Do losing teams use the officiating excuse to much?

I've noticed that more than half the time when a team loses especially in this tournament they seem to blame officiating do you agree?

Not really. I think there is always a very vocal minority of morons who can't accept that their favourite team wasn't good enough.

As for Russian fans, absolutely not.

Not really. I think there is always a very vocal minority of morons who can't accept that their favourite team wasn't good enough.

I really don't like when teams do that,I think it takes away from the team that won.Not unless it is very heavily favored to one team which most games aren't.I can see during the game complaining to help your team get an edge and whatknot but what is the point after the game....there's nothing that can be done at the point anyway.

As for Russian fans, absolutely not.

Absolutely yes. True about any fanbase.

Do we already know that atleast 85% of the voters in this poll are going to be Canadian-patriot-nationalists? Do we therefore already know what the result of this poll is going to be? (yes)

I can't remember the last time Sweden lost to Canada without it somehow being the fault of the referees.

In fact, I don't think it's ever happened in the history of hockey.

I can't remember the last time Sweden lost to Canada without it somehow being the fault of the referees.

In fact, I don't think it's ever happened in the history of hockey.

childish much?

The officiating excuse feeds the losing culture within the Swedish league apparently. It's a crutch and it's the first thing that's thrown out there after a loss.

How many times and in how many ways in how many different countries with how many different officials do the Swedes have to lose before they get it.

Couldn't possibly be the way Sweden prepares for the tourny...couldn't possibly be how they select their team...couldn't possibly be anything else other than officiating. And so, the losing continues, and will until they get over the officiating excuse. They have all the pieces to win this tourny but they are missing something. They might better focus on finding that something rather than rely on excuses.

childish much?

Care to provide examples?

childish much?

Location: Sweden

Location: Sweden

Ahh I see that makes the post less childish. :handclap:

Ahh I see that makes the post less childish. :handclap:

Ah, so you can't come up with any.

As I thought.

Ah, so you can't come up with any.

As I thought.

Ahh another example, two on this page then. Keep it up, the next post is empirically very likely another example.

The officiating excuse feeds the losing culture within the Swed..
You are talking about the current Olympic and Stanley Cup (Yes Detroit aka TEAM Sweden) champions here. 'Losing culture'? hehe

Ahh another example, two on this page then. Keep it up, the next post is empirically very likely another example.

Wow... Just wow. You're being a child.

Ahh another example, two on this page then. Keep it up, the next post is empirically very likely another example.

Join Date: Jan 2009

Oh I wonder what the result of this poll is gonna be...

I can't remember the last time Sweden lost to Canada without it somehow being the fault of the referees.

In fact, I don't think it's ever happened in the history of hockey.
it always is the same whatever the fans are from, do no be ignored. if do, you are losing in anyway. Seen?

When canada isn´t getting how they want it, man! offials get threatened to his life. it not just sweden or russia. Gee how ignorant can you be? foolish talk here WOW!. be happy don worry. Ithought Swedes were the best team. really fun to watch so they are winners, only not in recordbook, wich aren´t that important tomorrow anyway.

There's obviously the initial blaming of the refs out of frustration for the loss, but on this board both the American and Russian fans quickly got over it. Since Detroit is "Team Sweden", that was a valid time to whine even though they ended up winning. Never seen so many bad calls in my life before game 5 OT.

I can't remember the last time Sweden lost to Canada without it somehow being the fault of the referees.

In fact, I don't think it's ever happened in the history of hockey.



Big of you to admit this fact:nod:

Big of you to admit this fact:nod:

It's gonna happen again next year too :rant:.

When I was at the game last night I said "I better not hear anyone complain about the officiating" because it seemed like The reffs were trying to make it a close game by giving Sweden advantage after advantage. Then I see I thread/Poll started about whether or not Canada gets Special officiating. The Truth is, Canada outplays it's opponents when they win ....I am actually quite disqusted by swedish fans and how they were whining about officials before the tournament even started and after a game which was more or less gift wrapped for them to come back in and they're still complaining.

If you look at PP time, PP percentage, and PK percentage we can see why sweden lost, and it wasnt because of the lack of PP time.

It's gonna happen again next year too :rant:.

It's gonna happen every single year until a nation arises, that destroys Canada.

So.

Never gonna stop.

Teams No
Fans Yes

Is it really all that recent a trend? It's human nature to be biased, someone's generally going to feel slighted. People have complained about reffing for about as long as I can remember (although perhaps it's more prevalent now?). I'm not a big fan of announcing it, and going on at length about it is tacky, but oh well. Yes, it would be nice to see less of it and I bet most everyone agrees, it's just we always feel we're the exception to the rule (eg. this time, with my team, it's different). Be happy with the win and let be what will be.

As for Russian fans, absolutely not.

Posts of yours on the History forum seem to indicate otherwise.

it always is the same whatever the fans are from, do no be ignored. if do, you are losing in anyway. Seen?

When canada isn´t getting how they want it, man! offials get threatened to his life. it not just sweden or russia. Gee how ignorant can you be? foolish talk here WOW!. be happy don worry. Ithought Swedes were the best team. really fun to watch so they are winners, only not in recordbook, wich aren´t that important tomorrow anyway.

The difference being that Canada can lose fair and square and their fans can actually admit it.

For example:

Nagano, 1998.
Torino, 2006.

They are two of the major ones, given that they were knock-out games, were best-on-best and we simply got beat on those days by the Czechs and the Russians.

Where are all these "officials get life threats" claims coming from? I've never heard of any before, and all of a sudden, I'm seeing it pop up all over this place.

Where are all these "officials get life threats" claims coming from? I've never heard of any before, and all of a sudden, I'm seeing it pop up all over this place.

I'm still waiting for evidence of the conspiracy.

If you ask someone during the game or just after, of course. We as a human race will always look elsewhere just after a loss when we arent as good as someone else. I for one could say that for myself after the game last night. You are so pumped up on adrenaline and so utterly disappointed that you didnt make it. That you desperately wont admit to yourself of your shortcomings. Last night Sweden didnt come up to their standard and played a much lesser game than Canada and did not deserve to win. It doesnt matter whether the official missed a hook or two, I bet he missed a hook or two on Sweden too. If we want to beat Canada in Canada we have to play a smarter game and be more efficient. Wouldnt have mattered if we got one more powerplay when we cant score.

So: Fans - Yes. Teams - Yes. When you ask someone just after a game. Thats a fact. Anyone who says otherwise I call a liar.

About the game: Canada won fair and square. (After I slept on it.)

That comment showed a lot of Class

I am not exuse any team of losing, blaming the refs altogether but when a team facing canda in hockey, there are not only a team that team must fight against. it is cercumstances of canada working the ref before and during a game. Last night is s pretty solid evidence that many of us who root for canada not are willing to admit. Run over golies, it should be okay because we are canada and we makes the rules. You see another team doing it, 5min pennelties Right away. It has always been like this.

Question is, will other nations respond, or just try winning win against a good team canada AND offials.

Some other canadians i talk to admit its unfair, but the most of canadian fans just say oponent dive. which is already this years biggest motherf. LOL.

Hockey is a small sport, in euproe not many give a damn. Perhaps if it were a bigger sport in Europe IIFH would try to change this endless boring crap going on. Im so sick of it year after year.


Everybody knows this is nowhere.

For you that dont understand this: I AM NOT USING THIS SAD FACT AS AN FACTOR canada won ! They were better team last night.

DO YOU GOT THAT?
Geeeeee DID I MAKE MYSELF VERY CLEAR NOW? For everybody´s different level of IQ at these boards. IIHF must do something about Canada´s Hitler-way

I am not exuse any team of losing, blaming the refs altogether but when a team facing canda in hockey, there are not only a team that team must fight against. it is cercumstances of canada working the ref before and during a game. Last night is s pretty solid evidence that many of us who root for canada not are willing to admit. Run over golies, it should be okay because we are canada and we makes the rules. You see another team doing it, 5min pennelties Right away. It has always been like this.

Question is, will other nations respond, or just try winning win against a good team canada AND offials.

Some other canadians i talk to admit its unfair, but the most of canadian fans just say oponent dive. which is already this years biggest motherf. LOL.

Hockey is a small sport, in euproe not many give a damn. Perhaps if it were a bigger sport in Europe IIFH would try to change this endless boring crap going on. Im so sick of it year after year.


Everybody knows this is nowhere.

For you that dont understand this: I AM NOT USING THIS SAD FACT AS AN FACTOR canada won ! They were better team last night.

DO YOU GOT THAT?
Geeeeee DID I MAKE MYSELF VERY CLEAR NOW? For everybody´s different level of IQ at these boards. IIHF must do something about Canada´s Hitler-way

Bitterness causes your face to scrunch up in a most unattractive way. For someone who cares so little and finds it all so meaningless, methinks thou doth protest too much. You quoted Neil Young, I went with Shakespeare. Yours was good though, I'm more of a Neil guy.

I just boggles my mind how Sweden ends up with more powerplays than Canada, including four straight in the second period, and people insist the refs were, are, and always have been biased towards Canada. It's just the most illogical thing I've ever heard.

Canada has a reputation for being sore winners but the sore losers here really take the cake. We have "Hitler ways" because Sweden got more powerplays than us. Wow.

IIHF must do something about Canada´s Hitler-way


Wouldn't the UN be the appropriate organization to call out to rather than the IIHF to stop "Canada's Hitler-way"?

Anyway, it's funny you bring that up seeing as Sweden helped out the Nazis in WW2.

Teams No
Fans Yes

Partially agree.

Still, I have to say...Ron Rolston had a right to step up and say something about the fiasco that happpened versus Canada and I thought he said it the right way.

I'd be double pi$$ed about an opposing player being (mistakenly) let out of the penalty box.

Thats a big error and you should be able to expect IIHF on/off ice officials to be more on top of thngs than that.

I am not exuse any team of losing, blaming the refs altogether but when a team facing canda in hockey, there are not only a team that team must fight against. it is cercumstances of canada working the ref before and during a game. Last night is s pretty solid evidence that many of us who root for canada not are willing to admit. Run over golies, it should be okay because we are canada and we makes the rules. You see another team doing it, 5min pennelties Right away. It has always been like this.

Question is, will other nations respond, or just try winning win against a good team canada AND offials.

Some other canadians i talk to admit its unfair, but the most of canadian fans just say oponent dive. which is already this years biggest motherf. LOL.

Hockey is a small sport, in euproe not many give a damn. Perhaps if it were a bigger sport in Europe IIFH would try to change this endless boring crap going on. Im so sick of it year after year.


Everybody knows this is nowhere.

For you that dont understand this: I AM NOT USING THIS SAD FACT AS AN FACTOR canada won ! They were better team last night.

DO YOU GOT THAT?
Geeeeee DID I MAKE MYSELF VERY CLEAR NOW? For everybody´s different level of IQ at these boards. IIHF must do something about Canada´s Hitler-way

I didn't really want to get into this much, but we should look at the interference non calls of note.

One instance was a drive to the net where the swedish player ended up getting bumped into the goalie. Since the Canadian player did stop and there was no pushing motion and it was actually the Swedish player that ended up connecting with the goalie, I don't see how that can be called interference.

Another instance was Esposito. I'm sorry, when you roam out of your crease that far when both players are clearly going for the puck, the goalie is likely to get hit. The fact is, markstrom missed the puck when he went for it and in fact, it should have really been ruled interference against Markstrom than anything else. He clearly impeded Esposito's attempt at retrieving the puck. Esposito was also attacked by Hedman which Hedman should have been called for. A clear non-call. I think because the Swedish bench was animated about the incident, the refs were swayed into not calling what should have been a call against Hedman.

Della Rovere was an idiot but Markstrom lost his cool.

Players are allowed to drive to the net but they need to make an attempt to avoid contact with the goaltender and that's what it looked like for the most part.

I do recall a little snow shower and the swedish player bumping into Tokarski as well that wasn't called which was more of an obvious example of goalie interference than some of the others you mentioned.

As well, I don't remember it ever being 5 minutes for "running over" a goalie. It is IIHF tournament rules and not whatever league you are familiar with.

I am not exuse any team of losing, blaming the refs altogether but when a team facing canda in hockey, there are not only a team that team must fight against. it is cercumstances of canada working the ref before and during a game. Last night is s pretty solid evidence that many of us who root for canada not are willing to admit. Run over golies, it should be okay because we are canada and we makes the rules. You see another team doing it, 5min pennelties Right away. It has always been like this.



Please show me a video or a gamesheet of someone getting a 5 minute goaltender interference penalty against Canada.

Both teams got away with some stuff.

There were a few instances, for example, where a Swede would have the puck in the Canadian corner, and another would be running blatant interference, blocking the defenseman's path to the puck carrier, while turned and facing right at the defenseman, and moving back and forth into his path. This is interference, but wasn't called.

There was also a 2 minute roughing penalty called on a Swede who kicked a Canadian player. Yes, the Canadian player was tying him up, but still, if the ref were to call that situation correctly on both players, the Swedes would have come out a lot worse.

You complain about Esposito hitting Markstrom, but not about Hedman not being called for the ensuing roughing penalty.

et cetera, et cetera.

Hell, I don't even get what your complaint is about. You complain about Canada running the goalie, so how many times was Markstrom "run" that went unpenalized? The refs weren't missing that. They were calling it.

it always is the same whatever the fans are from, do no be ignored. if do, you are losing in anyway. Seen?

When canada isn´t getting how they want it, man! offials get threatened to his life. it not just sweden or russia. Gee how ignorant can you be? foolish talk here WOW!. be happy don worry. Ithought Swedes were the best team. really fun to watch so they are winners, only not in recordbook, wich aren´t that important tomorrow anyway.

Take a deep breath and try to form a complete sentence.

About the game: Canada won fair and square. (After I slept on it.)

Seconded.

Sweden had a lot of chanses to score but didn't, and there's no reason to blame Canada for actually scoring when they get oppurtunities. There's no reason to blame the refs either, because we got a lot of PP:s and should have used them better. You can argue some of the calls if you want, but there was no single call (or missed call) that led directly to us losing.

Unless it's directly after the game, of course :sarcasm: Then you can blame whoever you want.

I think only certain people complain about officiating. It's never going to be perfect and people (the ones who complain) need to get over that. Unless it's absolutely brutal (one team is favored heavily).

Teams (coaches) will obviously complain because they are trying to get somewhere with the referees.

Teams (coaches) will obviously complain because they are trying to get somewhere with the referees.


Now I'm picturing Quinn with a little itty-bitty black mustache, pounding on the bench while screaming.

Where's the "not nearly enough" option?

Yes, it's quite annoying. Swedish fans are all crying about the refs when really, anyone who watched the game saw they had their chances and couldn't put the puck in the net. Their goalie lost them the game more than the refs did. He tried too hard to draw penalties instead of playing hockey.

It seems to me like Markstrom had his mind set on complaining from the get-go rather than be focused on stopping pucks. Backlund took a stupid penalty on the first shift and Canada scored. Markstrom starts yelling at the ref for who knows what, since he clearly never had control of the puck and it was actually Niclas Torp's foot that interfered with him on the play.

But after that, all Markstrom could think about was flopping around, I thought he had a rather poor game because of it. Backlund then took another stupid penalty to start the 3rd and the game was history.

If I were to blame someone for that loss, it'd be Backlund and Markstrom.
Backlund for two stupid penalties at the worst possible time, and Markstrom for unraveling and proving himself a distraction to his team rather than the steady, quieting presence a goalie should be.

If anyone has reason to complain about officiating it's Russia, there was a lot more questionable stuff in that game.

Sadly, this is pretty much the Universal Constant - almost all fans in all countries in all sports blame the refs.

They even do it on every single penalty. If I'm at a game and my team gets a penalty on them, what happens? 18,000 people around me start booing. It's as if they think our team are physically unable to commit them.

It seems to me like Markstrom had his mind set on complaining from the get-go rather than be focused on stopping pucks. Backlund took a stupid penalty on the first shift and Canada scored. Markstrom starts yelling at the ref for who knows what, since he clearly never had control of the puck and it was actually Niclas Torp's foot that interfered with him on the play.

But after that, all Markstrom could think about was flopping around, I thought he had a rather poor game because of it. Backlund then took another stupid penalty to start the 3rd and the game was history.

If I were to blame someone for that loss, it'd be Backlund and Markstrom.
Backlund for two stupid penalties at the worst possible time, and Markstrom for unraveling and proving himself a distraction to his team rather than the steady, quieting presence a goalie should be.

If anyone has reason to complain about officiating it's Russia, there was a lot more questionable stuff in that game.

He even flopped when his own player hit him :laugh:

you always boo when your team gets penalized but it's not like people actually believe every call against them is bs. The canucks are the most penalized team in the league. I wish I could blame the refs but this team just has terrible discipline in the 3rd and with all their stupid bench minors.

you always boo when your team gets penalized but it's not like people actually believe every call against them is bs. The canucks are the most penalized team in the league. I wish I could blame the refs but this team just has terrible discipline in the 3rd and with all their stupid bench minors.

I don't even think they just boo the call, they boo the fact that they're shorthanded.

ugh.....another thread for *some* Canadians to bash the Swedes?

couldn't this all be said in one of the other 400 threads about this?

Partially agree.

Still, I have to say...Ron Rolston had a right to step up and say something about the fiasco that happpened versus Canada and I thought he said it the right way.

I'd be double pi$$ed about an opposing player being (mistakenly) let out of the penalty box.

Thats a big error and you should be able to expect IIHF on/off ice officials to be more on top of thngs than that.

I agree he had the right, but last i saw it wasnt a canadian player, coach or ref that opened the door early.

Judging by the Swedish and Russian fans over the past 5 years or so....... yes.

Yes, it's quite annoying. Swedish fans are all crying about the refs

No. Most aren't. Just a few trolls. Every country has them.

By the way, if you want to look at "blaming the refs" and sports conspiracies in general, look no further than international football. The win the prize. :nod:

No. Most aren't. Just a few trolls. Every country has them.

But didn't they have ike 8 PP's? 1 was a 5 on 3? How can you possibly blame the refs? You need to score on those if you want gold.

But didn't they have ike 8 PP's? 1 was a 5 on 3? How can you possibly blame the refs? You need to score on those if you want gold.

Vocal minority of bitter, whiny, losers.

It's true. Even Swedish fans used it as an excuse last night even though the officiating was biased in favour of the Swedish team. It's sad really, some fan bases just can't admit they got beat by a better team.

This poll doesn't apply to Canada though...we didn't lose :D

This poll doesn't apply to Canada though...we never lose :D

Fixed it for you.

Who was the Canadian player that had a breakaway, but was unable to take a shot because his stick was either slashed out of his hands... or it broke? That should have been a penalty shot. However, like many other noncalls and phantom calls against Canada (actually I think there was only one blatant phantom call against Canada)... it was let go to give Sweden a chance to make a game of it. There see, even winners can claim the officiating excuse.

Who was the Canadian player that had a breakaway, but was unable to take a shot because his stick was either slashed out of his hands... or it broke? That should have been a penalty shot. However, like many other noncalls and phantom calls against Canada (actually I think there was only one blatant phantom call against Canada)... it was let go to give Sweden a chance to make a game of it. There see, even winners can claim the officiating excuse.

Evander Kane, and Sweden got a slashing minor for that. I don't have a problem with that.

Evander Kane, and Sweden got a slashing minor for that. I don't have a problem with that.

So is Evander Kane our go to guy for next year? He a had pretty good tournament.

Evander Kane, and Sweden got a slashing minor for that. I don't have a problem with that.

I don't either, but if people are going to scream and cry about the infractions, real and imaginary, that Canada got away with, Kane was on a breakaway and had his scoring chance taken away due to a player from Sweden committing a penalty on him. That should have been a penalty shot. I understand and have no problem with the ref not making it one, but it still should have been one if we're going to start nitpicking the officiating.

The officiating excuse feeds the losing culture within the Swedish league apparently. It's a crutch and it's the first thing that's thrown out there after a loss.

How many times and in how many ways in how many different countries with how many different officials do the Swedes have to lose before they get it.

Couldn't possibly be the way Sweden prepares for the tourny...couldn't possibly be how they select their team...couldn't possibly be anything else other than officiating. And so, the losing continues, and will until they get over the officiating excuse. They have all the pieces to win this tourny but they are missing something. They might better focus on finding that something rather than rely on excuses.


Buddy, maybe you need to be reminded of the two losses in the final canada
had to russia in 2002,2003 and to the US in 2004? Maybe you weren't on this board then but I was. And the amount of whining and referee blaming done by some canadian posters was unprecedented.

It's true. Even Swedish fans used it as an excuse last night even though the officiating was biased in favour of the Swedish team. It's sad really, some fan bases just can't admit they got beat by a better team.

This poll doesn't apply to Canada though...we didn't lose :D


:shakehead :shakehead

Buddy, maybe you need to be reminded of the two losses in the final canada
had to russia in 2002,2003 and to the US in 2004? Maybe you weren't on this board then but I was. And the amount of whining and referee blaming done by some canadian posters was unprecedented.

you don't need to bring up something that happened 5 gold medals ago.:sarcasm:

I don't either, but if people are going to scream and cry about the infractions, real and imaginary, that Canada got away with, Kane was on a breakaway and had his scoring chance taken away due to a player from Sweden committing a penalty on him. That should have been a penalty shot. I understand and have no problem with the ref not making it one, but it still should have been one if we're going to start nitpicking the officiating.

I yelled penalty shot at the time but I'd probably prefer the 2 minutes. You miss on a penalty shot, that's it. You have 2 minutes to score on a PP.

I yelled penalty shot at the time but I'd probably prefer the 2 minutes. You miss on a penalty shot, that's it. You have 2 minutes to score on a PP.

I have no problem with it either, well, that isn't entirely true. My problem is the fact that had it been a Swedish player on a breakaway, it would have been a penalty shot.

There was another play that ticked me off that I saw. There was a play where a swedish player cross checked one of our defensemen down right in front of our net giving him a scoring chance. No penalty. Seconds later that same Swedish player got cross checked and fell down. Canada gets a penalty. If you don't call the first one... don't call the second one...