High Rollers 7, Squirrels 6

Consistently Horrendous Officiating Dooms Squirrels

They fought their way through numerous non-called hooks, holds, trips and body checks and managed to kill off a handful of laughable penalties, but in the end it was too much for the Squirrels to overcome, losing 7-6 to the High Rollers.  Referee Jason Harab got things started early in the first period when he called Squirrels back-up goalie Bob Sewell for throwing his stick even though in reality it was knocked from his hands by an opposing player and Harab admitted to Sewell that he didn’t even see what happened, he just saw the stick laying there.  The High Rollers opted for the penalty shot, which Sewell subsequently stopped.

The low point of the night came when the Squirrels forward Rob Myers carried the puck down the left wing boards.  High Rollers defender Jason Banks lost his hockey stick so he decided to skate at and into Myers and knock him over instead.  He certainly accomplished this, leaning in with his knee and hip and flipping Myers into the air.  Referee Harab standing right there with no clue what interference, roughing, charging, or kneeing are in a non-checking league, let play continue.  Referee Tom Latona, trailing the play was under the mistaken belief that Banks was somehow trying to retrieve his hockey stick which was nowhere near Myers.  Myers initially went after Banks following the non-call hipflip check, and Stu Miller subsequently informed Harab that he was a major league retard.  Consequently, the Squirrels instead of getting the powerplay they deserved out of the hit on Myers got a 2 man penalty kill.  Other comical but pathetic officiating moments included Jeff Ford skating about 6 feet dragging along a High Rollers player who firmly had his hockey stick hooked onto or under Ford’s shoulders and underarm area; the call? – none of course.

Despite the consistently horrific officiating, the Squirrels managed to maintain or regain their composure, fighting their way back to a tie or to within a goal at several points in the game.  Down by a goal with a minute left, the Squirrels attempted to pull the goalie, however, they couldn’t maintain possession of the puck deep in the zone long enough to get Sewell to the bench.  The game ended with the High Rollers running out the clock with puck possession.