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sketchyt · 12-09-2019, 03:17 PM

I think as the game speeds up, the more difficult it becomes to be a ref. This is why we are seeing such frustratation with reffing.

Some valid points discussed in this thread, but ultimately I believe an NHL referee is the toughest officiant-related job in professional sports.

This game is insanely fast. I changed my tune on NHL referees after sitting next to the glass one game and from my peripheral vision saw Matt Stajan get blatantly high sticked in the face. I saw it happen a few feet from me.

But it was so incredibly fast that my brain paused for a full couple seconds before I could even comprehend that it was a high stick. The puck was already well into the other zone before I could think, "hey, that was a high stick!"

I can't imagine how the pro's do it. I don't care that there's four of them out there. There's no way you'll be able to catch everything or close to it.

Hockey is a game with too many variables too. There's a f-ton of rules, sticks, the speed of skating, a tiny puck, the little games within the game, unwritten rules, etc... this game is (wonderfully) insane. I feel like trying to put more rigour around policing insanity will create more frustration.

12-09-2019, 03:17 PM	#36
sketchyt Powerplay Quarterback Join Date: Sep 2005 Exp:	I think as the game speeds up, the more difficult it becomes to be a ref. This is why we are seeing such frustratation with reffing. Some valid points discussed in this thread, but ultimately I believe an NHL referee is the toughest officiant-related job in professional sports. This game is insanely fast. I changed my tune on NHL referees after sitting next to the glass one game and from my peripheral vision saw Matt Stajan get blatantly high sticked in the face. I saw it happen a few feet from me. But it was so incredibly fast that my brain paused for a full couple seconds before I could even comprehend that it was a high stick. The puck was already well into the other zone before I could think, "hey, that was a high stick!" I can't imagine how the pro's do it. I don't care that there's four of them out there. There's no way you'll be able to catch everything or close to it. Hockey is a game with too many variables too. There's a f-ton of rules, sticks, the speed of skating, a tiny puck, the little games within the game, unwritten rules, etc... this game is (wonderfully) insane. I feel like trying to put more rigour around policing insanity will create more frustration.