Shocking surprise - Canadian referees in Canada's hockey game!

[mineistaken]

I can not believe my eyes, WTF is this, am I dreaming?

Is that common in hockey? And in such an important game?

I only follow football and basketball tournaments and it would be impossible to even think of referees being from the same country as one of the teams. Not impossible to have, but impossible to think...

This is really disturbing news

[EonBlue]

http://www.thestar.com/sports/sochi2...y_already.html

Swedish coach Par Marts said he is not concerned with the North American officiating, which is assigned by the International Ice Hockey Federation and approved by both teams.

?I don?t care,? said Swedish coach. ?I hope they do their job. That?s all I can focus on. I can?t change it. No problem with that.?

Swedish captain Niklas Kronwall, a defenceman for the Detroit Red Wings, said he doesn?t think the nationality of the referees will give Canada an advantage.

?(People) make a bigger deal out of it than it has to be,? Kronwall told reporters. ?We?re all used to NHL referees at this level. I think it?s the right decision.?

[Jman]

They need to BEST ref's for the big game

"Swedish coach Par Marts said he is not concerned with the North American officiating, which is assigned by the International Ice Hockey Federation and approved by both teams."

[mineistaken]

http://www.thestar.com/sports/sochi2...y_already.html

They are taking manly (at least public) stand. It does not change the fact that this is shocking news. I still can not believe to be honest..

[mineistaken]

They need to BEST ref's for the big game

What about refs from USA?

[Jman]

What about refs from USA?

Like I said they need THE BEST in the game

It was decided by the International Hockey Federation and my guess is they are more credible to make that kind of decision than any of us

[Jman]

Also Don Cherry is right this gives an advantage to Sweden which sucks

"Don Cherry, the CBC icon, sees the situation far more gravely. Cherry, interviewed while he watched Canada practice in advance of the big game, said it’s his experience that Canadian referees assigned to Team Canada “bend over backwards” to make a show of their unbiasedness.

“It’s the biggest break (the Swedes) could have got,” said Cherry. “I guarantee you the first penalty (Sutherland) calls will be against a Canadian. Watch and see. And I’m never wrong.”

[MaxCandy]

Obviously, you do not understand Canadians, A Canadian Ref is bad for Canada, he may try too hard to be impartial and help the Swedes in the end.

What a blow out with FIN 5 / USA 0 bronze game

[mineistaken]

Also Don Cherry is right this gives an advantage to Sweden which sucks

Obviously, you do not understand Canadians, A Canadian Ref is bad for Canada, he may try too hard to be impartial and help the Swedes in the end.

What a blow out with FIN 5 / USA 0 bronze game

So you agree that it is a bad decision!

[baggg]

there was american referee on the USA-RUS game,this is nothing new

[mineistaken]

Like I said they need THE BEST in the game

Top reffs from USA are of the same/top quality and more than qualified to officiate well

[mineistaken]

there was american referee on the USA-RUS game,this is nothing new

That is why I have asked if this was common in hockey.

[MaxCandy]

So you agree that it is a bad decision!

Yes, Bad for Canada

[Jman]

So you agree that it is a bad decision!

I would not say it is bad. As I stated, it is the final game and they have chosen some of the top referee's and I am confident they will do their job the way they've always done and how it should be done.

Ain't going to lose sleep over it and looking forward to watch the game tomorrow at 7am

[MaxCandy]

I would not say it is bad. As I stated, it is the final game and they have chosen some of the top referee's and I am confident they will do their job the way they've always done and how it should be done.

Ain't going to lose sleep over it and looking forward to watch the game tomorrow at 7am

You worried at all about Sweden?, they beat Finland which embarrassed the US 5 to 0 today?

Is that the US giving up or being beaten?

[Jman]

You worried at all about Sweden?, they beat Finland which embarrassed the US 5 to 0 today?

Is that the US giving up or being beaten?

It is going to be a tight game but I am confident in our TEAM.

I think USA took a beating this morning cause they did give up after yesterday's lost which gave Finland a huge advantage.

[SilentKnight]

No 'Miracle on Ice' for U.S. men's hockey team.

U.S. not even in the medal ceremony.

Lookin' forward to Canada beating Sweden tomorrow morning. Gonna be an early riser day for sure.

[seeandsee]

They are total nuts, come on find different referee

[CDSmith]

Some of you obviously know very little about reffing in hockey. As Jman and others have said they want only the best for the Olympic gold game, and the best hockey refs in the world are from Canada, and they are trained to be impartial.

Most NHL refs are from Canada, so you see them being partial towards Canadian-based teams? No? Then why would you think it would be any different here?


I tell you what, if the women's game had more professionally trained Canadian refs there would be a lot less bad/horrible/unfair/sucky calls. And it definitely wouldn't be any special advantage for Canada.

[Jman]

Some of you obviously know very little about reffing in hockey. As Jman and others have said they want only the best for the Olympic gold game, and the best hockey refs in the world are from Canada, and they are trained to be impartial.

Most NHL refs are from Canada, so you see them being partial towards Canadian-based teams? No? Then why would you think it would be any different here?


I tell you what, if the women's game had more professionally trained Canadian refs there would be a lot less bad/horrible/unfair/sucky calls. And it definitely wouldn't be any special advantage for Canada.

[CDSmith]

Back in the 70's we played a lot of tournament games against US teams. As I recall we beat up on them pretty badly, yes, but I never ever heard their players or coaches complain about the refs being bias. As you said if anything they were MORE critical of OUR play than anything, and quite often we Canuckians got the short end of the stick on calls that could have gone either way.

But some people aren't going to get it no matter how much wisdom you impart on the subject. I've reffed games too, and to the kinds of refs rated for international hockey the absolute LAST thing you want is to have any hint of impartiality in your calls, especially at the Olympics. It is for that very reason that Canadian refs are by far the best choice for this game.

[TheSquealer]

Regardless of anyone's knowledge of referees, it's pretty obvious that in an international contest between nations on the world stage, having officials from a nation competing is a conflict of interest. You can't remove your bias just because you're at the Olympics.... Or because you're a "good referee". Further, not a single person would make the same argument about any professional sporting event for equally obvious reasons.

Additionally, there will always be the question and doubt and accusations.

[JFK]

Yes, Bad for Canada

agreed

[CDSmith]

Regardless of anyone's knowledge of referees, it's pretty obvious that in an international contest between nations on the world stage, having officials from a nation competing is a conflict of interest. You can't remove your bias just because you're at the Olympics.... Or because you're a "good referee". Further, not a single person would make the same argument about any professional sporting event for equally obvious reasons.

Additionally, there will always be the question and doubt and accusations.

Well, the game is over, any questions, doubts or accusations about the reffing?


Didn't think so.

[Jman]

Well, the game is over, any questions, doubts or accusations about the reffing?


Didn't think so.

They had Professionals referee's... nuff said

[Dave-U]

It was in the net.... quite a few times. Not much room for subjectivity there

[Nicky]

No complaints on the ref's from my side, they are professionals. Not much to say about the game either, Canada was better. I already knew this outcome when I saw we were going to play a olympic final without Zetterberg, Sedin and Backstrom. I'm really happy we got that far.

[PR_Glen]

Regardless of anyone's knowledge of referees, it's pretty obvious that in an international contest between nations on the world stage, having officials from a nation competing is a conflict of interest. You can't remove your bias just because you're at the Olympics.... Or because you're a "good referee". Further, not a single person would make the same argument about any professional sporting event for equally obvious reasons.

Additionally, there will always be the question and doubt and accusations.

you can say that about any official so that argument doesn't really hold water. Do you think there are refs in the NBA that weren't laker fans at some point when they were younger? Or knick fans? It becomes easier to remove yourself because as a ref you lose your connection with the day in and dayout you interact with the players which makes you a part of the game and no longer someone watching.

[MaxCandy]

No complaints on the ref's from my side, they are professionals. Not much to say about the game either, Canada was better. I already knew this outcome when I saw we were going to play a olympic final without Zetterberg, Sedin and Backstrom. I'm really happy we got that far.

Game would have been better if Sweden was at full force, no doubt.