When whining about refereeing came in NHL?

[LaVal]

Most calls are subjective, which means there's always going to be complaining about it.

Hell, it's almost a tradition. How many of us grew up watching hockey with our family yelling at the TV after a bad call/non-call? Those are some of my fondest childhood memories.

 

[hangman005]

I remember the year it was nineteen ought twelve, dragons roamed the earth and emu's ruled the sky.

 

[AvroArrow]

When the same few referees repeatedly blow calls or make phantom calls that are detrimental to specific teams, it becomes a pattern.

Looking at Chris Lee/Wes McCauley

 

[ArGarBarGar]

Of course there has always been whining about refs, but it has gotten a LOT worse since the internet and especially streaming video.

It used to be that only the worst of calls caught the attention of the general public. Today the officiating is discussed more than the actual gameplay.

And now with gambling added to the mix people are even more irate and willing to dump on the refs for costing them money that they probably shouldn't have gambled with in the first place.

 

[SUX2BU]

 

[Perfect_Drug]

Nobody complained about reffing in the 80s.

They complained when a player wouldn't voluntarily get their face caved in by an enforcer if they crossed a line.

Then they took it too far in the 90s and called nothing Which lead to complaints.

Which lead to the post lockout ridiculousness.

 

[Mattilaus]

If the refs called the rule book then it would be fine. A missed call here and there isn't a problem. The problem is the game management. I shouldn't be able to look at a game, see one team is up by 2 goals and has had the last 2 powerplays, and KNOW for a fact the other team is getting a powerplay at some point to even it up.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Game management clearly inpactful on playoff games and Cups.

 

[Score08]

When gambling became legal and refs started betting on games.

 

[gach]

I disagree with a lot of calls made by the refs but can you amagine if the refs made as many mistakes as the players do. That would be really something to whine about

 

[Clint Eastwood]

Reffing and decisions have gotten better than in past decades. Replay, and rules, have, for the most part, made for more accurate decisions.

Whining and outright abuse of officials has become worse both in hockey and baseball. It starts in youth leagues, when parents who've never played hockey unload on 14-15 yo refs in Squirt B games. This causes young potential officials and umpires to quit, leaving the officiating to old guys whose legs and eyesight are failing.

Fans are getting what they deserve in youth, and minor hockey. In the NHL, they don't know how lucky they are.

I was a decent player in my day, and was known to be a fairly smart player- good hockey sense. Tried to ref a couple of games, usually stepping in for a no show. Couldn't believe how hard it was.... i was like a deer in headlights.

One of the things I always thought about reffing was conditioning. You've gotta have pretty great endurance to do that for a full 60, right? I know they're not the ones in puck battles, but with how quick the game moves, the constant skating and re-positioning up and down the ice.

 

[VivaLasVegas]

It has always been there but I agree that whining seems to keep getting worse. A few reasons:

1) Online sports betting becoming more popular. Bad calls can end up costing people money.

2) Internet/social media. People see others freaking out on social media/forums so they also freak out more than if they didn't see others losing their mind.

3) Huge hd televisions. Easier to spot missed calls on a 75" 4k TV than on a 19" CRT.

4) Refs screw up more because the game is faster and players are bigger than they used to be. Lots of fans don't realize that missed calls are just a part of the sport and generally even out.

Excellent points all. Would add that there is also a psychological factor relating to one's self-worth, i.e., "I did't back a loser, they just got robbed again!"

Would make an excellent thesis for some behavior science doctoral candidate.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

alot of fan bases on this site LOVE using refs as excuses for losses.

You guys know what fan bases i am talking about lol

 

[NotCommitted]

Bad calls happen and refs make mistakes but the nhl has got it right with the fines, the alternative is every post game interview of losing team personnel being lame whining about refs, no one wants to listen to that crap and it makes everyone look like an idiot taking part in a bush league.

 

[57special]

One of the things I always thought about reffing was conditioning. You've gotta have pretty great endurance to do that for a full 60, right? I know they're not the ones in puck battles, but with how quick the game moves, the constant skating and re-positioning up and down the ice.

Those guys are in vg shape, and the linesman are usually pretty strong, also. Have to be to separate the Wilsons and Folignos. They also have less pads than players, yet are hit with the same pucks, bodies, sticks, and fall on the same ice.

Hoops and soccer refs are in great shape- lot of running. Baseball....not so much. Behind the plate can get very tough, though.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Nobody complained about reffing in the 80s.

They complained when a player wouldn't voluntarily get their face caved in by an enforcer if they crossed a line.

Then they took it too far in the 90s and called nothing Which lead to complaints.

Which lead to the post lockout ridiculousness.

They complained in every decade of hockey

 

[Took a pill in Sbisa]

Pretty simply, more eyes on the game/replays.

 

[Perfect_Drug]

They complained in every decade of hockey

As much as now??

 

[Mattb124]

As soon as slow motion instant replay was invented. Blowhards at home who have the benefit of multiple angles slowed down somehow assume refs should see that level of detail in real time.

 

[Perfect_Drug]

alot of fan bases on this site LOVE using refs as excuses for losses.

You guys know what fan bases i am talking about lol

You don't get it.

"Letting them play" only benefits teams that clutch, grab, pick, and interfere more.
"Evening up calls" only benefits ONE of the teams.

 

[Golden_Jet]

As much as now??

Yep

 

[Oleksiak]

And now with gambling added to the mix people are even more irate and willing to dump on the refs for costing them money that they probably shouldn't have gambled with in the first place.

The problem is when it is obvious that the refs are betting on the game. At some point, the league is going to get sued if they don't take steps to solve the problem.

 

[Master P]

I'm sure its always been a thing, but I bet it really took off with the advent of video replay.

 

[hirawl]

How very fitting that a thread about when the whining about refs reached unbearable heights is filled with whining about refs. Gotta love it.

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

It's always existed, it's just now that victim mentality has become a desired trait for most people. Coincides with how the NHL has purposely shifted the culture of the game, and how now what option is there other than crying? Are the players supposed to do something about it? No, the league is now just filled with "skill" players that are there for a paycheck.

It will be a random Tuesday in a meaningless game with zero emotion or stakes, and the game thread will just be everybody crying about the refs.