Parting Shotts ---- The Engineers had a potential tying goal waved off with 7.6 seconds left in the game. Mike Bergin had tipped a Chase Polacek (that is what we were told, although it looks like Nick Bailen did take the shot) past goalie Keith Kinkaid, tying the score at 2-2.Here is the link to the act that got the head coach suspended for this weekend's first game. [click to view the video]
Or so everyone thought. Referee Bryan Hicks immediately waved off he goal and said CJ Lee made contact with Kinkaid.
As we started to question Bailen about the play, Appert, who was off to the side in the media room, interrupted. He brought his laptop to the table, and showed everyone the video.
It was tough to tell, but it didn't appear to be significant contact to warrant the goal being taken away. But give Hicks credit for immediately waving it off.
After Bailen and teammate John Kennedy left the room, it was Appert's turn to talk. The first question I asked was if he is worried about possibly getting fined by ECAC Hockey commissioner Steve Hagwell for showing the video to the media.
Appert was defiant with his response.
"Why? Is there a policy that you can't show video? I think the ref should be concerned about it," Appert said.
Well, it is showing up the officiating.
This brings me to a point, what’s a coach to do about refs when they blow a call, just sit there and take it with a smile on his face? The fans, bloggers and media can pontificate, pick apart and break down bad calls by the officials till they are blue in the face but in some instances a bad call on the ice, have consequences, bad call can cost a team points and inevitably it could keep that team home from the NCAA playoffs or cause them to lose a chance at hosting a first round series in the league playoffs.
For example; just ask Wisconsin how a few bad calls cost them a few year back. Randy Schmidt is no longer officiating in the WCHA because of a few of his bad calls, one of his bad calls cost Wisconsin points in the standings and probably cost them home ice during the 2008 WCHA playoffs, they finished out of the 5th and final spot by one point. Albeit the Badgers might have lost the tie breaker anyways, but you see where this can go.
I have to admit that if I had been the head coach in Appert's shoes I would have done the same thing because there is little room for error when your season is only 34-38 games long.
