[FlamingHomer]

I think there are a couple of components that seem to be contributing to the inconsistencies. First, was the change to the 2 referee system. The thinking was that 4 eyes are better than two but it's more like having a car with 2 steering wheels. There is no one standard that the game is being governed by. You have a back referee calling a penalty that happened 5 feet in front of the other referee. You have no penalty call on an obvious infraction because the other guys thinks the other guy was going to call it. So much confusion. Also of course, with the introduction of more referees you are getting more that maybe aren't at the NHL level yet.

Secondly is the constant flavour of the month calls. Crackdown on slashing. Then less leniency on goaltender interference. Next month it's an increase of hooking calls. Etc. Etc. The officials are overthinking instead of naturally reacting.

Also, there isn't much glamour at the minor league level for the youth to get involved with officiating. The player and parental verbal abuse is appalling. I'm sure there are some potentially good officials that just quit because of that.

I don't think it's necessarily the officials themselves that are the problem, it's how they are being told to do their jobs.