Question for the Refs...

[pantherfan 0]

Okay, watched a junior game a couple weeks back and a player takes a dump-shot at the goalie then they go for the line change, the goalie then leaves his crease about 10 feet takes a swing at the puck in mid-air and hits it over the glass with his stick. I was with a couple of people at the time, 1 thought it should be a delay of game due to it being more of a dump then a shot but also a blatent dick move attempt at stopping play, where as the 2nd person said it shouldn't be a penalty at all as the goalie should have the right to make the save in any way shape or form he chooses and dump or not it was still near enough on target.

I as usual declined to comment and told them I knew but I'd let them ponder it a while.

So, yeah. Question is: What would you have done/called in this situation?

[rootski 0]

If the puck was in mid-air can it be classified as a deflection?, of course if it hadn't hit the ice first. So no penalty faceoff inside the zone? just my guess

[shooter27 116]

If he leaves the crease to play the puck I think its the same as if he shot it out so it becomes a minor for delay of game. I saw something similar in the NHL this year, a Flyers goalie made a save, the puck popped in the air and he reached up, took a swing at it and intentionally knocked it over the glass behind the net. He was immediately called for Delay.

[pantherfan 0]

Cheers guys, I'm still up in the air about it but I guess it must be one of those calls thats got some grey area to it and a little discretion.

:)

[Chadd 916]

The big book o' rules (USA Hockey) says that because the puck was knocked out of mid air, the goalie did not have possession and control of the puck. Therefore, there is no penalty.

[pantherfan 0]

Ahh, thanks Chadd. I shall now pass this off as my own knowledge! :P

Viva la MSH