Thunder to help test ‘quarters’ format

Tim Graham

Thursday, March 26, 1998 | 9:49 a.m.

The NHL is looking for a way to turn four quarters into several dollars.

And the Las Vegas Thunder will help make the change.

The IHL agreed to help the NHL in its search to generate more interest in hockey by asking the Thunder and Detroit Vipers to take part in a pair of four-quarter games.

The radical experiment takes place this weekend at the Thomas & Mack Center. The Thunder and Vipers face off at 7:05 p.m. Friday and again Saturday at 4:05 p.m. The second game will be nationally televised on Fox Sports Net.

"People have been wondering for years what a four-quarter format would be like," said IHL chief operating officer Doug Moss, who embarked on the venture after a conversation with NHL director of hockey operations Brian Burke. "So we decided to try it, evaluate it and see if it makes sense to do it again."

The games, which will count in the standings despite their exhibition flavor, have sparked widespread debate. Purists claim the game's tradition should not be tinkered with. Others think alterations could generate more fans and money.

"You play nine innings of baseball and 18 holes of golf. Hockey has been three periods forever, and there's a reason for that," said Thunder goalie Tim Cheveldae.

The NHL and IHL will closely monitor how the four-quarter concept affects TV compatibility, the flow of the games on an improved ice surface, length of the games and concession sales. Player and fan feedback also will determine the format's success or lack of it.

"Tim and I have a lot of good-humored battles in the locker room about that because hockey first and foremost is a business," said Thunder captain Joe Day, a Chicago native. "If you're going to have any success at all selling our product, which is not a major-league product, you need to make it feasible for people to come when they otherwise don't want to.

"We have carved a nice niche for ourselves as an affordable game you can take the whole family to. But if they don't get home until 11 o'clock at night and still have to get up for work in the morning or get their kids off to school, they'll decide not to go."

And according to the Thunder's representative to the Professional Hockey Players' Association, the happier the fans become, the happier the players will be.

"Our salaries are down because attendance is down. Hello?" Day said.

"No one's trying to bastardize the game. But without the business, we don't have jobs. It's a vicious cycle."

The format consists of four 15-minute periods with an eight-minute first and third intermission. Halftime will last 14 minutes. The ice will be resurfaced during each break, and that could lead to faster play.

"With the ice getting a full cut three times instead of two, the question is 'Will it be an improved playing surface?'" Moss said. "I think it's going to make it better. The more you cut it the better it is. Three full floods should make for a faster ice surface."

Those who know Thunder general manager Bob Strumm -- a man steadfast in his hockey beliefs -- might be surprised to discover even he is ready to give the new format a chance.

"I'm going to watch it with an open mind," Strumm said. "Maybe Las Vegas has converted me to more of an open mind. Las Vegas is all about entertainment. Sometimes it is a three-ring circus.

"You can take a closed-minded opinion like Chevy or take an open-minded opinion that we can do something to help the game."

Such reasoning will not work on Cheveldae, a former NHL all-star.

"Just imagine if you changed baseball to eight innings," Cheveldae said. "That's a very drastic move. It's untouchable.

"I think (going to four quarters) does insult the game."