Feb 20, 2012 | jjohnston | 668 views
Shamrock playdowns 1
I apologize for the delay in doing this write up, but every time I rehash what happened in my mind, I veer off into a rant that is not fit for this website. It was a terrific, back and forth affair with both teams playing hard pushing each other on every shift. It was tied 3-3 with 4 seconds left in the game when something happened that I have NEVER, EVER seen before.
With the puck in our end in the dying seconds of the game, our dman was tripped in the corner while battling for the puck. The ref raised his arm on the delayed call, and the puck was touched by Mooretown behind our net. This is where it got weird. The whistle was blown, and the boys stopped, except for the kid with the puck who wrapped it around into our net, several seconds after the whistle, and after our team stopped playing. No big deal right, the ref would wave it off, quick faceoff, game over 3-3 tie. Nope, he counted it. How can a goal count after a whistle, and not one second after, at least 4 or 5 seconds after when our boys were waiting to see where the faceoff was going to be. The mysterious penalty that he was calling appears nowhere on the game sheet. Did he change his mind? There was obviously a brain cramp, and instead of admitting his mistake, waving off the goal, he lied and said he blew it after the puck crossed the line. If that was the case why did our team stop playing and let the Mooretown forward walk around our net and put it in uncontested. It wasn't even close! Ok, I'm starting to get wound up again. It just REALLY ticks me off when a great game by both teams is ruined by an absolutely absurd call or non-call as it turned out to be. This is not meant to sound like a personal attack on the ref who seemed like a nice guy. It is a tough, thankless job, but when you make a mistake as blatant as that, have the courage to correct yourself. His decision cost us a very important point in a playoff series, hopefully in the end it will not cost us a spot in the next round.
The line of Darryn Olyschlager, Coleton Robison-Sareh, and Lucas Glanville each scored, with Darryn and Coleton adding 2 assists each, and Lucas and Mile Ostojic adding one each. Markus Thompson played strong in net, and made the save of the year when he reached back with his glove and took away a rebound that looked like a sure goal.
Our Stars have been able to bounce back all year when they have needed to, but I have never seen a more upset dressing room than after that game. We were robbed, no doubt, but we still hold our own fate in our hands. There are three games left, and if we take care of business we will move on. If our boys can channel their anger and disappointment into the next three, we will be fine! Great job boys.