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I’d like to add my support of the Thunder’s efforts this season – they may have had some heartbreakers on the scoreboard but I have nothing but admiration for the way that the team has stuck together and comported themselves this season. On paper they have arguably less ‘talent’ than last season, but despite the scores they have shown way more heart than last year’s team (I’ve only seen the home games). A lot of young guys have had valuable ice time and I’m sure lots of learning for the seasons to come. To see you all out there practising night after night and still laughing together is really heartening. The only negative for me is the way a big chunk of the Dunedin ice hockey community has turned their backs on the Thunder this year. DISGRACE
Anyway a big thumbs up to the Thunder boys and the management team – the personal improvements, learning and gains that you have all made playing at this level will only help the future of ice hockey in Dunedin – all the best for the weekend’s games.
PJust to put a few things in context for readers of the forum – just because Chris claims a bad call does not make it a bad call – I must have put you in the box at least 15 times right Chris, and every time you’ve protested your innocence – this was a good call. It should however have been made on one of your earlier infringements and I let the game get away in that sense. I called this one cos after being knocked to the ice a few times already, this player started to push back. Obviously she had had enough, so time to get you off the ice. I realise that stability and skating is still a challenge for you and we give you the benefit of the doubt, but this is non-checking hockey which means if you are playing a player rather than the puck you are going to be prone to penalties. And disputing a late change call…. please! Talk to your team mates and they will explain that rule to you. In fact listen to your team mates and save your breath for skating.
By the way I think Mark was aware that deliberately hitting the goalies stick away should have been a penalty, he just didn’t call it at the time in the Kings game.
On a more positive note, the new refs on ice are doing a great job and really helping the sport grow here.
cheers
Rule book – read one sometime – if you want to avoid interference calls you at least have to look down as if you were trying to play the puck! Better yet, why not play the puck and leave the others skaters alone.
The refs side:
Just to set the record straight, the refs for the SK8/Phantoms game were not comfortable sending players off the ice for failure to wear visors last week as we were not 100% satisfied that everyone had been appropriately advised of the crackdown, and as was pointed out there are also rules pertaining to mouthguards and neck braces (for certain ages and conditions). I’m fully in support of appropriate safety equipment – In fact I research injury prevention and rehabilitation – but these things need to be clearly set out and enforced from day 1, not 6 games into the league.
It is the referees’ role to enforce all equipment rules as well as the rules of the game – we did ask the organisers to stand behind us on this issue – and that all players be emailed to remind them that there would be zero tolerance for incorrect equipment and that a couple of small posters be put up in the changing areas. That did not happen last week – the following week an email went to everyone and we had absoultely no problems with compliance on Tuesday – simple really.
We hope to run a reffing/lining clinic late 2006/early 2007 to boost our failing ref numbers – would be great to have some of you join in, so keep an eye on your emails.
We might be wimps but we’re fair wimps.
