Many of you might have heard that the WCHA ruled on the Friday night Badger-Denver men's hockey game. Their ruling was, "we aren't going to do anything about it". This is a travesty on so many levels I cannot even begin to name them all.
For those who are not aware, the Badgers were down 3-2 with 3.7 seconds left to play. With .4 seconds Matthew Ford fo the Badgers scored the game tying goal. The referree's decided to review the goal on instant replay. After review the goal was disallowed. Apparently the referee used a freeze frame "still" picture in which the puck was in the crease and the clock said 0.00 on it. However that stil picture was a picture of the puck AFTER it had already hit the back of the net and bounced back out. The referee did not use the technology at his disposal and did not review any further. When reviewed PROPERLY it turns out he goal had counted and was in the net with 0.4 seconds left. Denver was awarded the points for the win and of course the Badgers were awarded no points. Keep in mind this was the end of the game with 0.4 seconds left. THe game was over as a center ice face off would not have allowed enough time to get a shot off (kind of like basketball when they say after 0.3 seconds there is not enogh time ot catch and shoot) so regulation was essentially over.
Here is where I really get lost. The WCHA head of officials AND the WCHA admitted a mistake had been made and the goal should have counted and they admitted so BEFORE the Badgers and Denver took the ice for their Saturday game. For those who do not follow college hockey, teams play two game series over the weekends, usually Friday and Saturday nights, so the controversy happened Friday night and the officials admitted there was a mistake on Saturday late afternoon. So please tell me WHY WCHA and NCAA officials, and the teams, could not have just agreed to play the 5 minute overtime period BEFORE the second game on Saturday night. I mean ther is only one five minute OT in college hockey and if it is still tied after that the teams both receive a point and it is declared a tie, it's not like they were going to play all night and it;s not liek it would have had a dramatic effect on Saturday nights game. This would have righted a wrong in an easy and fair manner. This was pointed out by announcers and thousands fo screaming hockey fans. So how come the supposed powers that be couldn't figure this out and get this right??? I know this, if the Badgers miss the NCAA tournament but one game, this season should have a proverbial asterik placed next to it's tournament. We have the technology why can't we get things right the first time???
