Minnesota State wins CCHA in one of the most bizzare endings college hockey has ever seen
Lost in all the celebrations last night, Minnesota State beat Bemidji State 2-1 in overtime to win the Mason Cup and the CCHA, not only once, but twice. MSU scored 3 minutes into overtime, the goal was looked at, ruled a good goal, and the celebration ensued. After all the celebration had finished and both teams had gone back into the locker room, the CCHA ruled that the net had been lifted off the moorings and the puck had passed under the back of the goal, ruling it no goal nearly an hour after it had been scored. Both teams then had to redress, warm up for another five minutes, and MSU ended up scoring the real winning goal five minutes in.
Is that allowed in the rulebook, or did the CCHA call an audible?
Doesn't seem like that should be possible outside of cheating being discovered after the fact. If the refs and the CCHA missed it while players were on the ice, then it's over. At least the team that got robbed ended up winning in the end anyway.
At least the team that got robbed ended up winning in the end anyway.
Depends on how you define “the team that got robbed.” Id guess Bemidji would feel pretty robbed if the first “goal” had counted.
At the end of the day, the “right” decision was made. It’s no goal, play on. The only issue is the time it took to get to the right decision, and sending teams back out after the trophy ceremony. Which is a pretty big issue.
At a certain time there is statute of limitations. If they already celebrated, passed out the trophy, and both teams undressed as an entire hour had passed - then it is time to move on in my estimation.
They awarded the goal and awarded the win. Then they noticed an hour after the game was deemed over that they messed up. Too bad. Crap happens.
I agree, it was looked at when the teams were on the ice. Ridiculous to make them dress and come back out an hour later
Not a good look for the new CCHA. In general, the conference has functioned better than the WCHA was the last few years, but this is crazy stuff that should never happen. I'm no Minnesota State fan, but I am glad that they won it again after coming back out. The controversy if they hadn't...
Pretty sure the NCAA rule is if the refs leave the ice, the game is over.
Not sure why the MSU coach let his team back on the ice
Sounds like the practice after the Norway game in the movie Miracle. Again, again, again
Perhaps both both coaches' willingness to resume play was a deciding factor. If I were the coach, I'd have to think long and hard.
Not every coach responds to adversity with a sniveling behind-the-scenes email with vague references to mental health concerns.
I'm sorry, I can't hear you. There's a Big Ten tournament championship banner in one ear and 57 Pairwise comparisons in the other.
If it hadn't been in overtime, the goal would surely have counted. They wouldn't have called it off an hour later.
A case of video review out of control. I've never played hockey but I would think that there is a risk of injury to have the players come back out and play after their bodies have cooled down from game play.
It seems like they get it wrong enough on replay that it isn't worth it.
Congrats to Mankato. I'm glad we didn't back into the number 1 overall seed.
I was thinking the same thing - and also that they may well have been half drunk by the time they got back on the ice an hour later.
Reminds me of when the Bruins went into the stands and fought with fans after a game with the Rangers back in the day. The only Bruin who didn't join the fight was goaltender Gerry Cheevers, who said that he was already on his second beer, back in the locker room.
There should be a time limit on these kind of reviews!
I don't think they would have done that but for the fact that if Bemidji won they would have gotten the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament instead of missing it. A lot was at stake. Plus, that would have meant an additional CCHA team in the tourney.
I think it's better they did this than just give the cup to the Stars and go home.
This is the best comment in this thread. Well done!
I can't think of a stupider decision in sports. WTF were they thinking?
When games aren't over when trophies are awarded and everyone's gone to the lockers then games become pretty pointless. Sheesh.
Maybe they'll bring Baylor and NC back to play another OT, just cuz.
To me it appears the ccha was not satisfied with who the winner was.
This is the right explanation. An auto-bid was at stake and it would have been wasted on Minnesota State who was going to qualify anyways. I suspect they would have let the goal stand if Bemidji State scored it.
If they had ruled it a no goal after the fact and declared both teams co-champs, I'd be on board, and it would've been great proof that you can in fact recognize mistakes after the fact when they change the outcome of a game. But making them come back out is absurd. The moment had passed. They got it wrong. Just make the official records reflect that they got it wrong. Even that would've been groundbreaking, and without a controversial replay that can only end up with somebody worse off than the alternative of declaring a tie.
March 20th, 2022 at 11:22 PM ^
I thought Minnesota State was just a fake school from Coach?