Archive for January, 2008
01-15-2008
Magness-Gate
So, DU played Wisconsin this past weekend in Denver, and the series turned into a fiasco. No one could have possibly predicted the drama that would unfold, but it ended with very strange officiating from referee Paul Smith and his crew.
First, it never should have gotten to the point that it did. Denver jumped out a 3-0 lead early in the second period and completely dominated in all aspects of the game. However, Wisconsin slowly chipped back. If DU clears the puck late in the second period when they had an opportunity, Wisconsin never scores, and the game probably never gets crazy. Instead, a Denver player overskates the puck, Wisconsin grabs it and scores. Moments into the third, Wisconsin scores again, and it’s 3-2.
Even with that, Denver still should have held on. Chris Butler has the puck, but instead of holding onto it, or gently chipping it to center ice, he ices it, setting a faceoff with 3.7 seconds left. Freshman Tyler Bozak should have tried to win the faceoff, but tried to tie up Kyle Turris, who got it back to Matt Ford, who scores.
Schmidt goes to the replay, just asks for where the puck is at 0 seconds, and waives off what appears to be the tying score. Video replay on TV shows it IS a tying goal, and the next day, 2 hours before faceoff, the WCHA admits that Schmidt goofs.
With all that said, what kind of league sends out a press release admitting the referee made a mistake two hours before the same referee is going to referee a game between the same two teams? What a complete boondoggle! Schmidt clearly tried to atone for his gaff, awarding Wisconsin a goal when he had already blown the whistle, then tried to atone for that mistake later by awarding DU a goal that was scored on a high stick.
All this and more, when the circus comes to town!
Posted by Candace in Hockey | No Comments »