Hi, this is Fred Wallace with ” Off the Wire “,….. proudly sponsored by Pete’s Auto Body.
Pete’s Auto Body; because we care about our community….
I’m way out of date on this one, but I want to backtrack to a comment last week and focus again on video review in the Ontario Hockey League.
In the Attack-Windsor game at the Harry Lumley-Bayshore Community Centre on Saturday October 23rd, Windsor had a goal disallowed, but the sequence involved was somewhat confusing to the naked eye..
Following the goal, the referees went to the timekeepers bench and consulted with the video goal judge.
After a lengthy delay there, the refs conferred with each other and signalled a goal had been scored by Windsor’s Matthew Maggio.
At that point, Owen Sound Coach Greg Walters called for a Coach’s Challenge and the delay was extended while another conference was conducted.
At the conclusion of that meeting, I’d say 10 minutes had elapsed, the goal was waved off.
Utterly confusing to me as an onlooker as I’d never seen that series of events unfold.
Luckily following the game, the video goal judge, Doug Crawford, came strolling by my booth, so I asked about the turn of events.
Doug Crawford explained the initial review ( delay ) was to determine whether the puck had entered the net or not.
It had, thus the referees made the ” goal ” motion.
However, was it a ” good goal ” ? And now that it was determined the puck had in fact entered the net, Coach Walters then had the option to make a Coach’s Challenge.
This second stage review on the I-pad indicated that Windsor’s Kyle McDonald had negatively impacted Mack Guzda’s ability to be in position for a save, so after that consultation, the referees ruled ” no goal ”
Having Doug Crawford explain the sequence made it understandable, but really, the length of the review that night, and on many nights, sucks the energy right out of the crowd and the building.
I’m thinking there’s gotta be a better, swifter way to make decisions.
For Pete’s Auto Body, I’m Fred Wallace.