December 13, 2007
WCHA apologizes to St. Cloud State
CHN Staff Report
The WCHA sent a formal letter of apology to St. Cloud State this week, in the aftermath of a goal in last Friday's game against Denver that should not have been allowed.
The text of the apology reads as follows:
"The Western Collegiate Hockey Association, after a further review of the situation, has acknowledged to St. Cloud State University that an error was made on interpretation of a goal that occurred in a game against the University of Denver on Dec. 7 at the National Hockey Center.
"According to NCAA rules, a goal was improperly allowed after a video replay review and should not have counted.
"In acknowledging the error, however, rules do not permit any change in the outcome of a game."
The goal came after Denver winger Kyle Ostrow fell into the net and was behind St. Cloud State goalie Jase Weslosky. As he sat in the net, potentially interfering with Weslosky, Jesse Martin came in and scored.
The play was actually reviewed by referee Randy Schmidt before it was called a goal. But Schmidt never acknowledged the interference on the play.
Denver went on to win the game, 3-2, and sweep the two-game series.
"(The apology) doesn't make you feel better," Huskies coach Bob Motzko said to the St. Cloud Times. "In fact, it probably makes you feel worse. It would probably be easier if they'd just call and say 'We screwed up.' And we move on."
Where is the WCHA apology for the gopher goal against UND (game two). Two gopher players were off side by 10-20 feet when the gophers scored. This was also a one goal game. The funny thing is even Homers Woog and Mazako said it was off sides.
Dec 15 2007, 12:49 am by Matt, Bismarck ND
Cry me a river. You are just mad that you got beat and any didn't get the trophy.
Dec 16 2007, 7:39 pm by
This game wasn't for a trophy, no crying here. Im sure my team will prevail come play offs
Dec 16 2007, 9:03 pm by Matt, Bismarck ND
All you UND fans are the same. You wine when you lose and make excuses why you lost and you won't admit that you got beat fair and square.
Dec 17 2007, 6:11 am by
Why print the name of the official in this story? It is irrelevant.
Dec 17 2007, 10:03 am by Nelson, Lansing MI
Why print the name of the official? Irrelevant? Not sure what color the sky is in your world Nelson, but people need to be held ACCOUNTABLE for what they do. Randy Schmidt is paid to do a job. Fact is, the call was effed when it originally happened. Schmidt was given a second chance through replay to get the call right, and he still somehow got it wrong, a call that someone reffing inter murals would have gotten right.
Dec 17 2007, 2:52 pm by Jeff, Fargo
Nelson, can you please provide some explanation for your perplexing comment? !?
Providing the name of the official in the article is simply good reporting, and I appreciate the fact that it was included. The league (WCHA) and their officials certainly believe that the names of officials are relevant - and that is why they each wear their name on the back of their uniform every single night.
I respect the fact that the league acknowledged the error. And, I believe that Mr. Randy Schmidt needs to be held accountable for his error, which was incorrectly calling a very basic situation from the rule book. It is concerning that a referee of D1 College Hockey would make that mistake.
Dec 17 2007, 11:51 pm by Jamie, Minneapolis
Jamie... The referee is accountable solely to the league. By now, the WCHA has met with the official (and I suspect ALL officials) and discussed how to prevent this from happening again. No need to set him up for future hostility by including his name in the article. It would have been quite sufficient to write, "The play was reviewed by the referee before it was called a goal, but he never acknowledged the interference on the play." Whether his name is Randy Schmidt or "Jamie Minneapolis," what difference does it make to the readers?
Dec 18 2007, 5:02 pm by Nelson, Lansing MI
Ah, Nelson, it must be nice to not have to deal with WCHA officiating very often. Greg Shepherd, head of WCHA officiating does not hold his officiating crews accountable for the games that they call. So what if Schmidt gets ribbed a little by the fans. I can pretty much guarantee you that anyone that visits the CHN site, USCHO, INCH, or whatever other college hockey sites are out there, if they're fans of an WCHA team, they already knew who Randy Schmidt is. The really sad thing about this, Schmidt wouldn't even be regarded by most as one of the worst 2 head refs officiating WCHA games.
Dec 18 2007, 11:21 pm by Jeff, Fargo
Jeff... I am not familiar with WCHA procedures for handling such situations, but I would guess they (and all other leagues) are using this as a training opportunity. Officials... at every level, in every sport... make mistakes. Unfortunately, some mistakes have greater consequence than others. I just think it serves no purpose to include the official's name in such stories. It somehow makes it less "news" and more "personal."
Dec 19 2007, 9:03 am by Nelson, Lansing MI
I want a goddamn letter of apology from Derek Shephard for being blind and watching CC hook the living daylights out of us in plain sight and not even thinking to put his lips to his whistle.... Just the story of the Huskies season so far. As for you NoDak, your gonna have to start your second half hot streak after Jan. 4th and 5th cuz i just don't see you winning that first week back, and on national TV no less.
Dec 19 2007, 12:28 pm by St. Cloud
Hey, Matt, MN was not offsides, since a UND player knocked the puck over the line. So, you should apologize for unnecessary sue whining.
Dec 19 2007, 5:46 pm by happy, MN
Nelson, it's a sad day for refs of any league at any level if they need to use this as a training aid.
Dec 19 2007, 7:57 pm by Jeff, Fargo
Screw the letter of apology! What good did that do? I want what was called a goal taken away. Apologizing did no good. What a slap in the face. Don't you think it's about time the officials are held accountable for their calls? Especially when they have the opportunity to fix a bad call on the spot with instant replay. Can anyone tell me how this affected thier reffing job? Did they get "written up?" Do they get fined for being stupid? How about suspended without pay? Keep the apology and show me that they were truly held accountable ! Their job, or lack there of effected not only that game, but the weekend and maybe even the season.
Dec 20 2007, 5:29 am by Bridget, Sauk Rapids
Bridget... As a spectator, it is unlikely you will ever know what sanction the league takes against this (or any) official. For example, the WCHA might find it appropriate to change his assignments, sending him to less competitive games. Or maybe he won't work a particular school (home or away) for a few years. Or maybe they will restrict him to Assistant Referee for a period of time. Removing totally him from the league's list of qualified officials is unlikely, unless he exhibits an inability or unwillingess to improve. Whatever the sanction, spectators are unlikely to ever know... or even notice. You won't ask yourself, "Gee, where has Schmidt been lately?" And if you do, you won't truly know that it was because of some disciplinary action. Let's just hope that the next time you DO see him, you'll see a better game.
Dec 20 2007, 10:26 am by Nelson, Lansing MI
UPDATE... Thank you to CHN Managing Editor Adam Wodon. His Dec 20 article ("This Week in College Hockey") mentions the failure of "the referee" to see Goalie Interference on the video replay, but appropriately omits the referee's name. Clearly, the WCHA will take action against this official. But it only complicates future crowd management when writers cite the official by name. Thanks, Adam.
Dec 21 2007, 7:44 am by
UPDATE... Oops. Forgot to sign my name to the above Update. (This anonymity thing is contagious!)
Dec 21 2007, 8:48 am by Nelson, Lansing MI
The Goofs were offside on the goal in question. I watched 10 times and it was apparent it was a blown call, no matter what Hak or goof fans say.
Dec 24 2007, 3:28 pm by Melvin, GF
Melvin... NCAA refs are not permitted to use video from cameras other than the two mounted above both goals. Things that occur outside the crease are not subject to review, so he could not call Offside. (Someone could argue that even before the missed Offside, there was another missed call. How far back in time would you want the video to be a factor?) They are now discussing the possibility of allowing NCAA refs to utilize video from all TV cameras that captured the alleged goal, if it helps make the right call. Currently, audiences at home (and at the rink watching the JumboTron) are shown angles that the NCAA ref at the rink does not see and is not permitted to use.
Dec 26 2007, 10:27 am by Nelson, Lansing MI
"Some" of the ref's or AR's in the WCHA are horrible. Schmidt has to be the poster child for the worse ref on the ice. He had 2 chances to correct the call; one live and one via replay. There's always barber college Schmidt.
Dec 26 2007, 10:03 pm by Scott, Madison
I noticed in last night's box score that Randy Schmidt reffed the Wisco-Denver game. Was Schmidt given a standing O from the Denver crowd?
Jan 12 2008, 10:28 am by Jeff, Fargo
WOW! I wasn't even aware of the latest blown call when I posted this morning. I'm not sure if it was right or wrong to give Randy Schmidt's name if the story above, but I definitely believe that Schmidt should have his name included in the articles about the latest blown call by Schmidt and his crew. What an embarrassment to the league and officials everywhere. If Schmidt is fired/suspended for the rest of the year, I then think WCHA coaches ADs need to call for the firing of Greg Shepherd/Bruce MacLeoud.
Jan 12 2008, 2:04 pm by Jeff, Fargo
Sorry but that is two major mistakes by Schmidt this year both in what turned out to be one goal games.
Time for Schmidt to be shown the door
Jan 14 2008, 11:42 am by Chris, Grand Blanc, MI
BLAH, BLAH, BLAH
Feb 11 2008, 11:42 am by SARGE, MN
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