Puck Out of Sight

In case you missed it, The NHL referees have had a couple of questionable calls this week. The specific issue is the "intent to blow the whistle" ruling. We referees have a hard job and even the NHL guys can make mistakes.

Below you'll see two examples, links to the video, and then information on what USA hockey says about these situations. Take a look at the videos and info.

Example 1, Red Wings (Click for link to video):

Example 2, Leafs/Hurricanes (Click for link to video):

The NHL has admitted that the Red Wings play should have been a goal. It is pretty clear the puck is in the goal well before the whistle has blown. But as a referee we don't have the benefit of instant replay, so what do we do?

USA Hockey says:

Rule 630 Puck Out of Sight and Illegal Puck:

(a) Should a scramble take place, or a player accidentally falls on the puck, and the puck is out of sight of the Referee, he shall immediately blow his whistle and stop the play. The puck shall then be “faced-off” at the point where the play was stopped, unless otherwise provided for in the rules.

Situation 2 (From the Case Book):

The puck is outside the crease and the goalkeeper, who is lying on the ice after making a save, reaches out and partially covers the puck with his glove. What happens if the Referee is satisfied that the goalkeeper has enough control to cause a stoppage, but before he can get his whistle to his mouth the puck is shot into the goal? Goal or no goal?

No goal. Rule Reference 630(a).

As soon as the Referee decides that play should be stopped, that is when play is stopped. Whether or not the puck enters the goal in the split second it takes between the time he has reached that decision and the time it takes to bring the whistle to his mouth and blow it is not a factor.

Summary:

I feel the key point in the USA Rule Book & Case Book is the "split second" wording. In the Red Wings example, the puck is clearly in the net for a few seconds before the whistle is blown. If I were the referee here, I would have skated as fast as I could to be in proper position at the goal line, blown the whistle, then as fast as I could look in the net to see if the puck is there. If the puck is in the net I rule it a goal. If the puck is not in the net, then no goal. I would decide what to call only when I see where the puck is located. I'm betting the NHL ref doubted himself when he saw the puck in the net, and probably thought "uh oh!" (I've done this myself - IT HAPPENS and it doesn't feel good.)

We can use the "out of sight rule" only for the split second it takes between knowing we will blow our whistle and actually blowing it. Two or three seconds delay is too long to wait if we want to use this rule in justifying our decision.

In the Leafs example, you will see the referee has his whistle in his mouth before the puck enters the goal. We can't see when he loses sight of the puck, but because his whistle is at his mouth I think he could say he was intending to blow the whistle. He is in the tough spot of having to look for the puck in front of the goal as well as in the goal at the same time (which just isn't possible).

Also, talk to your partner. Maybe he saw something that will help. Maybe he saw the puck go into the net exactly as it happened. If so, he could tell you and the two of you can make a team decision. Make the decision as quick as possible. The longer we take discussing things, the less we seem like we know what we're doing.

Make the decision and explain the decision to the coaches if they seem confused. They may not like the decision, but if we can follow the USA Hockey rules and guidelines, while being in proper position, then we are doing the best we can do.

Take care and see you on the ice!