Comments on: Feedback on: An Indefinite Suspension Without A Media Circus

By: Wulf

Wulf — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 02:08:05 +0000

Great point about publicizing the admonitions of officials.

By: Josh

Josh — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:30:05 +0000

and referees do get admonished — as chuqui mentioned, it just usually isn’t public unless they *really* screw up:

I’m sure Columbus fans remember that one.
Also, I’ve not read Scapanello’s book, but I can tell you that Tough Calls and In the Bin are both great books and amusing reads.
Last, I personally am a registered level 3 USA Hockey official. I am by no means on the level of an NHL referee, but I do have significant experience calling recreational level hockey. It’s not as easy as it looks. While you are focused on just the play from your seats, the referee is trying to maintain good field of vision, avoid the players and flying pucks, AND keep an eye on what is happening with 10 players on the ice. From section 201 you can see all 10 without field of vision issues. From the corner it’s hard to see the puck carrier at the point, and the battle in front of the net at the same time. What people forget too, is that referees are human too. I’m sure Rick Nash has overskated pucks, or fanned with a wide open net before. He’s a pro NHL player, indeed a super star in the league, and you know what, he makes mistakes too. I’ve not seen the Peca play, but even if it were a mistake by the official, you don’t grab the referee.

By: The Forechecker

The Forechecker — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:20:24 +0000

You don’t need an IP address to spot that Columbus fan; just look at the spelling and grammar that’s a hallmark of THE Ohio State University.
Dirk
University of Michigan, ’98

By: mepex

mepex — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:50:24 +0000

I don’t see how this is ‘whole’ in any sort of logic, unless the commenter is arguing that abuse of the official is allowed in certain cases. Which it clearly isn’t. Even if the referee committed the worst travesty of justice in the history of hockey officiating, that neither warrants nor justifies a player doing what Peca did, according to the rules. Whether the call was a good or bad one is a completely separate issue.