October 31, 2009
Odd Controversy After Bowling Green Shootout Win
CHN Staff Report
OMAHA, Neb. — The CCHA game between Nebraska-Omaha and Bowling Green, the league opener for both teams, theoretically ended Friday night — but wasn't completely decided until Saturday afternoon.
Bowling Green appeared to get its first win of the season, 4-3 in a shootout. The Falcons' Jordan Samuels-Thomas, who also scored in regulation, scored the lone goal in the shootout. But Samuels-Thomas was supposed to be ineligible for the shootout, under NCAA rules, because he took a penalty with 16 seconds remaining in overtime.
Game officials did not notice the error until after the outcome.
CCHA officials determined Saturday that the result would stand, despite the error by the officials.
“After a review of the circumstances ... it is clear that our officiating crew made an error in permitting a player who was serving a penalty when the overtime period concluded, to participate in the shootout,” CCHA commissioner Tom Anastos said in a statement. “This error in rules enforcement during the course of the game, while unfortunate, can only be corrected during the course of the game. Once the game is concluded, there are no further actions that can take place to correct the situation.”
According to CCHA Rule V.8, protests arising from decisions of game officials or from errors or misinterpretations of the rules will not be considered, and according to NCAA Rule 6-SECTION 39, protests are not recognized or allowed.
In the statement, the league said it will conduct a review of "all policies, protocol and circumstances surrounding this situation."
The two teams will square off again on Saturday night at 8:05 p.m. (CT).
UNO forced the shootout late in the third period. Trailing 3-2, the Mavericks pulled goalie John Faulkner and got the equalizer from Rich Purslow, who squeezed a sharp-angle shot past Falcons’ goalie Andrew Hammond to make it 3-3.
Hammond was a difference maker all night. He stopped 43 shots in regulation and overtime and then turned aside all three UNO shooters in the shootout.
Falcon FrenzyOct 31 2009, 5:56 am
If I recall, NCAA football doesn't consider replaying a down if a mistake is made on behalf of the referees. Why is it being considered here? The mistake has been made and the game is over-Bowling Green wins. Geez!!!!
ZkczykOct 31 2009, 9:35 am
Your article says "...with 16 remaining in overtime." Did you mean, "...with 16 seconds remaining in overtime"? Is a player whose penalty has not yet expired by the end of overtime prohibited from participating in the shootout? (Sorry, I am not familiar with this rule, so I am asking.) If that's the case, then the error rests with the referees who allowed this player to participate in the shootout. My GUESS (we'll know for sure sometime Saturday) is that this error cannot be corrected, and that BGSU will be permitted to keep the win. As they say on TV, "Stay tuned... film at 11."
ZkczykNov 3 2009, 3:04 pm
UPDATE: CCHA issued a statement that said, in essence, "Sorry about the error by our referees, but we don't accept protests. Have a nice day."
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