New Zealand Hockey has released more details on the inaugural Premier Hockey League.
It replaces the the National Hockey League and will be staged at a newly built facility at North Harbour.
Four men’s and four women’s teams will play a round-robin competition over two extended weekends in August and September. It will culminate with a Sunday finals day to decide the inaugural champions.
A draft will be utilised to help distribute players who have no affiliation with any of the teams.
Some rules have been adapted to ensure the pace of the game is high and the tournament provides good preparation for international hockey.
Each game will be played in 15-minute quarters. If a game is drawn there will be a best-of-three shotout.
The tournament is being billed as the first domestic hockey league to resume since Covid-19.
