NHL Referees

United States
January 15, 2010 8:36am CST
Correct me if I am wrong but it is my understanding that the NHL refs do not travel in small groups or stay in a certain region with the same refs. That they are split up and assigned to games all over the league and work with different refs every night. I think there would be more consistant calls made if the same group of refs travelled together. In other words, divide them up into small groups and assigned them to a region. Then you are calling the games with the same group of refs every night. Don't they do this in football? If you are working with the same group you learn over time how someone "sees" a play. I think there would be better officiating and more consistency. Too many games this year and last had waivering refs that cost some teams the game. I think the NHL should consider the same arrangement the NFL does. What do you think?
2 responses
bounce58
@bounce58 (17385)
• Canada
16 Jan 10
I don't know how these refs travel, but I thought I should put in something here because one of my favorite player just accused one of causing my favorite team of two points. And I like your idea M. Even if a group of refs is trigger-happy in calling one particular penalty, at least it is spread through out the league as they travel through different divisions.
jewels49
@jewels49 (1776)
• United States
15 Jan 10
I don't believe you are wrong, supposedly by moving them around they are avoiding the refs becoming biased towards any one team. At least that's what I read, but I don't think that actually holds up..there are players..lets use the beloved Avery as an example, that get reputations that we see the refs hold against them, at times calling them for things they truly did not do. I like your idea, but I would be okay if they just made some of these calls the refs make reviewable..if it could effect the outcome of the game. As you said we have all seen it happen.