Speaking of dichotomous schizophrenic shenanigans ... did you know today is the 40th anniversary of the debut of Sesame Street. Yesterday was the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Somewhere in between the historical relevance of those two events we've now got the WCHA's latest stumble-bumming cluster-fuck call-reversing shambles of a post game decision to discuss. At times, the way of the world is nothing if not incomprehensible to me.
First Kane Lafranchise is called for clipping and a game disqualification as a result of a perfectly legal, perfectly clean and well executed hip-check. Then after the game Brett "Bert" Klosowski and Justin "Ernie" Brown (I kid those refs because I love them ... really I do) review their decision and decide to submit an official boxscore that reflects a 10 minute misconduct instead of the game disqualification.
Now today we learn that the WCHA has stepped in and reviewed the situation. The result? The original on-ice (misinterpreted uselessly horrid) call made by Bert and Ernie is changed to kneeing and the game disqualification is restored.
Now today we learn that the WCHA has stepped in and reviewed the situation. The result? The original on-ice (misinterpreted uselessly horrid) call made by Bert and Ernie is changed to kneeing and the game disqualification is restored.
Yet in it's comments to UAA, the WCHA is apparently admitting that no infraction of the rules actually occurred. That's right. They're saying that Kane Lafranchise checked Patrick Wiercioch with a most excellent hip-check without committing any infraction in the rule book. The league is allegedly punishing Bert and Ernie by giving them nothing to do this weekend. So they say anyway ... the reality is there are 22 referees certified by the league and a maximum of 10 are going to be working on any given weekend.
Brett "Bert" Klosowski and Justin "Ernie" Brown were just as likely to be off this weekend. But saying they're sitting allows the league to save face and pretend they're actually meting out punishment for Bert and Ernie's obvious incompetence. The only person not doing what he would otherwise be doing this Friday night is the one person who did absolutely nothing wrong; Kane Lafranchise.
Naturally the WCHA is blaming the NCAA using Section 10 of the rulebook which states that they "may not decrease any penalties"made "by the one ice officials" to correct the error. They have to blame somebody since they don't have the guts to come to a just decision and instead create a mish-mashed political decision worthy of the stinking miserable shit that occurs everyday in the halls of the U.S. Congress. The WCHA should be ashamed. If "vote the bastards out" were applicable then it'd be the title of this post.
They were able to affect remedies last year following a Wisconsin/Mankato incident. But suddenly this year the NCAA disallows it? OK ... yeah sure. Whatever you say Bruce "Elmo" McLeod. I realize you're really just moderating a dispute and coming up with a political solution to try to satisfy as many parties as possible ...
They were able to affect remedies last year following a Wisconsin/Mankato incident. But suddenly this year the NCAA disallows it? OK ... yeah sure. Whatever you say Bruce "Elmo" McLeod. I realize you're really just moderating a dispute and coming up with a political solution to try to satisfy as many parties as possible ...
Sunny Day
Sweepin' the clouds away
On my way to where the air is sweet
Can you tell me how to get
How to get to Sesame Street
... and all that eh? But we all know puppet politics isn't justice Bruce. Shame on you for this injustice to Kane Lafranchise and I suppose congratulations for at least pointing out that he committed no infraction (if you have the balls to say it in print).
On top of this insult comes the faux-injury word from George Gwozdecky that Patrick Wiercioch will not be able to play this weekend. Oh wait ... that's right, Denver has a bye week. Didn't I predict that Gwoz would say that because it's a bye week? If Denver were playing UND this coming weekend I guarantee that Wiercioch would be in the lineup; if you think or say otherwise then you watch too much Sesame Street.
When the Berlin Wall goes back up and the Soviet Union eventually returns to power, George should be a front runner for Propaganda and Information Minister. Gwozdecky is a Russian name after all... originally Gvozdetsky. Here in freedom-loving North America we generally just call this sort of thing lying. If I were feeling gracious I'd just characterize it as sandbagging for UND's sake, but once again I'm Donald "Oscar The Grouch" Dunlop versus being Donald "Big Bird" Dunlop.
These things don't happen in a vacuum. Without a doubt there were at least several phone conversations to work out the details of this clearly political decision. With that in mind, I am left but to question the effectiveness of UAA's administration in procuring justice for Kane. I can't bring myself to think that they did anything other than fight as hard as they could for him but the obvious fact that they weren't completely successful is greatly disheartening. It sure seems like UAA got PWND.
Below are screen shots of the original "official" boxscore and the now modified "official" boxscore.
At some point today it's possible that the WCHA will come out with some press release which may or may not contradict something I've addressed here. If so, feel free to point it out below and discuss in the comments section. I doubt I'll be participating. My cynicism has reached epic proportions.
Below are screen shots of the original "official" boxscore and the now modified "official" boxscore.
At some point today it's possible that the WCHA will come out with some press release which may or may not contradict something I've addressed here. If so, feel free to point it out below and discuss in the comments section. I doubt I'll be participating. My cynicism has reached epic proportions.
20 comments:
I have lost all respect for McLeod and the WCHA. The refs are a joke, Shep is a joke.
All I can say is that if this situation arises with any of the beloved "elite" teams in our league, their player better get the shaft just like Kane is getting the shaft.
Anyone want to write Greg Shepherd and complain about this? Here is his hard to find address:
g.shepherd@mailstation.com
More "whining" about the referees....
Shut up Damien. If this happened to DU, you would be outraged, and Gwoz would be playing the system. Something tells me he probably has something to do with this whole thing anyway. He can be very vindictive.
Safe to say that all refs are crooked. With the arrivals of Sean Wiles and Nick Haddad starting to score, less pressure is on our Freshman's to score, next year this guys could be 40-point getters if they continue to develop there offensive game. Hate to say but it is suprising to see them playing such a offensive output, I kinda saw these guys fighting for playing time on the 3rd and 4th lines instead of headlining the 1st and 2nd lines, to go along with PK, and PP time. SEAN WILES and NICK HADDAD you freaking rock........take notice
"Wish""con""sin"
One or two games does not make you a 40 pt man in this league. Our seniors would be lucky if one cracks 40 pts. Sean and Nick need opportunites like the seniors but must be consistent game in and game out. All the best to them for the reamining season.
Clark and grant both had 2 pts. saturday and lunden 1. The seniors were involved in 5 of the 7 goals.
We need them to be there every game, the juniors are important to the sucess of the team.
This allows the sophomores and freshman to improve each game out.
All the best to team in Wisoconsin,
only the second trip of the year for the freshman.
I hope the freshmen learn that if they come out playing like gang busters, they will quiet the crowd and the atmosphere will be less intimidating.
I recall the Wooger saying he had never seen it that quiet in Madison (last weekend), when the Badgers were getting beat by the Gophers.
But let them get a few goals on you, and it won't be fun.
Any chance that video from the game might surface?
I'll have video highlights likely within a few days. GCI archives all the games they broadcast and I've been ripping videos as soon as they're posted.
Sorry Donald. Kane's hit was clean, but granted a little rough. But I can see at least the Nanooks weren't the only team screwed over by officating this weekend. Friday's game against Notre Dame was a horrid night for reffing. I've seen some very poorly called games, but damn. If a blatent high stick contact to the head doesn't get a whistle, but they're quick to call hooking, leads me to believe that corrective lenses be required for officials on the ice.
Donald--
I can't answer many of your questions, as I wasn't there and have not seen the video, but I do know a bit about the rules and how they are applied.
I can tell you with virtual certainty that the boxscore that lists the penalty as a game misconduct was never signed off on officially. The fact it was posted was an error that the game's referees and the league were not responsible for.
Why? Because whether you call it clipping or kneeing, there is no option to issue a game misconduct with that penalty. It is either a standalone major, or you add a DQ.
Bruce,
All good info. I'd say however that the referees were responsible for posting the initial "official" boxscore. They signed and submitted it.
But your info does cast light on another reason that the league changed it. And also probably the main reason Bert and Ernie are sitting out this coming weekend.
Thanks
Actually, Donald, if you look at the live stat feed from Saturday's game, you'll see that the penalties were not put in properly from the start.
http://www.goseawolves.com/newLiveStats/IceHockey/index.html?GAME_STAT_ID=450264&db_oem_id=13400
You see a "major" and a "game misconduct" issued at 12:34 of the third.
Had that been inputted properly, it would have said "game disqualification" from the start.
The correction that was made had to be done to reflect the official sheet that Brown and/or Klosowski signed after the game, because the originally released box score reflected the information that was put in incorrectly while the game was in progress.
Donald Dunlop said...
I'll have video highlights likely within a few days. GCI archives all the games they broadcast and I've been ripping videos as soon as they're posted.
Hey, why don't you show WierdKosh playing, with no obvious injury, with just 40 seconds left. You think Gwoz let his star player play in a game that was already lost, if he were really injured?
And then he comes out right after the game and says he's hurt and wouldn't be able to play next week if he had to. Yeah right. Lies.
How can you get called for kneeing when you are leading with your ass for the check? Jesus help us they have turned WCHA into a pussy no check league.
Apparently.
After fighting with the DU fans all day, I finally got confirmation from Mike Chambers, the writer for the Denver Post.
He said he did not see the game, and that all the info from his article came from the DU coaching staff. Part of that info was that Wiercioch left the game and didn't return. Not true, he played the entire remaining 7 minutes.
Played the rest of the game as if his whole face down on the ice poor me I was nearly decapitated.... Are we still in Alaska?? Is this real life?? Bizarro bullshit was just an act? Fucking diver chicken... You got owned by UAA #4...Man up and admit it...
(FYI word verification COLON) awesome
So....Just curious, is there any PROOF that these refs have been suspended and the WCHA exonerated Kane? Just pure curiosity, since you do not provide a link to any release, newspaper article or anything else.
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