootout. Those same rules explain how the result affects team standings.
Why the phrase select hockey can be confusing
Select hockey generally refers to a competitive level or team program, rather than one governing body with identical rules everywhere. A local league, tournament organizer, or association can set procedures for its own games, subject to the rules it adopts.
That means the words “select hockey” alone do not tell you how a tie is handled. Two events involving similar teams can have different endings. One may allow a tied score in a regular-season game, while another may require a winner in every tournament game.
Check the event’s written rules for the exact answer. Look for the sections on game format, overtime, shootouts, standings points, and tie-breaking procedures. If those sections conflict or seem incomplete, ask the coach or tournament staff before the game rather than guessing from another league’s practices.
What happens when a hockey game is tied?
The next step depends on the competition. In general, a tied score at the end of regulation leads to one of three outcomes: the tie stands, teams play overtime, or teams use a shootout. Some competitions combine overtime and a shootout, with the shootout used only if overtime does not produce a winner.
| Game-ending method | What happens | Best understood as |
|---|---|---|
| Tie stands | The game ends with the score level after regulation. | A competition that accepts a draw as a final result. |
| Overtime | Teams play an extra period; its length and format depend on the rules. | A way to give teams more live play to decide the game. |
| Shootout | Players take attempts against the opposing goalie under the event’s procedure. | A tiebreak method, often used after overtime or in place of it. |
| Multiple overtime periods | Teams continue with additional extra periods if the score stays even. | A format designed to keep playing until a winner is decided. |
The table describes common formats, not a promise that every select hockey event offers all of them. Rules may also differ between regular-season games, playoff games, and tournament rounds within the same organization.
A tie that stands
If the rules allow ties, the referee ends the game after regulation when the score is even. The final score remains level, and each team receives whatever standings credit the competition assigns. A tie is not automatically half a win in every standings system; the points must be stated in the rules.
Overtime
Overtime is extra playing time after regulation. Some formats use sudden death, meaning the first goal ends the game. Other formats may play a set period and decide the game another way if the score remains even. The rules also set details such as the length of the period, number of players, and whether a break comes first.
Do not assume the overtime format from a professional game applies to a youth or select event. The allowed lineup and duration can vary by age group and competition. Players should know the local procedure so they understand when play stops and how substitutions work.
Shootouts
A shootout is a series of attempts in which players try to score against the opposing goalie. The event rules specify who can participate, how attempts are taken, and what happens if the teams remain level after the first round. A shootout result can decide the winner even though the game’s recorded score may be handled differently from the standings result.
That distinction matters when reading a score sheet or league table. The final game result, the goals recorded for statistics, and the points awarded in standings are related, but they are not always represented in the same way. Use the event’s published results and scoring rules rather than inferring every detail from the scoreboard.
How a tie affects standings
A tie can affect a team’s position even when it does not decide who won the game. Each league or tournament chooses how to award standings points. Some systems award points to both teams for a tied game; others require overtime or a shootout to determine the result and assign points accordingly.
Standings also use tie-breakers when teams finish with equal totals. Depending on the competition, the listed criteria may include head-to-head results, number of wins, goal difference, goals scored, or another measure. The order matters: a team may rank higher under one rule and lower under another.
Do not treat a tied game score as the same thing as a tie in the standings. The first describes one game’s score. The second describes teams ending with equal standings totals or records, which then requires the tournament’s ranking rules to separate them.
Before the schedule begins, find out how a tied game is scored and how tied standings are broken. This is especially useful in a short tournament, where one result can change a team’s route to the next round. Coaches and families should use the written rules, not assumptions based on the previous tournament.
How to check the rules before game day
A quick rules check can prevent confusion late in a close game. Use these steps when you are unsure whether a tied score will stand:
- Identify the competition. Confirm the exact league, tournament, or playoff event. A team’s usual league rules may not apply to a separate tournament.
- Find the official event rules. Check the rules document or event information provided by the organizer. Search for terms such as tie, overtime, shootout, and standings.
- Check the game stage. See whether regular-season, pool-play, semifinal, and championship games follow different procedures.
- Read the full tiebreak procedure. Note what happens after regulation, after overtime, and if a shootout or extra period also ends level.
- Confirm standings points and ranking rules. Find out what each result earns and how teams with equal totals are ordered.
- Ask an event official if anything is unclear. A coach or tournament representative can confirm which rule applies to that specific game.
Keep the answer in an easy-to-find place, such as the team’s event notes. That helps players and families know what to expect without trying to interpret a rule during the final minutes.
Common misunderstandings about hockey ties
A tied score at the end of regulation is not always a final tie
This is the most common mix-up. Regulation may end with the score even, but the teams may still have overtime or a shootout to play. Until the required procedure is complete, the game’s final result may not be known.
Every tournament does not have to produce a winner
Some tournament games require a winner, but others may allow a tie during pool play. A competition may use one format to award standings points in early rounds and a different format for elimination games. Check the rules for each stage.
One hockey organization’s rule is not automatically another’s
A rule from a familiar league can be a useful comparison, but it is not a substitute for the event’s own rulebook. Age divisions, local associations, and tournament organizers can use different procedures. A format you saw on television may not apply to a select youth game.
A shootout does not necessarily change the recorded score in an obvious way
The shootout determines an outcome under the rules, but score reporting may distinguish between goals scored during play and shootout attempts. If the result seems inconsistent with the visible score, check how the event reports shootout wins and standings points.
What players and families should do during a tied game
Stay focused on the next play rather than trying to calculate standings from the bench or stands. Players should follow the coach and officials, especially if overtime changes the lineup or substitutions. Families can check the game format in advance and let the officials manage the procedure.
If regulation ends level, listen for the referee’s instructions and wait for confirmation about what comes next. Do not assume the game is over because the clock has reached zero, and do not assume overtime will begin just because the score is tied. The event rules decide whether there is an extra period, a shootout, or a final tie.
After the game, check the official result and standings. This is the practical way to confirm both the winner, if there is one, and the points awarded. If a result appears wrong, raise the question promptly with the coach or event staff, who can refer to the applicable rules.
Quick example: same score, different outcomes
Imagine two select hockey games both reach the end of regulation at 1–1. In a league that permits ties, the game can finish 1–1, with each team receiving the points described in that league’s standings rules.
In a tournament that requires a winner, the teams might play overtime. If neither team scores, the tournament may use a shootout, or it may call for another overtime period. The final winner and standings entry depend on that event’s procedure.
The score alone does not tell you which outcome is correct. The deciding information is the competition’s rule for that game and stage. That is why checking the specific event rules is more reliable than relying on a general definition of a tie.
So, what is a tie in sports select hockey? It is an even final score only when the rules allow the game to end level; otherwise, overtime or a shootout may decide a winner.
Before the next game, check the event rules for its ending procedure and standings points. That simple step tells you what a tied score means for your team.