(MACON, Ga.) – Earlier this week, the SPHL announced six new rule changes that will take effect in the 2026-27 season. Here’s everything you need to know about how this will impact the Mayhem moving forward.
League Point System
THE RULE: This season, the SPHL will adopt a three-point system for the standings, with teams receiving three points for a regulation win, two points for an overtime or shootout win, and one point for an overtime or shootout loss.
THE IMPACT: This new system rewards teams for pushing to win a game in regulation and should create more excitement at the end of regulation when the games are tied. Under the previous point system, when an overtime/shootout victory was worth the same point value as one in regulation, teams had little incentive to try to press and win the game in regulation if the score was tied late in the third period.
Overtime Length
THE RULE: The overtime period during the regular season will be extended from five to seven minutes. Overtime will continue to be contested as “sudden death” in a 3-on-3 format. If neither team scores during the overtime period, the game will proceed to a shootout.
THE IMPACT: This new rule is an attempt to ensure that more games are ended before the shootout. The SPHL becomes the third professional hockey league in North America to adopt a seven-minute overtime period in recent years, joining the ECHL and AHL.
Shootout Format
THE RULE: The initial round of the shootout has been reduced from 5 players to 3 players. If the score is tied after three rounds, the shootout moves into a sudden-death format, where every eligible player on the roster must take a shot before a player is allowed to shoot a second time (previously, a player could shoot multiple times after the initial round of five shots).
THE IMPACT: This rule change means that every shot and save in shootouts holds more weight, with teams being able to clinch a shootout win as early as the second round, and will create more tension for both players and fans earlier in the shootout. This rule also means that there will be more pressure on the full lineup to be able to score in the shootout, as teams are no longer allowed to have players shoot multiple times before the full bench has had at least one shot.
Presidents Cup Playoff Format
THE RULE: The top eight teams in the standings will make the playoffs. However, all rounds of the Presidents Cup Playoffs will now be best-of-five series.
THE IMPACT: With the expansion of the league from 10 teams to 12 for the 2026-27 season, keeping the playoff field at eight teams will make it a more competitive battle to enter the Presidents Cup Playoffs. Expanding the first round from a best-of-three to a best-of-five will also make it more difficult for teams to close out a series, and give every team in the playoff field an opportunity to host at least two home playoff games.
Coincidental Minor Penalties (Diving/Embellishment)
THE RULE: If, after the referee signals for a penalty, the offended player then embellishes the original call to warrant his own minor penalty for diving/embellishment, only the diving/embellishment penalty will be assessed, and the original penalty will be nullified.
THE IMPACT: This rule is meant to crack down on players who attempt to sell a call to the officials by diving/embellishing penalties. Now, players considering diving to get a power play for their team will have to think twice, because if they are called for an embellishment penalty their team will be the one shorthanded instead.
Instant Replay
THE RULE: In venues where replay is available, a coach’s challenge will be available to each team. If the challenge is unsuccessful, the challenging team will be assessed a minor penalty for delay of game. Each team is permitted one challenge per game. The challenge criteria will remain the same as the referee’s discretionary review:
· Puck crossing the goal line
· Puck entering the net using a distinct kicking motion
· Puck entering the net before the goal frame is dislodged
· Puck directed, batted, or thrown into the net by an attacking player
THE IMPACT: The Mayhem do not have video review in their building, so this will not have an impact at Mayhem home games. However, this will give the Mayhem the opportunity to challenge calls under the previously mentioned criteria once per game in other buildings that have video review, which is huge for the team to have access to. At the end of the 2025-26 season, the list of SPHL markets with video review included Birmingham, Evansville, Huntsville, Pensacola, and Peoria.
Season tickets for the 2026-27 season are on sale now! Call the Mayhem office at 478-803-1592 for more information or to purchase tickets.
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