Heralded NHL Young Stars Game Goes Flat
Sharks 4 – Blackhawks 2 For the most part last night’s game was entertaining, until the game was 3-2 and Referee #5 Chris Rooney gave Center Bedard a 10-minute game misconduct penalty for abuse of officials.
It has always been understood that this penalty was called if a player actually put their hands on an official not just hurting their feelings by complaining about an obvious non-call.
Referee Rooney is a seasoned official that calls on average 51.1% power plays during the game in favor of the home team, last night was no different as San Jose was given two power plays to Chicago’s single extra attacker opportunity.
Curious to know what the young man said to Referee Rooney that made him so upset as to issue such a severe penalty during the third period of a one-goal game and why the referee whistled the penalty after the player had left the ice and not immediately after the alleged abuse.
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Were there any lip readers in the crowd?
From Sportsnet:
The referee gave no explanation for the misconduct when it was announced, and Bedard seemed very confused when he was asked to skate over to the penalty box.
Bedard said after the game that the penalty was called for something he said after an uncalled trip on Sharks defenceman Mario Ferraro as Bedard tried to make a move in the offensive zone.
“I don’t think it was too crazy, but he’s the ref, so he gets to make that call,” Bedard told reporters. “… You don’t really expect that, but it happens.”
Bedard had a brief conversation with referee Chirs Rooney while on the bench before he was assessed the misconduct.
“He just didn’t like what I said. … I gotta be smarter with my words,” Bedard admitted to reporters.
From another source:
Anders Sorensen on Connor Bedard’s quip to the referee: “I’ve heard worse.”
I believe the onus should be on NHL referees to justify harsh penalties like a 10-minute game misconduct. The NHL Department of Player Safety explains its decisions when handing out suspensions and fines. During game play, referees should be held to the same standard imho.
What I do not understand is why couldn’t Bedard himself during post-game interviews come clean with what words he used? He served the penalty so what more was there to lose? Pride? Did he want to save face? Do we assume this young player just wants to move on?
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A lip reader would have been useful, lol.
Referees are something else when they allow their egos to outgrow their on-ice authority, truly #5 Referee Rooney (no relation to Mickey) could have told everyone what the player said to prompt such a severe penalty, the player himself could have just told the “reporters” (more like gossip columnists) what he said to the referee.
The Bettman NHL makes up rules sometimes as they go along, for example the “no goal” explanation in 1999, or when they decide a sweater has to have a strap to keep the uniform on the player during fisticuffs, and the Bettman NHL does not inform the public until after the fact with why and what they do, so the Bettman NHL can just slice a bunch of baloney…who would know anyways?
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