Olympic Hockey Refereeing: Part II (mod warning post #190)

[Garl]

Pure speculation on your part. One Swedish official is at the games and with this decided well in advance of the Olympics.

13 pro officials (from the NHL and most Canadian) were selected along with 15 amateur officials.

This was a known well in advance of the games. Where was Forsberg complaining when that was known?

Oh wait he wasn't. He likely lazily picked up a paper, read the officials that were scheduled to officiate the gold medal match the day before it occured and decided to have an angry media storm reaction without much thought.

He's some kind of a public overseer of event or what? What are you complaining here, it's night and day, balck and white, canadian judges should not be judging games with Canada taking part.

Right now, it seems more like your personal crusade against Forsberg, you're speculating about how he lazily done this said that. When the actual point stands.

 

[Garl]

Oh but wasn't Forsberg "taking a stab" at NHL officials?

That inference of prejudicial bias is somehow warranted?

Repeat:
The judges might be the most honest people in the World, but yet they are human and can make mistakes. Now imagine, they would make a mistake in Canada's favour in finals? It would create an outrage, and rightfully so. Why even create such a situation when you can just select people from neutral side?

 

[Garl]

Forsberg is the one that admitted that his team thru the torino game to Slovakia so they could avoid Canada in the quarters and play the swiss instead. losing on purpose and avoiding better competition is worse then what any ref would have done today. that if anything tars the Swedish gold medal. it was still so obvious. a 5-3 with lidstrom, Forsberg, sundin, alfreddson over a minute and not one shot attempted. hahahahah at least lose pretending your trying to win

If you can't attack the message, attack the messenger.

 

[Uno Bench]

This for the unresearched opinion that the NHL refs overseeing the gold medal match should've been US officials.

hmmm There are hardly any. Of course I knew this when making the thread. I didn't even play in the NHL. lol

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NHL_on-ice_officials

I'll even be honest and do the legwork for the Forsberg argument . A case could be made for Brad Meier. But he calls games pretty similarly to the way any Canadian official would.

If anything the one contrast could be NA vs Euro officials calling games differently but with most member nations tending to be fine with officials being comprised largely from NA

Forsberg wasnt the only one. Other senior Nhl players like Selänne and Tommy Salo did it too. Eventhough there was nothing wrong whit how the game was officiated this time there shouldnt be refs reffing their home country in the OG it smells bushleague

 

[Replacement*]

Forsberg wasnt the only one. Other senior Nhl players like Selänne and Tommy Salo did it too. Eventhough there was nothing wrong whit how the game was officiated this time there shouldnt be refs reffing their home country in the OG it smells bushleague

Perhaps other nations could foster and invest in better programs that would lead to better officials world wide?

Fact of the matter is many more, and widely respected, and better officials come from Canada. This having to do with anything from the wide participation in minor hockey, investment in hockey, training officials, developing them competently, and raising them to the best league on the planet, which is historically populated by Canadian officials.

Seems a lot of complaining but perhaps countries not wanting to put resources into similarly developing officials of similar competence. Or a lack of people wanting to make that unthanked dedication and commitment. you gotta really love hockey, and the game, to take on this commitment. More Canadians are willing to walk that mile. To better the game for kids, teens, families. Hockey.

The best officials in the world come from Canada. The best officials in the history of the game come from Canada.

I wonder how many people arguing would even doubt the latter comments.

Maybe each nation demanding better training of their own officials is a more informed "**** or get off the pot?


edit; predictably the response to this is crickets.

yep, talk is cheap, Forsbergs criticism is cheap. Anybody want real actual change and the investment required to have better international officials? Is Forsberg addressing that?

 

[Chain Attack]

My biggest fear heading into the gold medal game was the possibility of ref bending over backwards to prove he is nonpartisan. Whether that played a factor in the major not being called is anyone's guess. (I don't think it did because the refs were hesitant to call majors throughout the tourney). Either way the optics of having a Canadian ref look bad. I think in that sense Forsberg has a point.

 

[Replacement*]

My biggest fear heading into the gold medal game was the possibility of ref bending over backwards to prove he is nonpartisan. Whether that played a factor in the major not being called is anyone's guess. (I don't think it did because the refs were hesitant to call majors throughout the tourney). Either way the optics of having a Canadian ref look bad. I think in that sense Forsberg has a point.

So we should have worse officials on ice in a gold medal match for the sake of optics?

Again these are professional NHL officials and the best in the world and were viewed to be among the best in the world prior to being selected to officiate the Olympics. Which is why they are in Sochi in the first place.

Is anybody sounding off now have any difficulty with the particular NHL officials selected or that 12 of them are from Canada?

Further, does anybody think that the IOC, Sochi Oly organizing committee, or a Russian Olympics federation had any vested interest in hiring Canadian officials? lol. No, of course not. The realization, and obviously, is these are the agreed upon best options in the world.

A Canada Russia final was expected in this tourney . With 12 Canadian officials and one Russian official selected. For a Russian Olympics.

Think about that a moment..

 

[jgoud*]

Forsberg's a ****ing cry baby.

 

[WinTheRightGames]

Why was there an American ref in the bronze match and a Canadian ref in the final? Couldn't they have switched them? I have zero complaints about the reffing, though.

 

[macavoy]

Who cares



Canada is so awesome it doesn't matter


Go Canada go

 

[legendinblue]

They are pros. We love to complain about NHL refs, but they are very likely the best in the world at what they do. I'm not even remotely worried about any biases.

 

[Matte99]

My take exactly.

I think he was very concerned. Forsberg may have been a force on the ice but he isnt manipulative.

 

[Mr Kanadensisk]

I hate to say it but I lost a lot of respect for Forsberg over this. Having spent so much time in the NHL he should have known that these refs would be honest and professional no matter where they were from.

 

[Matte99]

I hate to say it but I lost a lot of respect for Forsberg over this. Having spent so much time in the NHL he should have known that these refs would be honest and professional no matter where they were from.

He also played in the swedish national team and have seen the **** Canadian teams pull to get ahead when they are behind. Nothing is as dirty as canadian hockey teams getting their ass handed to them. Its dangerous for the players to be on the ice and while we believe the game is defined by its rules, Canadians seems to think you can do whatever to win as long as you don't get caught.

 

[Mr Kanadensisk]

He also played in the swedish national team and have seen the **** Canadian teams pull to get ahead when they are behind. Nothing is as dirty as canadian hockey teams getting their ass handed to them. Its dangerous for the players to be on the ice and while we believe the game is defined by its rules, Canadians seems to think you can do whatever to win as long as you don't get caught.

Even if that were true, which it is not, I don't see what that has to do with the officiating. Canada certainly used to use physicality to intimidate opponents but that strategy has been gone for quite a while now that so many Europeans play in the NHL.

 

[SilverSeven]

He also played in the swedish national team and have seen the **** Canadian teams pull to get ahead when they are behind. Nothing is as dirty as canadian hockey teams getting their ass handed to them. Its dangerous for the players to be on the ice and while we believe the game is defined by its rules, Canadians seems to think you can do whatever to win as long as you don't get caught.

Good thing Canada is easily the most successful nation in best on best tournaments and that almost never happens

 

[thenextone]

He also played in the swedish national team and have seen the **** Canadian teams pull to get ahead when they are behind. Nothing is as dirty as canadian hockey teams getting their ass handed to them. Its dangerous for the players to be on the ice and while we believe the game is defined by its rules, Canadians seems to think you can do whatever to win as long as you don't get caught.

Good thing Sweden didn't have to worry about getting a lead right?

If you are worried about a Canadian ref being biased what about a Finnish ref screwing over Sweden or a Russian ref screwing over Canada? Where does the paranoia end?

Forsbergs rant was the same thing Gretzky did back in 2002 - take the heat off of an under matched Swedish team and onto himself.

 

[LiveeviL]

So we should have worse officials on ice in a gold medal match for the sake of optics?

Again these are professional NHL officials and the best in the world and were viewed to be among the best in the world prior to being selected to officiate the Olympics. Which is why they are in Sochi in the first place.

Is anybody sounding off now have any difficulty with the particular NHL officials selected or that 12 of them are from Canada?

Further, does anybody think that the IOC, Sochi Oly organizing committee, or a Russian Olympics federation had any vested interest in hiring Canadian officials? lol. No, of course not. The realization, and obviously, is these are the agreed upon best options in the world.

A Canada Russia final was expected in this tourney . With 12 Canadian officials and one Russian official selected. For a Russian Olympics.

Think about that a moment..

it isn't like there is a void of other officials of quality out there. E.g. Vinnerborg did well in NHL and I am sure there are both Finnish and Slovakian refs out-there who are good at their task. I think you put all to much stock at the alleged far superior quality of NHL-refs even on those selected for the Olympics (Hi Tim Peel).

We should not even have this discussion if there was a bias in IOC, IIHF, national hockey federations, conspiracy at large, if reffin in specific games had a national bias, etc.

Just do as other sports do, it isn't hard at all. I want reffing from neutral countries in any sport with games played between states. It is not a jab at Canadian ref's professionalism or anything else, it is plain common sense.

 

[BobDobolina]

Forsberg is right, all this goes without saying in most sports. It's a joke.

 

[Davebo*]

Forsberg's a ****ing cry baby.

Needs to be repeated!

Where's the crying about his countryman cheating. Forsberg is a hypocrite.

 

[Arne]

I'd like the refs to be from neutral countries too. I think it's a no-brainer.

The reffing in this tournament was fair and I think NHL refs are professionals, but it does look bad and when they make a bad call you're gonna have a sh*tstorm.

 

[DaveH]

So we should have worse officials on ice in a gold medal match for the sake of optics?

Again these are professional NHL officials and the best in the world and were viewed to be among the best in the world prior to being selected to officiate the Olympics. Which is why they are in Sochi in the first place.

Is anybody sounding off now have any difficulty with the particular NHL officials selected or that 12 of them are from Canada?

Further, does anybody think that the IOC, Sochi Oly organizing committee, or a Russian Olympics federation had any vested interest in hiring Canadian officials? lol. No, of course not. The realization, and obviously, is these are the agreed upon best options in the world.

A Canada Russia final was expected in this tourney . With 12 Canadian officials and one Russian official selected. For a Russian Olympics.

Think about that a moment..

So, you think the same refs would have been used if Canada met Russia in the final?
(I am NOT trying to undermine you, I was one of those who said Best refs>Nationality, I am merely trying to understand what you are implying with your last sentence)

 

[DaveH]

Forsberg is right, all this goes without saying in most sports. It's a joke.

But this is hockey. Different rules apply because of various reasons.

 

[daver]

I'd like the refs to be from neutral countries too. I think it's a no-brainer.

The reffing in this tournament was fair and I think NHL refs are professionals, but it does look bad and when they make a bad call you're gonna have a sh*tstorm.

The fact that this hasn't happened yet makes your point meaningless.

 

[Arne]

The fact that this hasn't happened yet makes your point meaningless.

For how long have you watched international hockey exactly?