All the refs and linesman are Canadian besides 1

[Seanaconda]

why would they have euro refs when they are playing nhl rules and ice.

 

[McYoungGuns]

The excuses are starting already, so soft.

only losers need excuses "oh noooo , you guys arent good at all, its the refffsss"

 

[McYoungGuns]

why would they have euro refs when they are playing nhl rules and ice.

maybe they should so other teams fans have nothing to complain about when we destroy them , again and again and again

 

[snipes]

only losers need excuses "oh noooo , you guys arent good at all, its the refffsss"

It's pure weakness. We're just better. Period.

 

[RandV]

The refs have something like 15,000 combined games reffed. I don't think the most experienced refs in the world are going to be biased.

Yes, these games are also almost entirely in a professional league that plays across two borders. In terms of pro sports culture, international play isn't nearly as big a thing in North America as it is in Europe.

I don't see an issue here. These refs are seasoned professionals and the best of the best. Also don't forget, and this is the most important part, they are NHL refs reffing NHL players (aside from a few Russians) under NHL rules.

For this specific tournament everyone is much better off with the cast in place rather than trying to put together an international team of refs. Even if some miniscule amount of bias might creep in it's we're better off than having guys with an increased chance of blowing calls.

Example: if I read this thread right so far the only blown call through the prelims happened in a Sweden-Finland game with a Finnish ref against his own team?

 

[Neutral Hockey Fan]

Yes, these games are also almost entirely in a professional league that plays across two borders. In terms of pro sports culture, international play isn't nearly as big a thing in North America as it is in Europe.

I don't see an issue here. These refs are seasoned professionals and the best of the best. Also don't forget, and this is the most important part, they are NHL refs reffing NHL players (aside from a few Russians) under NHL rules.

For this specific tournament everyone is much better off with the cast in place rather than trying to put together an international team of refs. Even if some miniscule amount of bias might creep in it's we're better off than having guys with an increased chance of blowing calls.

Example: if I read this thread right so far the only blown call through the prelims happened in a Sweden-Finland game with a Finnish ref against his own team?

Your last paragraph: Correct


Russia had a couple 5 on 3's and almost 20 minutes worth of powerplay time vs Canada, but Canada only won because the refs are biased in their favour

 

[snipes]

Your last paragraph: Correct


Russia had a couple 5 on 3's and almost 20 minutes worth of powerplay time vs Canada, but Canada only won because the refs are biased in their favour

Russia had 7 PPs that game. Reffing has beens solid all around, these guys are professionals.

The reality is they're scared of us, grasping for excuses already.

 

[Neutral Hockey Fan]

Russia had 7 PPs that game. Reffing has beens solid all around, these guys are professionals.

The reality is they're scared of us, grasping for excuses already.

Exactly

 

[McYoungGuns]

It's pure weakness. We're just better. Period.

im honestly not trying ti be an ass but come on, these guys all sound like big cry babies throwing tantrums cause their teams dont even hold a candle to ours , doubt they could even beat our C team.
Players that wouldnt even be on our D team would be first line on their best

 

[heretik27]

The only blatantly questionable reffing job I've seen so far in the couple games I've watched was by a Finnish referee who in one of the first two games called back a goal against Finland with a guy screening the goalie, but when looking at the replay was outside the crease and made no contact. Due to no video review for the pre-tournament games the call on the ice just stood. I think every Country can be biased, but the guys who ref in the NHL consistently might be more biased against individual PLAYERS than actual teams. Think of players like Marchand, Perry, Kesler, etc.. that always draw the attention of NHL referees. Heck, even Byfuglien was getting reputation calls all last season even though he had his fair share of "hitting too hard" penalties. Being that this tournament isn't even remotely close to the bragging rights of an Olympic tournament I just don't see the objective reasoning behind why these referees would willingly try to sway the games and lose their jobs. If anything, doing a good job in this tournament bodes well for their resume when it comes to choosing refs come playoff time.

tl;dr, I don't think the reward for trying to sway the games is worth it for any NHL ref in this particular tournament. The winner will be forgotten in a month when the season starts and nobody will care much after. It's just a fun spectacle for the fans before the season begins.

 

[Sorey*]

Can you give some examples? It is getting to the point where people should be running out of ideas for this stuff. Canada won in 1972 in a very hostile environment specifically geared to help them lose. Then 4 out of 5 of the Canada Cups. Then the last 4 out of 5 best on best tournaments. The last two World Championships.................shall we go on? 2014 was in Sochi, Russia. Where was this geared for Canada to win? They win on big ice, they win on small ice. They win at home and on the other side of the globe. It is just me or is it more of a trend that Canada wins because they are usually the best team?

Alan Eagleson was corrupt though

 

[ruhroh*]

Um.. one of the Finland pre-lims had a Finnish referee instantly call back a goal against Finland. Seemed sketchy because the player in front of the net was nowhere near the goalie.

He was standing in the crease and the game was called by the international rules. It was a good call.

 

[I am not exposed]

I think it is pretty sketchy.

Although Canada are on paper the best team.

 

[JackSlater]

Love it when Canadians ridicule this concern ...

Imagine if russians ruled world hockey and you (canadians) were concerned all referees were from Russia and got these answers.

Stating russian referees are the best, they are so professional etc etc.
Let me assure you, you would NOT be completely satisfied with those answers.

Your answers are in fact proof that bias exists ...

And not even referees are immune to bias.

Check this link:
Referees are biased in favor of home teams—FACT
http://review.chicagobooth.edu/magazine/spring-2014/home-field-advantage-the-facts-and-the-fiction

Imagine that a swede is tripped in the end of a final against Canada in a 50-50 situation when the score is 5-5.
The refs will live with this decision for the rest of their lifes in Canada.
I would definitely want a referee from another country than Canada, and in your heart you Canadians would not want a russian referee in a game against Russia.

Some of you seem to think that Canadians are the perfect specimen of the human race. Completely unbiased and perfect in every way.

I think it might be because you win most international hockey tournaments. (BTW The reason for that is that you have way more hockey players than all other countries, not because you are genetically superior)

So you have some actual examples right?

How would you feel if every major tournament was hosted by Russia with Russian referees?

Pretty good. If the Russian referees did their job, why would any of us complain?

 

[heretik27]

He was standing in the crease and the game was called by the international rules. It was a good call.

Not how I remember it, player outside the front of the crease screening the goalie. Do you happen to have a clip?

 

[McYoungGuns]

guys look, its the Canadian refs fault that the US is getting destroyed , they like Europe more , herp a derp!!

 

[McYoungGuns]

OMGGGG the Canadian refs just called a phantom too many man on Team Europe, now they like team US more


if it isn't clear yet , this thread is an absolutle joke, the dumbest thing I've ever heard

 

[cleveland408]

As an American I don't have a problem with it. I trust Canadian refs and their integrity

 

[Atas2000]

This tournament will never be close to Olympics. and that is one of the reasons. NHL refs.

 

[Seanaconda]

This tournament will never be close to Olympics. and that is one of the reasons. NHL refs.

Wait I thought a bunch of people said the Olympics had too many nhl refs.....

Pick an argument as a group and stick to it maybe. It's all canada will only win because of nhl refs. We won 3 of the last 4 Olympics. Still too many nhl refs. And now Olympics are better because less nhl refs ?

 

[Get North]

I guess when you suck at hockey you have to make excuses as to why you always lose.

 

[Bixby Snyder]

I guess when you suck at hockey you have to make excuses as to why you always lose.

So, Canada only wins because everybody else sucks at hockey then?

 

[Tom ServoMST3K]

Refs are biased!

Ok so tgere should be examples of referees making calls against the team they are biased for, right?

Refs are biased!

Any example?

BIASED!

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

Is this not a problem? There has been numerous competitions in hockey wherein Canada has gotten the advantage because of the refs (which is why they have won so many competitions)

How can we not expect these refs to be biased in favor of Canada? In other world competitions there would never be the refs of the same country officiating all of the games. It just screams of corruption.

Seriously ?

Seriously seriously ?

 

[Iceman]

I was upset at first that we had Canadian referees in the 2014 Olympics finals but after seeing referees from other countries in other matchups and in the IIHF WCs, I tend to prefer the Canadian ones.