It is time for Hockey East to implement instant replay in order to gain an accurate ruling on controversial goals.

That is one of the opinions University of Maine hockey coach Tim Whitehead will express in Naples, Fla., next week when Hockey East and the American Hockey Coaches’ Association hold their annual meetings.

Whitehead will also continue his campaign to get the two-referees, two-linesmen system to replace the one-referee, two-linesmen system now being used, and he will push for 4-on-4 in overtime and a shootout if nobody scores in the OT.

The WCHA instituted instant replay two years ago and the CCHA followed suit this past season. It is also used in the NCAA Tournament.

Hockey East doesn’t have it.

“We want to get up to speed with the other leagues,” said Whitehead. “Any questionable goal should be reviewed. Everyone wants to get the calls right. We have the technology and the league has the money to do it.

“Even if we have only half the rinks up and running with it next season, it’s better than none,” added Whitehead.

Whitehead favors the 4-on-4 overtime and shootout that are used in the NHL.

“We need to eliminate ties. “There are too many ties. And 4-on-4 hockey and the shootouts are exciting. They work in the NHL. You don’t have ties in football, basketball or baseball. People who come to watch the games want a resolution,” said Whitehead.

Twenty-six of the 59 teams in NCAA Division I had at least four ties this past season and 14 of them had at least five.

In the NHL, teams tied after regulation each receive a point. The team that wins in overtime or the shootout receives an extra point.

Whitehead said Ty Halpin of the NCAA will have a breakdown of how the 4-on-4 and shootouts will impact the Rating Percentage Index and PairWise Rankings.

“I think you will receive 80 percent of a win if you win in overtime and 60 percent if you win the shootout,” said Whitehead. “The loser in overtime would earn 20 percent of a win and a shootout loser would earn 40 percent.”

Whitehead is encouraged about the two-referee, two-linesmen system as the NCAA allowed it to be used in non-league games this past season.

“That was the first step,” said Whitehead.

But he said it probably won’t be implemented in the leagues until the NCAA uses it in the NCAA Tournament.

“It has been gaining momentum each year. With the success the NHL has had with it, that makes it a slam dunk for us,” said Whitehead. “It puts the officials in position to succeed. They only have to work half the ice. Until we have video replay, it’s crucial to have one of the officials on the goal line [to rule on disputed goals].”

Whitehead also likes the fact it will enable college hockey to break in more referees and linesmen.

One of the negatives facing Whitehead in seeking the two-referees, two-linesmen system and implementing instant replay is the cost.

They would have to pay another official and, with the instant replay system, they would have to buy cameras or a video system that could be installed right above each goal to gauge whether or not the puck completely crossed the goal line.

They would also have to pay someone to run the video system and make the ruling.