1 Referee / 2 Linesmen System

[BadgerBob82]

Goldy: I had previously said mentoring has been mentioned as a benefit of the 1/2 system. And I agree. But I asked if anyone could provide ANOTHER actual benefit to having a hockey game called with the 1/2 vs 2 man or 2/1 or 2/2 system. Mentoring of new/young refs should take place at the Squirt/U-10 level. Not the PW/Bantam levels. (Which is why they require Level 3 certification) Therefore, mentoring can't be a legitimate reason for the 1/2 at the PW or Bantam level.

I see the Fair Play Point in many ways. MOST coaches are very concious of those points and really preach NO PENALTIES. I have seen games get out of hand when one team loses their FPP and goads the other team into penalties to lose theirs too. I have seen refs "afraid" to call check from behinds as that and 1 or 2 minors loses the FPP. So they call boarding, cross-check, etc.

As for the coaches. I sat a player out for 15 minutes for a blatant check from behind that was missed and not called using a 1/2 system. I talked to the other coach after the game and he too saw it. We talked to the ref and said he never saw it, just the aftermath. Neither linesman saw it. I told the coach I penalized the kid anyway and told the ref he missed a very dangerous call. He said comes with the 1/2 system. I e-mailed the ref coordinator, he told me to put on the whistle if I want to second guess the refs calling the game.

I agree USA Hockey and MN Hockey are only paying lip service to safety and rules if they continue to allow and promote a 1/2 system.