An off-ice squabble between two Thunder Bay Midget A hockey league teams has forced an on-ice delay of the semifinals and possible changes to the playoffs.
It's also allegedly led to the threat of a lawsuit for pain and suffering by the parents of one of the affected players.
The disagreement between the Thunder Bay Beavers and Westfort Maroons came following the third game in the Midget A league playoffs earlier this month. Both teams needed the win during the quarterfinals to move into the semifinals.
The controversy surrounds a last minute goal scored by the Beavers that tied up the game, a goal the Maroons came at 9:10 p.m., after their ice-rental contract had ended. According to league rules, the game, regardless of how much time is left on the clock, was supposed to end once the rental contract expired.
The timekeeper, in this instance, did not sound the buzzer ending the game at 9:10 p.m., and on the ensuing play, the Beavers tied the score, and, as a result, won the series. The tying goal in the 2-2 contest came with 0.5 seconds left in regulation.
The original on-ice call gave the win to the Beavers, but after a former Maroons official spoke to the on-ice official, the goal was waved off and the Maroons were given the win, the quarterfinal victory and the semifinal berth.
But the Beavers have appealed the decision and have taken it to the highest authority they can – Hockey Northwestern Ontario.
The appeal has forced Thunder Bay Minor Hockey Association to delay the semifinals until a decision is reached.
The association also cancelled the Monday and Wednesday games and warned that there may be some minor changes to the playoffs held on March 25.
Maroons head coach Mark Antenucci said the heart of the dispute is when that goal happened.
“Obviously they are saying (the goal was scored) before (the rental time expired), but we’re on record and there’s a number of folks who said it (the goal was scored) after,” Antenucci told tbnewswatch.com.
“Part of the issue is accepting which version is correct. Our team is upset they just want to play hockey.”
HNO General Manager Trevor Hosanna said that the Beavers had submitted their appeal Friday and now Thunder Bay Minor Hockey has two business days to respond.
“Once a response is received a pre-screening committee will review the appeal and determine if there are sufficient grounds for the appeal,” Hosanna wrote in an email.
“If it is determined there is sufficient grounds for an appeal, the appeal hearing and decision must be rendered within 10 days.”
Beavers head coach Leo Elliott Jr. said the matter was in the hands of the HNO and wouldn’t comment until they had reached a decision.
“This is a very sad situation for all the kids,” Elliott wrote in an email.
A possible decision is expected sometime this week.
