Jr. C East Ottawa v. Rockland, Gm.5

So, I've been a referee for 16 seasons. In my time I have lots of big games...but most as a linesman. However, last night I had something different. I was the referee at an elimination game...and one team was knocked out. That is a first for me...and it was a game to remember.

I arrived at the rink, plenty early as is the norm for me, and started to get ready. However, before the game had even begun I had a member of the league come to me and explain that I would have my hands full as the teams had been very chippy in the previous game. East Ottawa was down 3-1 in the series, but were at home, and expecting a lively home rink to help push them to try and push the series to another game. Any good hockey person knows the combination of desperation, a lively crowd, and a good level of animosity makes for the best hockey...but is a nightmare for the referee as you are never quite sure what you are going to see.

The game started and it was a fast and very hard affair. However, what really stood out was that 2 minutes into the game, the East Ottawa fans showed up...ALL of them Ottawa U students and straight from a Keg Party. The were noisy, drunken, and very belligerent. Perfect. East Ottawa clearly responded to the roar of the crowd and grabbed an early lead and were up 2-1 after the first.

The 2nd was a different story. The teams got a little undisciplined, took some more penalties, and they took their tool. However, Rockland capitalized and by the end of the 2nd were up 4-2 making for an interesting and lively third.

The air was starting to get the thick as the crowd smoked their "wacky Tabaccy" and continued to drink...and the teams came out and went back and forth. Neither team managed to squeeze until teh 10 minute mark when East Ottawa managed to pot a 3rd goal to make it 4-3. The crowd roared and loved every second of it. The last 10 minutes was very tense as East Ottawa pushed to score another, and Rockland did everything they could to keep it out. It came down to the last minute and with the goalie out, East Ottawa tried desperately to score the equalizer. However, at the final buzzer, no such luck, and Rockland held on to the win. The crowd was clearly deflated, but the Rockland fans loved seeing their team put away their foes on East Ottawa ice. All in all, it was a very good and entertaining game and the fans got their money's worth.

However, a Junior C is never without an incident...and on the way out of the rink not fewer than 4 police cruisers could be seen dealing with the Rowdy crowd. I was left to my own devices and headed off with out delay and was happy to be done the game and very pleased with the game as a whole.

Thanks folks...gotta love the playoffs!

Bruce

The Mongoose is hard at work!!

The hockey season keeps on trucking...playoffs abound...and I'm in the midde of it.

However, I have another issue on my mind and not hockey...because there IS life after hockey. My girfriend and I have been together an astounding 6 years! Good heavens! We have survived long distance reationships, countless "changes in the plan", and have even purchased a home together. What's the next step? Well, isn't it obvious? You guessed it, we're getting married. I'm very excited about the idea of marrying this fantastic girl...but the process of getting married is far larger than I had ever imagined.

This weekend we went to Ottawa Wedding show...now Katie went first...and I followed a couple of hours later (so she could look at the dresses!) and browsed around. I was astounded at just how expesive EVERYTHING was! Maybe I'm naive...but good LORD...photographers, wedding cake, even the invitations cost a small fortune! There's checklists, options, budgeting, avaiability, and hidden costs with every detail. Now folks, this may come as a surprise to you all, but I don't like it when things are unneccessarily difficult...I ike simple things...heck...I'm a guy...but this process is going to drive me crazy. We'll see if I can make it to the wedding date! Hopefully.

In other news, one of my classes performed their play on Friday...the others go on Tuesday AM...so I'm crossing my fingers and hoping everything goes smoothly.

I'm going to head off...hockey somewhere needs the help of the Mongoose...so I will done my secret identity and hit the rinks!! To the Mongoose Mobile!

Another weekend of playoffs...and more messes

Gang, when we last left off I was railing about playoff fiasco's...and sure enough it has struck all over again.

This past weekend we were in the heat of the playoff season with every game being crucial. I had a Crucial Game 5 in a Midget AA series...a Jr. C game 3 in Embrun...a deciding AAA game, and another AAA game where a player went head first into the boards trying to make his hit that he gave himself a potential spinal (oh...and a 40 minute delay). I hope the player is ok...no one ever wants to see an injury...but it was a pressure packed weekend for sure.

However, these were all competitive teams with significantly more discipline than their houseleague comrades. This weekend we had not 1, but 2, 9.6 calls. For those not into the Hockey Canada Rulebook lingo, that means the officials were physically abused or harrassed. I'm sorry...did I just say 2!! Yup...you got it! It is just indicative of the lack of composure and discipline of players that they are willing to do anything NEARING this, let alone actually to sock an official. Further, we had a full line brawl and several other suspendable offences. It's amazing that there are any players left to play!!

My point in all this is that we all watch the NHL and see the level of physicality that is used at that level during playoffs. The NHL is a world of professional hockey playing machines, predicated on entertainment, and fueled by money and TV ratings...very different from minor OR junior hockey for sure. However, the expectation is that the officials in our rinks are going to relent in the penalty calls and "let the teams sort it out". There are times when this strategy can work and the hockey is entertaining and engaging...but in most cases it results in frustration and anger because the players SAY that they want it, but don't understand how this is a 2 way street and that the other team will be pushing the enveloppe just as hard. As a result, both teams feel like the other is getting away with "dirty play" (the word used by a coach this weekend to describe his game). This is no good. Once again the NHL does little to advance minor hockey, to develop the social skills of teamwork, respect, and fun that it is supposed come from organized sport, and leave children, parents, officials, and administrators thoroughly exhausted.

While playoffs can be fun, we need to step back for a second and concentrate on what really makes hockey great...is it winning at all costs? To what end? I think hockey has more going for it...but this so often lost and obscured by playoffs that we lose sight.

Just my two cents...but what do I know.

Bruce