North Dakota, Denver Receive Additional Penalties
by Adam Wodon/Managing Editor
Watch the Video
After the second period, as the teams were leaving the ice, a full-scale fight broke out between North Dakota's Kyle Radke and Denver's Brandon Vossberg. That followed a fight earlier in the game between Radke and Denver's J.P. Testwuide, which was broken up quickly and only resulted in 10-minute misconducts.
The between-periods fight caused a lengthy melee on the ice between numerous players, though Vossberg bore the brunt of up to a dozen punches by Radke.
Radke and Testwuide have each received a one-game suspension. WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod said that the referee, Marco Hunt, should have given a game disqualification for the earlier fight, which was the rationale for these suspensions. Radke already received an automatic suspension for the game disqualification penalty he received for the fight against Vossberg. That means Radke will sit out this entire weekend against Bemidji State, while Testwuide and Vossberg will each sit Friday against Alaska-Anchorage.
North Dakota swept the two-game series against the Pioneers, rallying from 4-1 down to win 5-4 on Saturday.
It's not the first time this year North Dakota has been involved in such an incident. Just three weeks ago, the Sioux got into a number of altercations with Minnesota, including a near-fight in the post-game handshake line. North Dakota coach Dave Hakstol was suspended for two games for an obscene gesture towards referees that was caught by television cameras during the game.
North Dakota leads the nation in penalty minutes at 22.2 per game.
"The same culprits that have been involved with previous issues from North Dakota were perhaps the catalyst to get this started," said Denver coach George Gwozdecky to the Denver Post.
"In a game like that, and to have that break out, was disturbing. I thought the officials that were very prompt earlier when Testwuide and Radke got into it, were very prompt in jumping in and breaking that up.
"And yet, in this instance with Radke and Vossberg, they did the exact opposite. I was very worried about Brandon. He was certainly on the wrong end of receiving those punches."
Sioux Traveler mentioned over on Siouxsports.com So if they can have make up calls on fights why not make up calls on the missed goals from earlier on?? They have opened up a large can of worms.
Yes they have; I think Sioux Traveler is right what stops the league from looking at every game after the fact because one of the head coaches is unhappy. I wonder if Gwoz is happy now that he got one of his players suspended for the next game that wasn't originally suspended. I think the Pioneers are getting a little thin, I read on line that the Pioneers are down to something like 17 skaters.
What next? I am all for this if after reviewing the films, however, if it is determined that the league officials made the wrong call the league office needs to hold the on ice officials publicly responsible. I am sick and tired of this shroud of secrecy in the WCHA. Like Running with the Dog's said this is nothing new for reviewing the tape but lets not be silly the officials need to make the right calls. I am all for making the game better but it starts with Refs also and not just the players.
I believe the rule on adding more stringent penalties is nothing new. And it's a completely different scenario than a non-goal. Both players were given penalties, and the league reviewed those penalties and said they should be more severe. They did not invent penalties where none were called.
ReplyDeleteAlso I said I didn't have a problem with it, I would like to see the officials held accountable. I pretty much told a buddy that Radke is going to be gone for 2-3 games.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I read earlier in the season on SS before I quit going there, though your fans may defend Radke on USCHO or another blog, there's plenty of dislike for him amongst your own.
ReplyDelete