The myth of invisible referees

By Jack Blatherwick

Let’s Play Hockey Columnist — letsplayhockey.com

Speaking on the radio before a recent NHL playoff game, this Hall-of-Fame player expressed the same opinion we hear often: “In the playoffs, the refs should be invisible. They should try not to have a big impact on the outcome — especially in the third period and overtime.”

Maybe he was upset that his favorite team made an early exit and the players were now chopping up the golf course like they had chopped their opponents a couple weeks before.

Actually, his comments expressed the view of many of us. We’d like the players to decide the outcome, not refs. But, when the officials bury their whistle, the players who decide the outcome are the most prolific cheaters.

The idea of invisible referees is a myth. The reality is that officials will always have an impact on the game. Either they call it by the rule book, and the outcome is decided by skillful players; or the whistle is buried, and the outcome is determined by cheaters.

We have many pseudonyms in hockey — words like “character” or “grit” or “toughness” that are used to replace the politically incorrect, but more accurate description — cheating.

Two years ago, “good solid defense” meant “good hook or slash,” and “backchecking” meant “put your stick in his gut and let him pull you back to the D-zone.”

Coaches didn’t say, “Go out there and interfere,” but that’s what they meant by good defense.

I recall the response of a WCHA official when I asked in a quiet moment away from the arena, “How can such good refs let the stick work and interference go to this extent? Are they required by the league to keep the number of penalties equal for each team?”

“It’s simple,” he said. “If we called penalties by the rule book, the top two teams would dominate every game, and we’d lose our jobs.”

Well, the NHL refs had the courage this season to call it by the book. The result was exciting, skillful, fast, hockey — and it was just as tough and gritty as it has always been. Great hits, battles along the wall, and even an occasional fight — fewer, perhaps, than the days when teams each had their designated goons, but fights that brought fans out of their seats, just like the shootouts.

The difference is that “good solid defense” required defensemen to skate — mirroring the forward step-for-step — to maintain body position. Forecheckers couldn’t just reach out for a stick when they were too lazy to take that extra step, and backcheckers — well, they had to hustle back 200 feet. They could no longer hitch up and coast back like a trailer.

In the Olympics, the U.S. and Canadian teams made early exits — at the same time as Switzerland. The reason? Players who couldn’t defend — couldn’t forecheck — couldn’t compete for pucks without taking penalties.

The “new” NHL featured the awesome talents of young stars like Ovechkin and Crosby. If these two had entered the league a couple years ago, they would have been hooked, held, and slashed to death. Without rules enforcement, all we’d see is domination by someone with inferior skills.

How fun is it to watch Tiger Woods? But if a hack like me could nullify his skills by cheating, he’d never get on TV. We’d just see the hackers instead. If sprinters could start before the gun, even I could waddle down the track ahead of the best in the world — but we watch the Olympics because we want to see the fastest sprinters, not the best cheaters.

The word “sport” implies a competition of skills, courage, athleticism, and effort, but when we tolerate cheating, our game can no longer be called a sport.

After the first few NHL games in the fall, the question spread around the league, “Are they really going to call it this way all season? How about the playoffs?”

They’ve answered, “Yes, and if your team can’t stay out of the penalty box, you’re going to be watching from the sidelines at playoff time.”

We’re watching. The Washington Capitals took more penalties than their opponents — especially the first half of the season. The opponents also had the puck more, and I’ll bet that if we had accurate statistics of such things, we’d see that the number of penalties for any team is inversely proportional to the time of possession.

Wow. Read that again. It means the NHL refs have succeeded in putting the domination back in the hands of those who earn it with skill — call it the Tiger Woods syndrome.

If we want to produce more Ovechkin’s and Crosby’s in the future, we better copy the lead of the NHL at all levels — even college and junior hockey. Well, maybe that’s a little too ambitious for a start.

Let’s begin with high school and bantam hockey. Enforce the rules as they’re written, especially the use of sticks to impede offensive players. Then skills will determine the outcome — just as they have in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Jack Blatherwick, Ph.D., is a physiologist for the Washington Capitals, and has held the same post for other NHL and Olympic teams. Check out Blatherwick’s website at www.overspeed.info.