"We talk about it — I tell (the players) every week that we can't take foolish, selfish penalties," said unnamed WCHA coach, 12-9-3 overall in his first season as head coach. "North Dakota, they're notorious for roughing it up.
If you see a fight in our league, chances are they're involved. It's a source of pride for them. They try to get nasty and get in your face. That's the way they like to play, aggressive. We've got to be ready for that."
We have been pretty critical of the WCHA officiating over the years, and rightly so. Actually, in general, offciating at the college level isn't the best, but that's to be expected, actually, and there's not much you can do about it. On that score, we rarely harp on officiating. But the WCHA seems to have this "let them play" atmosphere that, on the one hand, fans have loved vis-a-vis the other conferences, then deplored because it escalates into things like this.
Of course, it's not just this. The WCHA has bungled so many video review calls in recent years, I've lost count.
The issues stem from the top, and the leadership in the conference does not seem very interesting in cracking down on anything. When the other leagues all announced a crackdown on obstruction a number of years ago, for example, the WCHA remained very Laissez-faire about it. Well, that's one thing, but when the league keeps a hands off approach to any discipline of any kind, things start to snowball into instances like this.
Again, forget whether we should indict Aaron Marvin in particular. I just want to know how in the world that play is not a "contact to the head" penalty, a rule that was put in specifically to take the guesswork out of things by ruling any hit to the head, intentional or not, an infraction.
As players have become bigger, faster and stronger over the years, the potential for head injuries has exponentially increased. That is why more and more protective measures have been put in place. But that only works if these things are enforced. Bungling a video review call is one thing — being non-chalent about enforcing hits to the head calls is something that can put players' careers, or lives, in jeopardy. [Read the Whole Article]
(STC-9 Garrett Roe (2-Roughing) 18:51,This is what Chuck Swartz from 60 Minutes,No Alibis, No Regrets had to say about the Marvin hit. It will be interested to see how long it takes for some SCSU fan to defend this hit.
STC-10 Garrett Roe (2-CONTACT TO THE HEAD) 18:51
STC-11 Garrett Roe (5-Cross-Checking) WIS 2x8
Senior Captain Blake Geoffrion had a major scare in tonight's game when he took a dirty check from St. Cloud State goon Aaron Marvin to the head. Now, Wisconsin isn't the cleanest team in the league, that's for sure...but I have no patience for hits to the head and this was as blatant as it can get.
The loss kept No. 9 UMD (18-13-1 and 14-9-1) in a tailspin, going 2-6 the last eight games and 1-10-1 the last 12 on North Dakota ice. The Bulldogs dropped to fourth in the league, four points ahead of North Dakota and Colorado College. [Rink and Run]
@JulieRobenhymer you seem to have brought some luck to the Sioux.Here was her reply.
RT @goon48 you seem to have brought some luck to the Sioux - yet to be seen!! they're 0-6 in games I've attended, although none at home...Yeah we can't lose all the games she watches UND play in right? You have to figure the law of averages will pick up for the Sioux right? Now they are 1-6 with the former Miss New Jersey watching us.
"After hearing the testimonies, examining the evidence and meticulously analyzing the facts, I believe that Patrice Cormier’s gesture was very violent and susceptible of inflicting severe damage to the victim. The decision rendered by the Disciplinary Prefect follows the principals outlined by the League’s Board of Governors in the fall of 2008 regarding the elimination of gratuitous violence. Furthermore, the decision is consistent with the need to establish new and more severe disciplinary standards to dissuade players from taking these actions."
"Consequently, I declare that the Disciplinary Prefect’s decision to suspend Patrice Cormier is justified, reasonable and consistent with the League’s new policy."
Mr. Bruce McLeod.....what a disappointment! Giving Mario Lamoureaux a one-game suspension and not Aaron Marvin is simply sad and an injustice. Marvin's actions on the ice were not one bit different than those of Lamoureaux's. How do you justify a different penalty for the same action? How disappointing your judgment has become in the past few years. Simply disappointing! Your hatred for certain teams and love for other certain teams has become blatantly obvious...I believe it's time you sharpen up your resume and seek new employment.Here is the response that Bruce McLeod sent him. Now this guy never identifies his team that he follows and this is the reply that McLeod gives him. Mind you, this is an impressive response.
As a fan of college hockey for 39 years and a former collegiate player, I can honestly say what you are doing is ruining the game. I go to games to watch good, hard-nosed hockey. What I have been watching these past couple of years is officiating. As you will probably agree, officiating should not get noticed in a good game. I have not been to a game in the WCHA in several years where I don't noticed how bad the officiating is. You own this result!
Dear Sir - Sorry you feel that way - Hope you will continue to support Sioux Hockey !!
In the movie “Forrest Gump,” one of Forrest’s famous quotes is “stupid is as stupid does.”
Somehow, Thursday’s decision by the Western Collegiate Hockey Association to suspend UND’s Mario Lamoureux for one game for violating the league’s rules “code of conduct and sportsmanship” brings that line to mind.
If a remake of that classic movie is ever made, I’d cast WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod and supervisor of officials Greg Shepherd in lead roles.
Simply put, the ruling by league leadership to suspend Lamoureux for one game for coming within 20 feet of St. Cloud State’s Aaron Marvin and NOT throwing a single punch ranks as the dumbest decision I’ve seen in my 40-plus years of following the WCHA.
Let’s set the table with this short recap. Marvin knocked UND captain Chay Genoway out — likely for the year — two weeks into the WCHA season with a violent, illegal hit from behind. His hit left Genoway struggling with post-concussion syndrome even today and who knows how long into the future.
For that, Marvin got a one-game suspension from the WCHA, just like Denver’s Geoff Paukovich did for breaking the neck of UND’s Robbie Bina a few seasons ago with another illegal hit.
Now Lamoureux, for not throwing a single punch, draws the same single-game suspension?
Marvin’s illegal hit certainly altered the direction of UND’s promising season. Worse yet, it changed the life of Genoway, a fine young man and perhaps the country’s best college player.
We all knew there would be payback coming for Marvin. Since the league doesn’t protect its players, Lamoureux was simply following the unwritten player code found throughout hockey of standing up for each other.
With the teams set up for a faceoff at St. Cloud State last weekend, Lamoureux came off the bench to replace a player lined up across from Marvin. As the puck was being dropped, Lamoureux dropped his gloves, shed his helmet and challenged Marvin to a fight.
Marvin knew payback was coming. He manned up to it by dropping his gloves and removing his helmet as well. If the officials had let that go, the matter would have been settled. Both players would have been ejected, and the deal done with. Now most certainly it will linger into next season.[Grand Forks Herald]
Marvin, a Warroad, Minn., native, was suspended one game in November for that hit — the same punishment leveled at Lamoureux on Thursday.
McLeod said he didn’t want to compare the suspensions.
“I don’t want to comment on that,” he said. “That’s an apples and oranges deal. You have to take the initial suspension to Marvin into context. A lot has changed in hockey since then.”
This is the second league action against St. Cloud State in three weeks and the third of the season. Motzko received a league reprimand for his actions toward an official following a 6-4 loss Jan. 30 at Colorado College. And Aaron Marvin was suspended one game for a Nov. 13 hit from behind on Sioux captain Chay Genoway that ignited the situation that resurfaced Saturday.
"Unfortunately, I can't win when it comes to talking about what happened," Motzko said on his radio show Monday when talking about the Lamoureux-Marvin conflict. "We're in a position (in the standings) where we can't afford to lose anyone. All I can say is I'm really glad Aaron Marvin is going to play Friday. It gives us a better chance to win."
Lamoureux, a sophomore forward, was suspended for “violating the WCHA Code of Conduct/Sportsmanship Rules.” Late in the first period, he tried to instigate an altercation with Marvin. The two dropped their gloves and removed their helmets to fight, only the two linesmen jumped in and pinioned their arms before the could throw any punches. Each received a double-minor for unsportsmanlike conduct and a 10-minute misconduct. Both later acknowledged the intention was to settle the dispute brewing since Marvin hit Genoway, causing a concussion that has kept the latter off the ice since.
“We have addressed this with both parties,” WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod said Thursday. “I know Mario Lamoureux may have said he doesn’t feel that way, but we have assurances from both teams that this is something we’re putting behind us.” [SC Times]
Grand Forks Herald: The WCHA has suspended UND forward Mario Lamoureux and St. Cloud State forward Chriss Hepp for one game for "their actions" during Saturday night's game.
Lamoureux challenged St. Cloud State forward Aaron Marvin to a fight in the first period. Both players dropped their gloves, but no punches were thrown.
Hepp left the bench to join an altercation in the third period.
@SchlossmanGF Word is that the WCHA is looking to suspend Lamoureux for one game, but UND is appealing. Official decision Thursday. about 5 hours ago from TweetDeck Retweeted by you and 1 other
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SchlossmanGF : @KVSCHockey Source was uncertain about Marvin or Hepp, but thought they might be OK to play this weekend. Should know Thursday afternoon. about 5 hours ago from TweetDeck
