maxx taxx

Swedish hockey expert and previous player on the national team, Håkan
Södergren, is really furious on the canadian referees for not taking
penaltys in th 3d period when canadian players are holding (or rather
hanging onto) czech players when they can't keep up with them in their own
zone.
At one time it was really obvious - it was laughable when a canadian player
was hanging after a czech who was trying to skate but couldn't move at all.
It seems the canadian referees professional pride is much lower than their
national pride.

bill

The European Referee style is quite different from the NHL style. European refs
call the game in black and white while NHL refs (most are Canadian) shoot from the
hip, often letting parts of the game go without penalties depending on the rhythm.

Most of the best referees in are from the NHL and are accustomed to the NHL game,
the World Cup is being played under NHL rules as well. I sense some sour g****s
from the European fellow Södergren, but if the players (most of whom are NHL
players) didn't complain, his point is more of a cultural view, not a bonafied
issue with the refereeing.

david brodbeck

Ahh the mating cry of the loser.

Look, the games are played under NHL rules, so NHL refs are used. The
notion that professional officials would ever let their nationality come
into play is quite laughable. (For example, see the call on Lecavllier
tonight, or the non call on the Czech's first goal when Foote was
clearly picked).

Plus, the officials KNOW all (or the vast majority) of the players in
the tournament. I doubt they would do something in this tournament that
would hurt their credibility with the players when they go back to the
NHL (whenever tha may be).

In the end it does not matter though. The two best teams in the
tournament will meet in the final and I am looking forward to a great
game. It will be odd for me cheering against Saku Koivu though....

Finally, our national pride is fine thank you. David


--
David R. Brodbeck, PhD
Department of Psychology
Algoma University
Sault Ste. Marie, ON
P6A 2G4

bill

Read my previous post, I think that you and I nailed it.

david brodbeck

Indeed you did sir! That article had not arrived yet when I typed my
reply. Nice one.

I wish people would understand that NHL refs are not ice dancing judges
or gymnastics judges or synchro swimming or......


--
David R. Brodbeck, PhD
Department of Psychology
Algoma University
Sault Ste. Marie, ON
P6A 2G4

bill

I just recall the 1972 hockey summit when Canada faced off with the amazing
Soviets.

One of the referees was named Bader (a West German) nobody remembers the other guys
name.

Harry Sinden called them "Badder and Worst".


43 year-old NHL refs go to an annual training camp, some of the guys who are 35 run
a mile in less than 5 minutes. The guys who are 43 aren't blind, heck the linesmen
have to get into NHL hockey fights and separate two combatants who are usually the
biggest and toughest guys in the best hockey league in the world. On top of that,
they call a good game that even a slow motion camera finds that their decisions are
right, over 90% of the time, when scrutinized.

bill

Addendum:

Not bad when you're looking at the fastest game in the world. Having to skate
like a fiend to keep up with the play and putting the quality of the officiating
against Major League Baseball and all Soccer leagues. Those guys ****, NHL refs
are superstars in my view.

maxx taxx

I'm sorry but there was this situation in the 3d period that I thought was
so blatantly obvious and would no doubt have rendered a penalty if a
canadian player had been the victim - and the ref was so close.
(there was also another situation that got Södergren really upset which I
didn't see, and I can tell you I honestly can't remember him sounding as
upset in any tournament, and he has some credibility and integrity after
playing for many, many years in the swedish national team and commentating
many games after that)
As soon as this tournament heats up there is one set of rules for canadians
and another for the rest which for me makes this cup a mix of the best of
the best tournament and an "all-star-game" spectacle - if Finland wins it
they really deserve credit for beating the NHL system

"David Brodbeck" <brodbeck@auc.ca> skrev i meddelandet
news:z4O0d.40327$lP4.2509374@news20.bellglobal.com ...

anders t

Quoting Bill in rec.sport.hockey:

Canada could easily have had 2-3 penalties in the last period when their
defenders lost their stick and instead engaged in
pro-wrestling/interference/holding with the CANADIAN refs watching
silently.

Czech Rep was clearly (not by far, but clearly) the best playing team in
the semifinal overall (although Canada had spells).

Canada's pros and cons where both exposed:

pros, excellent goaltending and efficient finishing.
cons, slow-ish defense, problems when the opponent plays fast
passing/skating.

The Czechs skated circles around the Canadians for large parts of the game,
but Loungo saved Team Canada.

Finally, you guys can brag about your "professional" referees, but ONLY in
the WCoH refs are from the same country as one of the playing teams.

That's Mickey Mouse-ish to most of the sporting world outside the NHL.

You JUST DON'T have refs from one of the playing teams' country. That's
simply a no-no. Why can't they at least just use a pair of US NHL refs when
Canada plays? Don't you trust them...?

--
Another hope, another dream, another truth
installed by the machine

jimmy nilzohn

I believe you are talking about the situation just before D****r
scored 3-2, where Heatley looked like a 65yr-old dirt wrestler for 30
seconds!

I was amazed by the officials not raising their arms and blewing their
whistles, but I'm even more amazed that some people in this NG refuse
to see their bias.


... Jimmy Nilzohn