The game was very close and, unfortunately, Richard's team, The Rangers, lost in the final 10 seconds: 7-6. However, what really made this a heartbreak was a controversial call by the referee near the end of the 2nd period. The Rangers scored a goal to tie the score 3-3, at least that was what they thought and all the spectators. Instead, to the amazement of all, a goal was credited to the other team and the score was posted as 4-2!
At first we were in shock and assumed that the score keeper had made an error. When the score was not changed, our frustration grew. When the game ended with the Rangers on the short end, we were confused, perplexed, and upset.
After much "discussion" with the facility owners (the referees would not enlighten us), I learned that the referees thought the other team might have scored a goal just prior to our goal but could not stop play. Once we scored, play stopped and they consulted the score keeper to get her perspective. So she made the determination that the other team had scored (even though the two refs did not agree). Therefore, everything that happened in between their "goal" and our "goal" did not count (except for the time used) including our goal!
Can you imagine a baseball game where the scorekeeper/s decide an inning or two later, that the foul ball was actually a home run and therefore the other team should still be batting and the runs your team scored after no longer count because the other team should still be batting? Absurd of course.
And the rules? That remains to be seen. No rules or even reference to rules are posted at the facility's web site. So I will have to ask at the next game. In doing so, I suppose I risk the potential for being considered a trouble maker (surprise!) since asking to consult the rules implies (perhaps) that those who are supposed to enforce the rules may not be doing so correctly.
I think that it should not hurt to learn what the rules actually are. Still, in this day and age, in our society, the "rules" are whatever those in power decide they are despite what is actually written and/or agreed.
Richard has been playing roller hockey at this facility since they moved to West Hartford in the summer of 2007. This means that we have been through over three (3) years of roller hockey at 12 games a session (plus playoffs), and three (3) sessions per year. That means that we have seen at least 120 games without ever encountering this "rule." Unfortunately, this facility is the only "game" in town.
Our frustration could have been alleviated if the refs and the facility had shown some compassion and intelligence by patiently explaining (and showing) to us the rule. Instead, all that we heard was the refs made the right call.
And in the end, the lesson is that if a team wants to win, they must score enough to overcome the errors of the officials. The converse is that as long as the game is being played, either team has a chance to win (until there is no way to overcome the score).
Being a Cleveland Indians fan as well as NY Islanders (and this year, Bridgeport Sound Tigers) fan, has prepared us for that perpetual chant of "there's always next time" (or season, etc.).
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