Strange Officiating Calls

[mnpucker 33]

So tonight I experienced something I have never heard or seen before. The age is 12 yr old Peewee A hockey, I am head coach. The game was not close although the score indicated it may be, my team was in charge all game. Early in the game the official warned our players and the other team to lighten up in front of the net, in fact he screamed it at our bench (another topic). The game was well officiated, called what they had to, they allowed the game to be played. With 3-4 minutes left a shot was sent on our goaltender, goalie made the save and was kneeling on the puck, 3 opposing forwards crashed the crease and drove him into the back of the net. (Don't ask me how 3 guys got behind my D) My D did make up for it, they cleared the crease, in doing so were called for minor roughing penalties each. I did not argue or have anything to say about my players penalties. However, after he registered the calls with the score keeper I said, "My goalies back was touching the back bar in the net." I did not yell, I did not have any animosity....the game was virtually over, my team was up, all was good I was just making an observation and statement that was meant to let him know that someone pushed my goalie into the back of the net. At this time the players are all lined up for the next face off, he stopped and looked at me. I thought he did not hear me, I repeated, "my goalies back was touching the back bar."

He threw his arms in the air and screams, 'Ok 2 and 10 checking from behind" and he smirked at me. He was going to change the minor roughs to checking from behind. I immediately asked Box personnel what he had originally called, they confirmed roughs. He told them he could do whatever he wanted. made them cross out the roughs and change them to 2 and 10.......

I told him he couldn't do that, if anything he should have given me a minor bench, for what I do not know.

I told him I would be reporting him he yelled something back at me and then said the word, "Game". I left the bench. Long story short he never gave me a penalty, he did give the boys 2 and 10. Can officials do this? Mad at a coach so change your call?

what a terrible lesson for kids. I coach to teach. Not just hockey but life lessons for young kids. What message does this send kids?

On a side note, in prior games the same guy yelled at my players for clearing the puck off the glass when shorthanded. The first time it happened he yelled at my player while playing he skated after him up the ice yelling at him. The second time it happened he came over and yelled at my bench saying, "you have to find another way to clear the puck out of the zone." You cant make that up. Isn't rule one on short handed to clear the puck high off the glass?

[Top Cheese 0]

Sounds like this ref has some issues that go far beyond the realm of hockey.

[Krev 86]

Sounds like he definitely has some issues that were unrelated to the game. I'd write up a report and send it in.

[mnpucker 33]

Sounds like he definitely has some issues that were unrelated to the game. I'd write up a report and send it in.

Unfortunately I contacted our District representative and he told me a report about an official would only do me harm. He is correct. Unfortunately, ther are no checks and balances when it comes to officiating in our district. The director will side with officials, coaches that report get thrown onto "the list" so to speak. This cuslture of power in our district is negatively impacting kids.

Here is another situation that occured this year. With 1:20 left in the third period of a game the official stopped the game because the clock on the wall said our hour was up, 1 minute late. We were tied with a power play and dominating play. The zamboni driver was standing near the glass watching the final minute. Ref said, because he was standing there the time was up. I confirmed with Zamboni driver and he was ok with the game anding. OK so if ending a game with 1:30 left is not bad enough. Prior to that same game I had to get the ref out of the officials room because he was 4 minutes late for our ice time. I entered to see him talking on his cell phone. The next time we had this official I made it a point to send someone in to get him so the scene did not repeat itself. Again he was late and on the cell phone. The game ended in regular time but narrowly.

I contacted our association rep and he informed me that I could file a grievance but, again, it would only harm me in the long run.

I contacted USA Hockey and Minnesota Hockey sonce our district is so closed minded.

[rogerwaldrup 0]

He won't last long. You can't carry on like that and expect to continue in such a responsible position. He'll be approached soon whether he's written up or not. Everyone that cares is noticing.

[interpathway 9]

Can't wait for zebra_steve to chirp in.

Oftentimes I feel like I'm giving the referees too hard a time, but stories like these only reinfornce my "learned" behavior.

[Krev 86]

Unfortunately I contacted our District representative and he told me a report about an official would only do me harm. He is correct. Unfortunately, ther are no checks and balances when it comes to officiating in our district. The director will side with officials, coaches that report get thrown onto "the list" so to speak. This cuslture of power in our district is negatively impacting kids.

Here is another situation that occured this year. With 1:20 left in the third period of a game the official stopped the game because the clock on the wall said our hour was up, 1 minute late. We were tied with a power play and dominating play. The zamboni driver was standing near the glass watching the final minute. Ref said, because he was standing there the time was up. I confirmed with Zamboni driver and he was ok with the game anding. OK so if ending a game with 1:30 left is not bad enough. Prior to that same game I had to get the ref out of the officials room because he was 4 minutes late for our ice time. I entered to see him talking on his cell phone. The next time we had this official I made it a point to send someone in to get him so the scene did not repeat itself. Again he was late and on the cell phone. The game ended in regular time but narrowly.

I contacted our association rep and he informed me that I could file a grievance but, again, it would only harm me in the long run.

I contacted USA Hockey and Minnesota Hockey sonce our district is so closed minded.

Take that route with your first post. When the District won't listen, go higher up the food chain.

Can't wait for zebra_steve to chirp in.

Oftentimes I feel like I'm giving the referees too hard a time, but stories like these only reinfornce my "learned" behavior.

There are definitely some referees that need to be smacked around a little, but I do hope that the decent ones are at least appreciated a little.

[zebra_steve 11]

"CHIRP CHIRP CHIRP"

In a word - UNPROFESSIONAL!

Not even gonna think of defending it.... We are human and sometime have a bad day.... I've been there - done that - felt like sh!t after and apologized to all involved.... Now if this is a regular occurrence then this guy has some issues (maybe off ice that are crossing over)... Quite possibly burn out from too many games? Animosity from previous games? I just pulled a guy off a game yesterday and skated it because of friction with a coach that had built up over the season.... better for all involved.

Re: the puck off the glass stuff..... yeah we yell at the players to keep their head up, take a look before they send it, or grab them at a stoppage and have a discussion about "our safety". But chasing down a 12 year old and yelling at him???? Better to just ask you (the coach) to tell your players to take a look before launching it (and not just telling you not to have them put it off the glass)... there is often a better choice or an open lane to put the puck instead of where we are standing. it is really safe to assume that there will be a striped shirt standing at the blue line, or in the corner on the goal line - that's where we're "supposed to be". We try to anticipate what a player is going to do and give them a lane to do it. Now if a kid looks right at me and then drills me, yeah I'm probably gonna be a bit pissed.

Curfews are always a touchy subject - especially when you don't have a specific countdown clock that automatically sounds a horn at 0:00:00:00... even then you have issues.... did the scorekeeper start the curfew clock at the the start of the designated game time or when the first puck drops... all depends on you local rules as some have specific game time slots - say 2:00pm to 3:30pm with curfew at 3:00pm... the game time starts at 2:00pm no matter and it's done at 3:00pm based on whatever clock is considered the "official clock" (usually the clock on the wall at the rink. Others say you have 90 minutes to play the game and interpret that either from the drop of the first puck.... A curfew isn't a ref's job, it's the time keepers responsibility.

Not sure what other advice to give you as it seems that you have tried to follow the procedures and chain of command and met with frustration.

Krev,

You have no idea how much it's appreciated to get a "you called a great game" from both coaches after you've had a very physical and competitive game where you HAD to make some tough calls to keep it from turning into a turd. Sort of makes up for all the times we've ignored the teenager skating by telling us we were "horseshit' after the game.

[wrangler 157]

I probably don't know enough about this kind of operation, but in general, the more people and power you can bring to bear, the better your chances may be of getting results.

How does your league get its referees? Can they refuse to use this guy?

You've pointed out what may be a bigger problem, that the system supposed to handle referee quality control doesn't. Good luck overcoming folks' inertia there. You need a lot of support to make that change.

[Chadd 916]

He won't last long. You can't carry on like that and expect to continue in such a responsible position. He'll be approached soon whether he's written up or not. Everyone that cares is noticing.

We have a guy like that they are pushing higher and higher. His actions (and drug use before games) have zero effect on his meteoric rise through the ranks.

You've pointed out what may be a bigger problem, that the system supposed to handle referee quality control doesn't.

The system functions more to protect officials than to address problems in most cases. It is one of the biggest "old boys clubs" you will find.

[Krev 86]

In a word - UNPROFESSIONAL!

Not even gonna think of defending it.... We are human and sometime have a bad day.... I've been there - done that - felt like sh!t after and apologized to all involved.... Now if this is a regular occurrence then this guy has some issues (maybe off ice that are crossing over)... Quite possibly burn out from too many games? Animosity from previous games? I just pulled a guy off a game yesterday and skated it because of friction with a coach that had built up over the season.... better for all involved.

Sounds like to me he brought some issues from off the rink with him. Burnt out refs usually, at least from what I've noticed, aren't all that vocal. Quite the opposite. They appear uninterested, not caring, and lazy.

That said, it is always best to pull a referee out of a game if there are known issues between said ref and either team, players, and/or coaches.

Re: the puck off the glass stuff..... yeah we yell at the players to keep their head up, take a look before they send it, or grab them at a stoppage and have a discussion about "our safety". But chasing down a 12 year old and yelling at him???? Better to just ask you (the coach) to tell your players to take a look before launching it (and not just telling you not to have them put it off the glass)... there is often a better choice or an open lane to put the puck instead of where we are standing. it is really safe to assume that there will be a striped shirt standing at the blue line, or in the corner on the goal line - that's where we're "supposed to be". We try to anticipate what a player is going to do and give them a lane to do it. Now if a kid looks right at me and then drills me, yeah I'm probably gonna be a bit pissed.

I've found the best solution is to be vocal with the players when they're looking to clear or make a play. A simple "heads up!" or "take a look!" usually works most of the time. If I do get hit, I won't yell at the kid, but I will give him a dumbfounded look and usually say something along the lines of "comeon kid, pick your head up". We are part of the playing surface, but pucks don't bounce off of me like they're nothing.

Curfews are always a touchy subject - especially when you don't have a specific countdown clock that automatically sounds a horn at 0:00:00:00... even then you have issues.... did the scorekeeper start the curfew clock at the the start of the designated game time or when the first puck drops... all depends on you local rules as some have specific game time slots - say 2:00pm to 3:30pm with curfew at 3:00pm... the game time starts at 2:00pm no matter and it's done at 3:00pm based on whatever clock is considered the "official clock" (usually the clock on the wall at the rink. Others say you have 90 minutes to play the game and interpret that either from the drop of the first puck.... A curfew isn't a ref's job, it's the time keepers responsibility.

See, that's the way it should be. Time keepers job. Out here... nope. It's the Ref's job, which is stupid. We have waaaaayyyy more important things to keep our minds occupied with.

Krev,

You have no idea how much it's appreciated to get a "you called a great game" from both coaches after you've had a very physical and competitive game where you HAD to make some tough calls to keep it from turning into a turd. Sort of makes up for all the times we've ignored the teenager skating by telling us we were "horseshit' after the game.

I'd like to think that I have some idea. Been on both sides of that coin. As a ref more recently than the former.

We have a guy like that they are pushing higher and higher. His actions (and drug use before games) have zero effect on his meteoric rise through the ranks.

The system functions more to protect officials than to address problems in most cases. It is one of the biggest "old boys clubs" you will find.

How is he progressing up through the ranks with that baggage in tow? Do they just not care or is he good at hiding it. I feel like that once he reaches a certain level and starts to plateau he's going to crash. Hard.

[Chadd 916]

How is he progressing up through the ranks with that baggage in tow? Do they just not care or is he good at hiding it. I feel like that once he reaches a certain level and starts to plateau he's going to crash. Hard.

They simply don't care. He's a bad ref with a bad attitude, but he played junior C and they will push anyone forward if you played at any level of junior. If you didn't play at that level, you don't get advanced.

[zebra_steve 11]

I've seen some officials that are burning out that get into more confrontations with the players and coaches... a viscous circle - poor job gets more abuse from that leads to a confrontation. The resulting poor attitude towards the players and coaches results in him being more belligerent or lackadaisical which gets more abuse from the bench and players..... they are adrift ... they either call it too loose or too tight, taking it all personal (sometimes it's made personal by the coach).... It can be exacerbated when you consider that many coaches work with multiple teams.... amateur, High School, etc. really easy to see the same coaches too frequently.

Many rinks have gone to a separate curfew clock to alleviate the issues..... imagine you're the visitor 40 seconds left, down by one goal on a power play, goalie pulled and a guy on a breakaway... and the scorekeeper hits the horn for curfew - based on some unseen time piece! A separate clock with a horn is a small price to pay. But, that's not perfect either as I've caught teams stopping the curfew clock for a couple\ten seconds here and there when their team was trying to tie a game and it looked like the game would get curfewed.

I'll talk to the players all the time.... not just to tell them to keep their head up.... If they hear where my voice is coming from they at least have an idea where I'm at and that I'm watching.

[mnpucker 33]

Great feedback. I hope this thread provides more than answers for my particular problem. With any luck the guy reads this and hears from more people than me that his actions were uncalled for and un professional. The guy calls the penalties correctly but his personality and communications skills are non-existent.

I appreciate good officials and share my feelings with them each time we cross paths. I cannot tell you how refreshing it is to hear an official coach a player or players out of potential penalty situations, or to explain situations to the coaching staff. Officials in my opinion are nearly as important as good coaching in forming quality players and quality people. Likewise it is nice to hear compliments from officials, it happens often. I am proud of my players. My players are required to pay respect to every person and everything in the arenas we play in. Locker room is to be picked up upon entering and upon leaving, officials are to be respected, palms to the sky after officials calls are not allowed, they are required to shake the refs hand after the game. This year my team has received compliments from officials and free ice time from our zamboni driver because he never has to clean our locker room......Great life lessons for all involved. I know I do my job right I invest a lot of time into the season. When a half ckced official comes in and yells at my players and bench and make rash decisions you question what kind of leadership they operate under.

The expiration of the game is left up to the arena personnel, league rule. If the zamboni driver says times up, times up. It is a pretty sad state of affairs when 1-2 minutes cannot be found in a day. In Metro areas the all mighty dollar is stronger than what is right and wrong. When we go outside the metro, the game clock rules, it does not matter what the clock on the wall says kids get to finish their game. Imagine if you will what it would be like to play 11 minute stop time periods, 4 minute warm up, 1 minute period breaks and no timeouts and not finish a game! It happens pretty regularly in our league. Poor officiating is usually the reason. Too many worthless whistles, allowing coaches too much time for explanation, stepping on the ice late. It happens with regularity

Increasing numbers of officials make the game more about their involvement than the kids. Attitudes are prevalent often. They let small things set them off. Coaches are not immune I have seen some very poorly behaved coaches as well. I am sure the bad coaches contribute to officials behavior.

In my opinion USA Hockey needs to be some sort of an official review following each game. I am not saying that individual game reviews should cause an end of an officials career but if there are reoccurrence the league could step in to provide better raining. More importantly the reviews will give the league reason to reward the good officials. Players, parents and coaches are all held accountable but not the officials.

Regarding the shooting incident, I told the guy I sympathized with his safety concerns but when a 12 year old has a chance to clear a puck after chasing a power play around the zone in a tight game, there is very little concern for anyones safety. It is a stressful situation and they are trying to make the right play. He happened to be standing at the hash marks both times it happened. A pretty critical spot in a power play for both teams.

[zebra_steve 11]

The hash marks are a little high unless play pushed him there but not totally unreasonable unless he got there and dropped anchor. The reaction time and aim\accuracy of most 12 year olds ain't that good anyway. The ones that really scare me are the all out slap shots from behind the net or in the corner that nearly drill me in the face when I'm giving them plenty of room to wrap it around and out.

[tareatingrat 4]

The system functions more to protect officials than to address problems in most cases. It is one of the biggest "old boys clubs" you will find.

That's the biggest problem with officials. Which is why I don't think there should be a ref-in-chief who calls the shots. Referees should be supervised, evaluated and scheduled by committee. Have some senior referees, members of the executive, and members of the league (coaches or managers) judge and evaluate a referee's ability.

Realistically, refs get paid a ridiculous amount for what, an hour and a half of work? It isn't too much to expect that the unprofessional stuff doesn't happen.

I mean, I've seen refs make bad calls and then come up to the coaches after and apologize because their linesmen told them it really wasn't a penalty. I don't mind that. The entire game of hockey is a game of mistakes. I can deal with some bad calls here and there, but I can't deal with a ref that loses his cool or lets the power get to his head.

For the most part, the kids are paying to play, the coaches and managers are volunteering their time, and the refs are being paid to do their job. Yes, it's a thankless job most nights, but, you know, there's the whole getting paid for it thing.

[Jason Harris 31]

Re: the puck off the glass stuff..... yeah we yell at the players to keep their head up, take a look before they send it, or grab them at a stoppage and have a discussion about "our safety". But chasing down a 12 year old and yelling at him???? Better to just ask you (the coach) to tell your players to take a look before launching it (and not just telling you not to have them put it off the glass)... there is often a better choice or an open lane to put the puck instead of where we are standing. it is really safe to assume that there will be a striped shirt standing at the blue line, or in the corner on the goal line - that's where we're "supposed to be". We try to anticipate what a player is going to do and give them a lane to do it. Now if a kid looks right at me and then drills me, yeah I'm probably gonna be a bit pissed.

Steve, as someone who has reffed in the past, I understand your concern for your and other refs' safety, especially since you're just making a few bucks while helping others enjoy a game. No doubt, if I felt someone aimed the puck at another, I'm calling a penalty; in fact, I once did when it seemed the guy turned toward the other team and swept the puck over their bench. However, even gently chiding a child to consider safer routes than using the glass seems akin to telling him he should make sure no one is in front of the net before he takes a slapshot. It's a safer play for his team to instinctively shoot the puck high off the ground, rather than take the time to look for a different lane. Consequently, it seems this has to be considered a caveat emptor for the refs.

[zebra_steve 11]

Realistically, refs get paid a ridiculous amount for what, an hour and a half of work? It isn't too much to expect that the unprofessional stuff doesn't happen.

For the most part, the kids are paying to play, the coaches and managers are volunteering their time, and the refs are being paid to do their job. Yes, it's a thankless job most nights, but, you know, there's the whole getting paid for it thing.

There are games that I would do for free, and there are games that you couldn't pay me enough to skate. For the most part, the majority of coaches and the majority of refs are not the issue here. We have a certain percentage on both sides that are the issue.... and then we have the parents!

I would counter that it would not be unreasonable to expect the players and coaches to also behave in an equally courteous and professional manner?

And answering to a committee? Fine, but be very careful about picking it.... some of the biggest clusterf$%ks I've ever seen were due to a committee. As for one person who is responsible for everything.... No matter what, everyone answers to someone.... but maybe the level of oversight on them might just be above your pay grade.... sometimes you just have to deal with it.

[zebra_steve 11]

Steve, as someone who has reffed in the past, I understand your concern for your and other refs' safety, especially since you're just making a few bucks while helping others enjoy a game. No doubt, if I felt someone aimed the puck at another, I'm calling a penalty; in fact, I once did when it seemed the guy turned toward the other team and swept the puck over their bench. However, even gently chiding a child to consider safer routes than using the glass seems akin to telling him he should make sure no one is in front of the net before he takes a slapshot. It's a safer play for his team to instinctively shoot the puck high off the ground, rather than take the time to look for a different lane. Consequently, it seems this has to be considered a caveat emptor for the refs.

Jason,

I think that you've misunderstood what I was saying. It's not about someone intentionally shooting at us. It's that they have limited control with the shot (think PeeWee or Bantam) or limited skill (panic, head down, blast it out through whatever is in the way)... or both.

I am also a coach and as a coach I DO NOT want my players to randomly fire the puck high and hard - or randomly anywhere for that matter. I DO want them to have their head up reading the play before they reach the puck. I DO want them to have their head up and to know where they are sending the puck and who or what they are sending it past. Maybe the correct play IS high and hard, but maybe there IS a better option - with their head down, running on instinct as you suggest, they'll never know. I DO NOT want them to develop the habit of simply trying to force the puck out when a little finesse may serve the situation better. If their instinct is just to bury their head and slap it as hard as they can, IMHO they have not been properly coached. High and hard may get it out - or not, but learning to have your head up and making a play will have a better chance of getting the puck out AND resulting in a short handed scoring opportunity.

So far we've been talking about trying to clear the zone. What about when the forward crosses the red line, puts his head down, and fires it for my head at the blue line when all but maybe 7 square feet of ice at the blue line (that I and the 2 defensemen are standing on) is wide open?

As for your shot on net analogy, do you tell your D to bury his head and just fire the puck into the mass of humanity in front of the net or do you have them pick their head up and LOOK. The may have a D to D pass that makes sense, or a pass to a forward. or to put the shot into an area more likely to result in a good deflection?

TO take this a half step further, I have had players, on too many occasions, skate into me with their head down and no one pressing them WHILE I was yelling at them to pick up their head and tying to guess which way to go to avoid them. I just love it when a kid tells me to get the F*** out of the way after they ran into me with their head down and I did everything short of crawling up my own ass to get out of their way. I am not small, and I am not hard to see if you pick up your head and look..... That is the key here, They need to pick their head up and LOOK where they are going.

[fogelberg 9]

TO take this a half step further, I have had players, on too many occasions, skate into me with their head down and no one pressing them WHILE I was yelling at them to pick up their head and tying to guess which way to go to avoid them. I just love it when a kid tells me to get the F*** out of the way after they ran into me with their head down and I did everything short of crawling up my own ass to get out of their way. I am not small, and I am not hard to see if you pick up your head and look..... That is the key here, They need to pick their head up and LOOK where they are going.

Hey Steve,

I may be in the minority in this, but having recently done just this, I was totally embarrassed and couldn't stop apologizing to the official. I completely lost my bearings on the ice and ran him over. He gave me a good ribbing about it. My point is, if I run into an official out there, I laugh it off, and make sure he's okay. It's hockey.

[tareatingrat 4]

There are games that I would do for free, and there are games that you couldn't pay me enough to skate. For the most part, the majority of coaches and the majority of refs are not the issue here. We have a certain percentage on both sides that are the issue.... and then we have the parents!

Parents are definitely the biggest issue. I have no issue with asking a ref what the call was about when I'm coaching, but parents, in general, are idiots.

I would counter that it would not be unreasonable to expect the players and coaches to also behave in an equally courteous and professional manner?

Not unreasonable at all. I still think, however, that the ref, being compensated for his work should do his best to mediate conflict. I've said before, if a coach or player is being completely out of line, toss 'em. I know that it's extremely difficult being on the bench watching a ref flex his nuts and having little recourse.

And answering to a committee? Fine, but be very careful about picking it.... some of the biggest clusterf$%ks I've ever seen were due to a committee. As for one person who is responsible for everything.... No matter what, everyone answers to someone.... but maybe the level of oversight on them might just be above your pay grade.... sometimes you just have to deal with it.

Fair enough, to a point. I just don't think having the "boss" be a ref himself with no real obligation other than to stand up for the refs he hired is the best system.

[zebra_steve 11]

Not unreasonable at all. I still think, however, that the ref, being compensated for his work should do his best to mediate conflict. I've said before, if a coach or player is being completely out of line, toss 'em. I know that it's extremely difficult being on the bench watching a ref flex his nuts and having little recourse.

Agreed, those officials that seem to have the constant need to dictate and control the game tend to be a problem for all of us.... I nickname them "The Show" because it's more about them than the game. My question is how do you still feel that way when the ref tosses YOU when you've gone to far? Sure, ask for an interpretation on a call, but understand that whatever answer you get is not open for further debate no matter how much you disagree with it.

Fair enough, to a point. I just don't think having the "boss" be a ref himself with no real obligation other than to stand up for the refs he hired is the best system.

And the majority of officials think being managed by someone that they don't feel knows the rules, has never has been taught how to apply them, and never been in the stripes to know what they have to deal with is the best system either. The NHL has some of the best officials in the world, they are told exactly what to call, how to call it and when to call it by the ownership\management of the league. We see how well that's working at the moment.

[flaming_june 2]

Take that route with your first post. When the District won't listen, go higher up the food chain.

There are definitely some referees that need to be smacked around a little, but I do hope that the decent ones are at least appreciated a little.

That'd be a good thing to do if there was video evidence or people to back you up. No scorekeeper, ref partner or linesman will. The reffing faternaty will always stick together and back up their/our kind. It's just how the system works.

Quite unprofessional. I don't like how he called that. Unfort there are bad refs in every league.

[farhanshak 1]

I always try never to nag the ref. Just let it go.

although I have been the victim of quite a few phantom calls and non calls.

This past tuesday a guy tripped me as i was going into the boards to grab a puck at full speed. he put his stick between my legs at the last second and then as i was falling drove me into the boards. Ref was standing right there and let it go...I got up shook it off. Battled with the guy at the front of the net (cross checked in the back and punched the guy in the back of the head a few times regular front of the net battle I guess) no call on me, and then puck goes the other way our guy bumps the goalie (he was pushed into thier goalie as the he was cross checked) puck goes in no call...

Everything balances out in the end I guess.

Another funny one was I usually never get penalties, always have guys take penalties against me. I went an entire season without a penalty, last game of the season, i was being hooked in front of the net and slashed and cross checked and my stick was down on the ice for a deflection..after the deflection I got called for the hook...wtf?! (we scored a short handed goal during my penalty)...

[fatwabbit 93]

Here's a call I got tonight, confused the hell out of me.

Puck along boards, me and this other guy chase it, I managed to push it into the corner but lost my stick as it got tangled in the opponents legs. Puck was bouncing so I used my gloves to settle it down, not even closing my hand around it, sort of just pushing it forward a little with the tips of the gloves. I'm about 1 foot from being behind the goal, and use my feet to kick it towards the goalie. Goalie stops the puck and I get called for a handpass?

I thought a handpass was to a player on your team... but I sort of passed it to myself and used my feet after that. WTF??