Cougars fans will notice a few new twists when they take their seats for Mount Royal University women's hockey games this season.

For the 2026-27 season, U SPORTS is adopting several rules previously introduced by the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL), adding new strategy, pressure and excitement to the women's game.

The ice, the teams and the fast-paced nature of hockey remain the same but a few key situations will look different this season.

Here's what Cougars fans need to know before they go.

1. The Jailbreak Rule

One of the biggest changes comes when a team is playing shorthanded.

Normally, a player who receives a minor penalty serves the full two minutes, unless the opposing team scores on the power play.

Under the new Jailbreak Rule, a shorthanded goal will immediately release the penalized player from the penalty box.

For example, if Mount Royal is killing a penalty and scores while shorthanded, the player serving the penalty can immediately leave the box and return to the ice. Any time remaining on the penalty is erased.

That means a successful penalty kill can now do more than simply prevent a goal, a shorthanded goal can instantly restore a team to full strength and create a major momentum swing.

In short: Shorthanded goal = player gets out of the box immediately.

2. The No-Escape Rule

Fans may also notice some unusual line combinations following a penalty.

Under the new No-Escape Rule, when a penalty is called and play is stopped, the players who were on the ice when the penalty occurred must remain on the ice for the ensuing faceoff.

That means teams cannot immediately make substitutions to put their preferred penalty killers or line combinations on the ice.

A team could find itself taking an important defensive-zone faceoff with an unexpected combination of forwards and defencemen, creating an additional strategic challenge and potentially giving the opposing team an advantage.

Once the faceoff takes place, normal substitutions can resume.

In short: If a penalty stops play, the players on the ice have to take the next faceoff.

3. Overtime and Shootouts

Tied after 60 minutes? The game will head to five minutes of three-on-three overtime.

With fewer players on the ice, three-on-three overtime creates more open ice and additional scoring opportunities as teams battle for the extra point.

If nobody scores during overtime, the game will be decided by a shootout.

Each team will have 3 shooters before the shootout moves into sudden death.

Here's another change fans will want to remember:

There is no limit on how many times a player can shoot during sudden death.

If a team believes its best shooter gives it the best chance to win, that same player can be selected again in subsequent rounds.

So don't be surprised if you see a familiar face heading back to centre ice more than once.

More on Shootouts:
Home team chooses who will shoot first
Players penalized at the end of overtime play are not allowed to participate in the shootout competition. 

What Does This Mean for Cougars Fans?

The new rules are designed to add another layer of strategy and create more opportunities for momentum to change in an instant.

A penalty kill could suddenly become a scoring opportunity. A penalty could force an unexpected group of players to defend an important faceoff. And a shootout could ultimately come down to a team's most trusted shooter, no matter how many times she's already taken a turn.

So when you head to Flames Community Arenas this season, keep an eye out for these new situations.

The game is still hockey. But in 2026-27, there are a few new ways for the Cougars to change it.