Why do we have Goal Judges?

[5IslandsWildcat]

Re: Why do we have Goal Judges?

The following is from Wikipedia: “In 2006, the NHL began experimenting with goal judges in higher seats (especially upper decks) with wireless signals. The idea was to allow teams to sell the lower seats, but also to give officials a better view of the action as to be able to reject goals if violations (illegally kicked in, player in the crease, offside) took place.”

In 2007 a hockey blogger described the affect; see
Old Man Rush Blog. If you don’t want to read all that, the last line appears to sum up his view: “Like cabooses at the ends of trains, goal judge boxes at the ends of rinks will soon be but a memory of a distant time.”

[Waite21]

Re: Why do we have Goal Judges?

The goal judge is there to turn on the red light so that the fans will know when it's time to cheer.

More seriously, I can recall an incident some years back when a goal judge turned on the red light, but the referee signaled "no goal." After making his signal, the referee went behind the net and consulted with the goal judge, then skated back out in front and once again, emphatically signaled "no goal."

There was an NCAA rule prohibiting the media from talking to the on-ice officials after the game, but the rule did not prohibit talking to any off-ice official. After the final buzzer, a newspaper reporter went to the goal judge and asked what he had said to the referee. Had he told him he wasn't sure about his decision to light the red lamp?

The goal judge said no, that wasn't the case at all. He had told the referee that he had seen the play clearly, the puck had gone completely across the line, and the goal should count.

The goal judge said he had no idea why the referee had bothered to consult him when the ref so obviously didn't care to listen to what he had to say.

[Federal League]

Re: Why do we have Goal Judges?

How else are sieves gonna get a tan on the back of their necks?

[Runninwiththedogs]

Re: Why do we have Goal Judges?

Another question: what is the appointment criteria for NCAA regionals?

I think being 800 years old is the only requirement.

[Bullmoose]

Re: Why do we have Goal Judges?

...... The referee may consult the goal
judge to gather information. ....

How often does that happen?

I saw it happen once, at this game: http://www.uscho.com/box/mens-hockey...-vs-dartmouth/

It was during OT. Thompson didn't have the video system for goal review at the time.

After the Joe Gaudet redirected the shot by Doug Jones towards the net, the puck took a funny bounce and came back onto the field of play. Ref initially ruled it no goal, but the other ref and linesmen skated over and they had a long animated discussion. One of them pointed towards the goal judges box, where the goal judge was gesticulating madly. Ref skated over to the penalty box, got a walkie-talkie from an arena employee and I saw a walkie-talkie given to the goal judge over by Cornell net. The ref then got a penalty box and had a brief conversation on the walkie-talkie. He then skated out, conferred briefly with the other on-ice officials, pointed towards the center of the ice and the game was over.

Personally, I thought I saw a little flash of white between the puck and the crossbar from my vantage point in Section 18, but it was a hard shot and I wasn't sure. The certainly officials got a better view.

[BII]

Re: Why do we have Goal Judges?

It is part of the tradition. A tradition that might be gradually fading away as technology takes over.

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Why do we have Goal Judges?

The goal judge is there to turn on the red light so that the fans will know when it's time to cheer.

More seriously, I can recall an incident some years back when a goal judge turned on the red light, but the referee signaled "no goal." After making his signal, the referee went behind the net and consulted with the goal judge, then skated back out in front and once again, emphatically signaled "no goal."

There was an NCAA rule prohibiting the media from talking to the on-ice officials after the game, but the rule did not prohibit talking to any off-ice official. After the final buzzer, a newspaper reporter went to the goal judge and asked what he had said to the referee. Had he told him he wasn't sure about his decision to light the red lamp?

The goal judge said no, that wasn't the case at all. He had told the referee that he had seen the play clearly, the puck had gone completely across the line, and the goal should count.

The goal judge said he had no idea why the referee had bothered to consult him when the ref so obviously didn't care to listen to what he had to say.

I think that game is the only time I've heard both bands play Three Blind Mice in the same game.

[darker98]

Re: Why do we have Goal Judges?

I also know that at most arenas, the judges are affiliated with the home team, so they shouldn't have any final say, but what about having non-biased league 'officials' behind the net to get the right call?

You put Anderson and Shephard back there and there will be a lot of 0-0 ties in the WCHA and Shots at Goal Judge will become a new stat.

[J.D.]

Re: Why do we have Goal Judges?

Part of it is absolutely to alert the crowd via light.

[peanut]

Re: Why do we have Goal Judges?

Saw Vic Hadfield of the N.Y. Rangers climb over the glass at MSG circa 1965 to confront a goal judge with Emile Francis.

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Why do we have Goal Judges?

Part of it is absolutely to alert the crowd via light.

I thought that was the job of the goal horn...

[Third Family Member]

Re: Why do we have Goal Judges?

Hmmm. Technology being what it is today, why can't we just put a little microchip in the puck that will set off the goal light when it completely crosses a little microchipped goal line??? And then we could eliminate goal judges, as long as the microchips could also turn on the goal light so the fans would know when the puck crossed the line. And after that, we will figure out a way to coat all the players and sticks with electronically charged saran wrap, so when someone gets cross checked or slashed or tripped, it sets off alarm bells, and a penalty could be assessed. And then we could do away with referees. So far, I haven't figured out how to get rid of the linesmen for icing, though we could put infrared lines across the ice to deal with offsides.

Okay, that was all sarcasm. After this weekend, when our nifty new digital sound board took a dump during sound check and we had to rely on the old fashioned sound board, I think I am qualified to answer that question. Technology can find ways to fail, and you need a backup system. And even 800 year old guys who sit in a goal judge chair are a better back up system then absolutely nothing. Rome, NY is obviously glad for back up systems that are old and creaky.

[WildShawn]

Re: Why do we have Goal Judges?

\ Technology can find ways to fail, and you need a backup system. And even 800 year old guys who sit in a goal judge chair are a better back up system then absolutely nothing. Rome, NY is obviously glad for back up systems that are old and creaky.

A back up system for what? Their being there does absolutly nothing. When a goal judge sees a puck clearly go in the net, and neither of the refs see it and because of the angle of the overhead camera and the position of the goaltender's glove, the cameras don't pick it up (even though its a foot over the line), what are they backing up?

(And fwiw, the goal judges at this arena range in age from 20s to 60s)

[CHFAN222]

Re: Why do we have Goal Judges?

Hmmm. Technology being what it is today, why can't we just put a little microchip in the puck that will set off the goal light when it completely crosses a little microchipped goal line??? And then we could eliminate goal judges, as long as the microchips could also turn on the goal light so the fans would know when the puck crossed the line. And after that, we will figure out a way to coat all the players and sticks with electronically charged saran wrap, so when someone gets cross checked or slashed or tripped, it sets off alarm bells, and a penalty could be assessed. And then we could do away with referees. So far, I haven't figured out how to get rid of the linesmen for icing, though we could put infrared lines across the ice to deal with offsides.

Okay, that was all sarcasm. After this weekend, when our nifty new digital sound board took a dump during sound check and we had to rely on the old fashioned sound board, I think I am qualified to answer that question. Technology can find ways to fail, and you need a backup system. And even 800 year old guys who sit in a goal judge chair are a better back up system then absolutely nothing. Rome, NY is obviously glad for back up systems that are old and creaky.

That actually wouldn't be to expensive to implement. The biggest cost with that will probably be in terms of convincing puck manufacturers to put the microchips in the pucks. With a few sensors in the net say at all the corners and the middle of the post they would be able to triangulate the puck with enough accuracy to determine a goal and the time the puck crossed the net. It probably will happen at some point at all major levels with next 15-20 years. Starting at the NHL and filtering its way down to NCAA D1, Major Juniors, and Minn HS hockey.

[Skeeterman]

We have goal judges for the same reason we have 4 refs--jobs for friends and family members of conference officials. In the case of the WCHA- the head of officials has 2 sons reffing. They had remarkably fast tracks to reffing the bigger games. Whatever.