OK, put your opinions in print on this: For Game 1, which IHL referee do you want to see calling the game? Please be specific as possible about why. No, I do not know whom it will be, though I'm sure we could all have a decent guess. Who do you think deserves to do it, or who do you want to see calling the game and why since those may not be mutually exclusive. LOL. I'll be very interested to read what you think. Everyone always seems to pick them apart afterward, but try making a case beforeh
Comments
Searle: the old man understands its the playoffs and usually doesn't get too stupid with his whistle.
If it can't be Searle I'll take Langdon if he keeps his ego in the dressing room he will let them play, but if he makes a call and you let him know your displeasure you get a 10 min or game.
Hoberg- no, he consistantly calls too many penalties, lots of them hooks, he officiates too many different leagues and forgets which one he is in or maybe he is just too tired after the 8 hour drive.
Hawthorne tends to blow his whistle when someone falls down then tries to figure out what he should call.
Welker, the one image that keeps popping into my mind was a few years ago in the playoffs he was getting booed off the ice and an empty plastic water bottle was launched from lower 211 and it hit him on the top of the helmet as he was stepping off the ice, that kind of sums up my feelings on him as well.
That's my list in order anyone else shows up I'm going to need a prozac.
I'll take Brett Koslowski. He will let them play unless there are shots to the head or scoring chances taken away. I like Searle but he does have a problem in keeping up with the play. He will let them play the game. That is where it should be decided on the ice not in the penalty box.
I'm still waiting to see one I like...
I'll take Langdon, he will let the boys play for the most part and will call only a few penalties. I don't like to go to a hockey game and watch the official, i went to watch hockey...
Not an option, Running Komet, come up with one.
Remember Blake, I'm a first-year guy here, so I'm not as informed as everyone else. I don't usually know the refs names until people are yelling at them around me. That clown who made us wait twenty minutes for his grand entrance last week made the game fun by letting them play, but at the same time I don't like sitting there wondering which of our guys isn't going to get up off the ice after a blatant no-call. For once I agree with Burgee in that I don't like Hoberg or Hawthorne. They both call too many penalties and you can almost predict how the calls will go later in the game when they have to make up for bad calls earlier in the game. My main gripe about the league would be the inconsistency of refs. I know that can be said about any league and any sport, but I seem to notice it a lot more with these guys. There was a crew a few weeks back though that looked to be all the younger refs in the league (I think they were all taller and skinnier than some of the others mentioned) and I actually thought they did a good job. They were consistent. Not perfect by any means, but consistent. If I knew their names I'd post them. I'm just ready for hockey. I guess the refs will have to be another questionmark the K's will have to deal with and work around, just like line changes and matchups. Luckily we have a smart group of guys and a seasoned coach who knows how to get the job done. Good topic though, Blake.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!GO KOMETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bob Langdon & John Searle for the first two games. John has the experience and knows how to call playoff finals hockey. I know he is a little slow, but he know when to step in and control a game that is getting out of hand. Last year it was a rotation between Langdon, Serle and Ryan Carroll. Carroll calls too many penalties for my liking.
Blake,
I would prefer having Bob Langdon for my first choice. He does let the teams play the game, but will call a penalty to keep the game from getting out of hand.
I agree with Burgee that Langdon does not let a player gripe too much and is not afraid to hand out a misconduct.
Ryan Carroll does a good job also. The other night he did let them play....I thought that he might call a penalty on some of the rough stuff towards the later part of regulation, overall, I thought that Ryan did a good job for it being a playoff game.
Sam Sisco. He retired in 1990 and he's got to be in his 70's but he's still better than most of the stiffs officiating today. Then you could have Mark Wilkins and Gus Braumberger work the lines. Or have Wilkins as a second referee and bring in Bob Zimmerman as the other linesman.
Sam is in his 60's. He comes here when his son Ross works the lines. He is still a class act and great to talk with. Gus is way up there, and Bob Zimmerman lives & works in Florida. That only leaves Wilkins and while he is a nice guy I'll pass on him also. Remember in the "Finals" there will be two referees at each game. One is the back up. The three guys assigned to work the finals will let them play the game. The players know what they can and can not say to them. I still think "Cry me a River Rammer" will not finish the 2nd. game.
George Harrison= I always liked him
Is Croft still in the league? I thought he was pretty good the times I saw him.
It might be a little hard for George Harrison (He is no longer among the living) to call a game. Your right, I liked him also.
What about Fish?
This has been really interesting. Nobody seems to have a consensus, who what does that tell you, not about the officials, but about yourselves? LOL.
Referee??? We don't need no stinking referee!!
I will take Hawthorne or Christopher if he is still working this league, I don't remember
Searle, well I would have said sure until overtime last year in game 7. There is a difference between not deciding the game as a referee and letting cheap stickwork on both sides put someones career at risk.
The Best I have ever seen was Sam Sisco. Nice man who you knew was in complete control. I can not remember one time anyone gave him a very hard time. He had to be a great educator. He retired as a school teacher.
FMM- Croft is in the AHL.
My personal pick is Jack McCoy. Anyone who's seen the Road Hogs documentary would understand why.
A name just came to my mind. Fred Blackburn, I don't believe anyone liked him for a whole host of reasons. Does anyone know why we (as a group) can not come up with a good name? Becasue the good ones came did their job and left. They were not noticed.
Dschebig = Nail on head. If I remember a refs name it is probably because he blew a lot of calls or was just flat out lousy. The exception is if the ref gets a lot of press, has been around for a while, or is simply renowned for being decent (Langon, for example).
That all being said, we will probably have Langdon game 1.