Congratulations to both clubs for that effort. They will now forever be locked in an eternal battle as no victor scored the final goal.
There are a lot of things running about in my head. I have to believe there are in yours and the youngmen who just played as well. A decision of this magnitude is not easy, nor can it be construed as such. In that regard, Pat O'Rourke, Mike Jones and the OHSAA elected to end the game for safety of the boys, I applaud them. That makes this an easy decision. These are 15-18 year olds, playing High School hockey. Not professionals, not college athletes, not high end Jr's players. There really is not enough at steak here, to even reasonably jeopardize child safety.
Now, considering how bastardized the sport is regulated, by a completely hockey illiterate governing body, this is EXACTLY WHAT YOU SHOULD EXPECT. This is the brain trust, who after years of pointing out that Hockey is not football or basketball, still defies logic and it is the state who puts an Ottawa Hills team on the same ice as Bowling Green, and we see a 20-0 final, because in the states eyes, Ottawa Hills is at the same level. We can all be glad 3-4 Ottawa hills did not end up in the hospital. That statement goes for the entirety of the first round of district play. I further say, that when those players get injured, or god forbid injured for life. The state will need to be held LIABLE as this is their doing, and they have been warned. Further, this kind of ending can be prevented and should be prevented if reasonable changes are made to the grossly flawed system in place now....one are you tired of the VOID...Nation Wide Arena, and their cattle herding, rude, and incompetent staff? SUre hope so. That alone is reason enough for the High Schools to abandon the unsafe OHSAA as the hockey governing body, and if need be create their own, and play as independent clubs. The playoff format should be....
Top four team from league regular season play.
#1 team becomes HOST and stays home. 2, 3,and 4 are sent via RANDOM draw to each of the other districts (one team from each) and they play a round robin where two best team play for district title.
Those CHAMPIONS advance to states. Where that game is held in a PROPERLY sized arena. BGSU, Hobart, etc...
another round robin to determing the top two.
the top two play. if tied each ot is 15 min. if after tied after 5 tie breaker 1 is total goals for in last three games.
or better yet. the final two teams play the following week in a best of 3. HOme and home. third game if needed home determined by coin toss. I like that.
I would hope that two schools, now forever locked in the game eternal, use a unique ring, to signify that eternal game. it was an epic game.
