” Off the Wire ” proudly sponsored by Pete’s Auto Body
Referee Tim Peel was released by the National Hockey League, not so much for making a ” make-up call ” or a ” game management call “, but rather for inadvertently having his intention boomed out on the in-house microphone.
As I said at the time, the ” even-up ” call is as much a part of hockey officiating as the whistle.
And then I got thinking about ” game management ” calls and was reminded that on their path to the 2011 Ontario Hockey League Championship, the Owen Sound Attack benefited twice.
First on Saturday April 23rd in Game 3 of the Western Final against Windsor. With the series tied at 1 win apiece and the Spitfires leading 4-3 with 5 minutes to go at the Bayshore, Windsor’s Jake Carrick punched Jesse Blacker.
It wasn’t a wicked punch, more of a jab, but Carrick was penalized for roughing and Attack captain Garrett Wilson would tie the game.
Windsor then lost their composure, Zack Kassian took a blatant high sticking penalty and Wilson scored another power play goal as the Attack went on to win 6-4 and never looked back in that series.
Then in the Robertson Cup Final, again at the Bayshore, this time for Game 4, the St Mike’s Majors holding a 2-1 series lead, had a 1-0 lead with 4 minutes to play when Riley Brace was called for tripping.
I’d say it was a borderline trip, but it allowed Robby Mignardi to tie the game and eventually Owen Sound won in overtime on the dramatic Cameron Brace breakaway which tied the series rather than giving St Mike’s a 3-1 series lead.
Referee Tim Peel may be gone but the ” game management ” call has existed and will be with us forever.