If you are an Otter Hockey fan, like me, then you may be asking yourself a lot of “Why” questions lately. Why wasn’t the penalty shot in the section 6A boys hockey semifinal versus Sartell counted as it should have been? Why wasn’t there a goal judge behind the net? Why wasn’t a rule book referred to after the call was made? Why hasn’t someone from the High School League stepped forward and reversed the game’s outcome? Why isn’t there a protest policy? Why doesn’t the High School League do something, anything, when there isn’t a Twin Cities team or TV money involved?  Why is it so tough to take the judgment from an organization that preaches to play by the rules but then refuses to uphold them? Who is this fair to?

The story, as I saw it, was that with the scored tied at 1-1 the Otters were awarded a penalty shot in the first overtime period due to a Sartell player freezing the puck in the crease. The officials did not rule immediately but did confer and correctly awarded the penalty shot. Lucas Gervais, the Otters leading scorer, was selected to take the shot. He addressed the puck and moved to his left, weaved in front of the net and brought the puck back to his left and released the shot. The puck then hit the pipe, ricocheted off of the Sartell net minder and into the net. These are the facts on the matter. This was never in dispute by any of the officials. The ruling on the ice was that the forward progress of the puck was stopped and that meant the end of the play. According to the rules that the MSHSL plays by, the National Federation of High School Associations, that ruling was incorrect (See Rule below). That means more questions. Why wasn’t a rule book referred to? I believe it is a fair question. I know I have been accused of being overly critical of officials in the past and for that I apologize. I know that it is a very difficult job for very little pay and that High School sports needs qualified officials. All we can ask is that they take the job seriously and call the game fairly.  One of my issues was that available resources, the rule book, were not used. Not everyone can memorize each and every rule and the fact that one was not consulted is puzzling.

But the biggest question is: Why hasn’t the MSHSL stepped in and corrected this error? The officials are human and can make mistakes but that shouldn’t mean that those errors can’t be remedied, in some limited cases. My point is that the penalty shot would have been the last play of the game, had the correct call been made, then that should make the rest of the game null and void. If this play had happened in the middle of the game and the same call issued then there would be a reasonable doubt if Fergus Falls would have hung on and won and the MSHSL‘s ruling of “Human error” would be plausible and I believe the Otters then would not have much to argue, but since it would have meant a Fergus Falls victory I believe the call could have and should have been reversed. The next game will not be played until the following Friday so why can’t this be reviewed and corrected?

I cannot speak to the state of mind of the MSHSL powers that be and so most of these questions will remain unanswered. The Fergus Falls coaches have asked the team and parents to accept the situation and be proud of our boys. And that we all are! And that we will…in time.  This situation is not fair to the athletes, coaches, parents, students, alumni, and fans of the Fergus Falls Otters.

I wish no ill will toward the officials on the ice during this game. I don’t believe that they should be sanctioned or reprimanded in any way. I’m sure they have already gotten an earful. I do hope they have learned from the situation and because of it will become better at their job. I truly feel that they did the best they could that night and, for most, that should be good enough, but for the MSHSL to just sit idly by and say there is nothing they could do is ridiculous and insulting. The motto for the MSHSL should be “Do as I say and not as I do.”

Jeff  Swedberg

NFHS Ice Hockey Rules 2009-2010
SECTION 7 PENALTY SHOT
ART. 1 . . . A penalty shot is awarded to restore a lost scoring opportunity.
ART. 2 . . . If the offense for which the penalty shot was awarded was one that normally would incur a minor penalty, the non-offending team may, prior to the penalty shot, elect that the minor penalty be assessed to the offending player or team in lieu of the penalty shot.
ART. 3 . . . The penalty shot shall be taken by the player fouled. If no player has been fouled, the shot may be taken by any player of the nonoffending side who is not serving a penalty when play is stopped for the penalty shot (captain’s choice of players).
ART. 4 . . . The puck shall be placed at the center faceoff spot. At the referee’s instruction, the attacking player shall begin toward the goal, keeping in motion toward the goal until the puck is shot or has crossed the goal line extended. Only one shot is permitted.
ART. 5 . . . The goalkeeper shall remain in the goal crease until the attacking player has touched the puck. The goalkeeper may attempt to stop the puck in any manner except by throwing his stick. If a foul is committed by the goalkeeper during the try and the try is unsuccessful, another penalty shot is awarded.
ART. 6 . . . If the player awarded the penalty shot is injured, the try may be taken by any teammate who is not serving a penalty.
ART. 7 . . . If the attacking player commits a foul, that player may be permitted to take the shot before going to the penalty box.
ART. 8 . . . All players shall move to their respective bench areas and remain quiet until the shot has been completed. If a player other than the defending goalkeeper causes the penalty shot by another player to fail, a second attempt shall be awarded, and a misconduct penalty assessed to the player who interfered with or distracted the shooter.
ART. 9 . . . If a goal is scored from a penalty shot, a further penalty to the
offending player shall be applied if the offense for which the penalty shot was awarded was such as to incur a major, disqualification or misconduct penalty. In that case, the penalty prescribed for the particular offense shall be imposed.

4.7.4 SITUATION: On a penalty shot, the puck (a) hits the post, hits the back of the goalkeeper’s leg and enters the goal, or (b) hits the glass or boards, hits the goalkeeper’s leg and enters the goal.
RULING: In (a) goal is scored. In (b) no goal is scored, since puck crossed the goal line extended, which nullifies the play.

This photo was taken after the Fergus Falls High School Boys section qualifying swimmers and divers followed in the annual tradition of cutting and coloring their hair.  Harriet at Bahama Looks did all the colorful hair styling.  The boys will compete at Sections in Detroit Lakes on February 26 and 27.

The OtterRisers "Citizen of the year award " was given to Craig Olson, local sports announcer, KBRF radio personality and co-host of a talking sports show on the local community TV channel. Craig is active with youth in their early stages of development all the way up to those aged people who just think we are young. Craig Olson's play by play call of (not just his favorite baseball) but any sporting event is distinct and is always positive to the efforts of both teams competing. It was an honor to be a part of giving this award to Craig Olson.

Our team of OtterRisers planned a surprise presentation to Craig Olson while he was taping their TV show. We had made contact with Kris Svingen (previous OtterRiser member) co host of the show, no one else knew of the planned presentation. The presentation consisted of a plaque and a rocking chair made from baseball bats. Our team consisting of Larry our President, Lynn our photographer, Bob our Past President and myself, Neil who submitted Craig's name to OtterRisers for consideration for the award. We met outside the TV studio until the show had started and then barged in plaque and chair in hand.  To say Craig Olson was surprised would be an understatement. The presentation has shown on PEG ACCESS TV and is being repeated. A CD of the presentation will also be available from Brian. The Otter Risers in some past years has given this award but it has not been awarded for many years, we need to keep alert for other opportunities to recognize people in the community that are doing activities that fit into our OtterRisers Kiwanis goals and objectives.

The chair given to Craig has created lots of interest and questions. It took me lots of  hours to build, but less than the first one that I had to create with nothing but an idea in my head, and many of you know that anything coming out of my head could be questionable. This is the third one I have built (and most likely the last!). If I would have worked on it steady it may have been completed in 120 hours. NO JOKES ABOUT OLD STATE WORKERS SPEED OR HOW YOU USE TO KNOW A CARPENTER LIKE THAT.  Material used in this chair are: 18 broken baseball bats, collected by my son Jay Herman who plays baseball for the Waterville, MN Indians town team and Dave Johnson Manager/player for the Fergus Falls town team, the Hurricanes.  100 feet of 3/8" nylon rope are woven in the seat and back from Fleet Farm.  One handle from a broken snow shovel, rockers cut from basswood boards all from my junk bins.  About 1/3 of my time is spent scraping pine tar off bats, removing tape, gluing bats together, sorting bats for length, shape and color, as just about every bat is different (new bats would be a lot easier to work with, but they cost $40 - $100 dollars per bat). Cutting, assembling, finishing is another 1/ 3 of the time. Weaving is the last step and about 1/3 of the project.

Coverage in the news on this project was on PEG ACCESS TV, KBRF radio and while I was doing this article I received a request from the Daily Journal, and they are working on an article for their personal profile section on Craig and also the award.