Almost 1,500 people packed Spectra Place tonight to see one of the SJHL's best rivalries renewed.
And they got a terrific hockey game.
And then it got ruined.
Let's just say Sheldon Dean is not a popular man in Estevan right now.
After an excellent first two periods that was full of big hits and intensity, Dean became the story in the third period, calling six penalties on the Bruins compared to one for the Wings.
But it wasn't the margin that had people upset. It was some of the calls themselves.
Most notably, with the Wings already on the power play thanks to what looked like a phantom kneeing call on Tyler Kauk, Thomas Carleton delivered a hit to the head of new Bruins defenceman Tyler Poskus. When Dominic Perrault came over to exchange pleasantries, he was called for roughing and the hit itself was not called.
Poskus has a concussion and, according to Keith Cassidy, didn't remember he'd been traded to the Bruins after the game.
There was also the roughing call on Steven Glass after he got bowled over and the phantom cross-checking call on Calder Neufeld that led to the Wings' second goal.
It's too bad because it really was a great game. Both teams brought everything they had and the Bruins responded well to the loss last night.
Weyburn was probably the slightly better team for most of the first period, but the Bruins rattled off two goals 44 seconds apart late in the period to take a 2-0 lead after one.
At 18:49, Cole Olson hit Dylan Smith with a perfect pass for a backdoor goal. On the next shift, Michael Hengen's attempted saucer pass from deep on the left wall deflected off Ben Johnstone's stick and past Brett Teskey.
The Wings got back in it with five minutes left in the second on a goal by Sam Williams. Carleton - who did actually have a heck of a game for the second straight night - was in on the goal.
Weyburn tied it 11 minutes into the third when Coltyn Sanderson fired the puck out front from the corner and it hit something - apparently Keegan Bruce, since he was credited with the goal - and went in the net.
Three and a half minutes later, with the Bruins killing a lengthy 5-on-3 (their second of the period) thanks to the Perrault retaliation call, Sanderson deflected a point shot past Glass for the eventual game-winner.
The loss is a costly one for the Bruins, who now sit seven points behind the Wings (and one behind Melville, who lost back-to-back to Yorkton). And don't look now, but the Terriers are one point back with a game in hand.
Here are post-game interviews with Keith Cassidy and Steven Glass. In his short time here, I have never seen Keith lose his cool and tonight it looked like his head was about to explode. He walked the tightrope but came out with some strong words.
Keith Cassidy Nov. 26 by lewis94
Here's Glass - the "Sheldon Dean first star" comment is Dylan Smith
Steven Glass Nov. 26 by lewis94
Great interview with Cassidy. For a coach who rarely loses his cool, last night was the first time I've seen him be so frustrated and show emotion. And you can hear it in the interview (although even then he is restrained).
ReplyDeleteGreat article Josh - is there anything the Bruins as an organization can do to have the league look into Dean? The game was televised on Access 7, can they send the tape in and have it reviewed?? 75% of the Bruins penalties were deserved but the missed head shot? The phantom penalties? A team can only take so much and I will go out on a limb and say Dean has had to have pulled this stuff on other teams as well. Maybe interview Jeff Pierson to find out what he thinks should happen?
ReplyDeleteThanks again Josh
I know they're sending the tape in. Aside from that, I'm not sure if there's much else they can do. I don't think there is any process in place for disciplining officials. I've seen a lot of terrible reffing in the SJHL and there doesn't seem to be any accountability.
ReplyDeleteI agree with that Josh. Thanks for the update
ReplyDeleteToo bad you didn't watch any replay of the game before you posted here and on the Estevan Mercury website. I was at the game and in my opinion the Bruins were getting with a lot more than what was called. They showed a replay of the alleged head shot on the jumbo-tron during the game and from what I saw there was no head shot. I also watched the archive on Neulion and it confirmed everything. I suggest you watch the Access replay. I believe it is on Wednsday. You may be surprised on actually how well the game was officiated. In my opinion, Dean let the Bruins get away with a lot more than normal, but he could only call so many against them.
ReplyDeleteAnd I take it Weyburn didn't get away with anything. I'm not sure how Poskus got the concussion if it wasn't a head shot. I guess he's faking it. What a stupid comments!!! Weyburn was doing stuff that should have been called but he was calling it against Estevan. Dean needs to be fined and/or suspended for that outting in Estevan.
ReplyDeleteDean has to be the worst Ref in the SJHL. Everytime he is in Yorkton the calls he makes are pathetic for both teams and the things he misses right in front of him makes you wonder what game he is watching.
ReplyDeleteNow that you have had a chance to review the video, can you comment on what you seen as far as the head shot is concerned?
ReplyDelete