Topic for Discussion-The Controversial Gopher Goal.

Check out this goal

This past weekend in the game between the Minnesota Gophers and the Wisconsin Badgers there was a goal that has been the topic of much debate. Tony Lucia scores his first goal of his career in a Gopher uniform. To some the goal will be seen as being controversial goal. Over on Western College hockey this topic has stirred much debate, to date there have been 79 posts on the subject. I believe Western College Hockey blogger Chris hits the nail right on the head with his analysis of the goal in question. I believe just as the author does the goal should have been at least reviewed by the on ice offical and ruled no goal because the Badger goalie Elliot was interferred with before the puck was shot into the net.
http://westerncollegehockey.blogspot.com/2006/11/you-make-call.html Here is what Chris had to say about the goal.

When I saw this happen in real time, I said, "They've gotta take that back." But referee Marco Hunt chose to not even review the play.The 2005 Points of Emphasis memo says "Anytime an opposing player prevents the goalkeeper from preventing a goal, interference must be called."It's quite obvious that Michael Carman runs into goalie Brian Elliott and prevents him from preventing the goal. The question is whether Carman interfered with Elliott or if he was pushed into Elliott. My feeling after watching the play if that even if Carman is pushed a little bit, he certainly doesn't try to avoid Elliott, and after he makes contact with Elliott, he turns his shoulders towards Elliott and tries to make a play of the puck. He obviously comes no where near the puck, and instead ends up taking Elliott out of the play. The other thing is that if Carman is pushed, at some point after the Wisconsin defender makes contact with him, Carman should speed up as he gains momentum from the push, and I don't really think that ever happens. Really, if the Wisconsin defender keeps his hands down, it's probably an easy call to make. I personally probably wouldn't have allowed the goal, but whatever we decide is irrelevant. What's most important here is that it was an extremely close and questionable play at a key moment in the game, and the officials didn't even bother to look at it.

Differing opinions.
Whether you agree that the goal should have counted or not it’s not hard to see how some have come to the conclusion the goal shouldn’t have counted. It’s not about hating a team as some have suggested, it’s about the on ice officials making the right call in a crucial game at a crucial time. The rules are pretty cut and dried. Sure the defender make some minor contact with the gopher forward Carman but it’s not enough to warrant taking out the Badger goalie. In fact the Gopher forward makes no effort to avoid contact with the Badger goalie what so ever. It would have been different if the Badger defenseman had blatantly crosschecked and whipped out the Gopher Carmen causing him to barrel into Elliot but that doesn’t happen in my opinion. To quote Woog from the broadcast, “oh man somebody came through took a piece.” It appears even Wooger saw it.