by Willard King

Created on: November 28, 2009   Last Updated: November 30, 2009

Sub Par Officials cost Senators

Another loss to the starting line up which now makes five, possibly a sixth once the smoke clears from Wednesday nights game versus the New Jersey Devils. Early in the first period with the referee only twelve feet away, the noted goon Andrew Peters took a full four stride charge at Chris Neil. Who was playing the puck in the corner unaware and in the most vulnerable position.

With the referee clearly watching Peters put an end to Neil's night and possibly for sometime to come. No penalty was awarded on the play, same as earlier in the week when Shean Donovan was taken out by an obvious knee on knee hit compliments of Matt Cooke repeat offender. No penalty was called on that play either, with a referee in full view of the play.

Some would say it is Neil's responsibility to be aware of what's going on, be aware of who is on the ice. But should any player have to worry that a goon like Peters, he is out there waiting for you to be at your most vulnerable before he will bravely blindside you, and than not have the intestinal or testicular fortitude to stand up for what he does.

Where is the responsibility for the Referees? Who keeps them in check? The league will never tolerate any referee slandering or bashing, just ask Don Cherry and Ron MacLean. But this sports writer has seen enough! So far this season I have watched nearly every game Sportsnet and TSN1 and TSN2 has covered. Every highlight package of every game you can see it, the referee's have been missing and blowing calls more than usual, the consistency level is just not anywhere it needs to be.

Kerry Fraser, Ian Walsh David Brisebois, Scott Cherrey were the crew working the Devils game, but the question remains will the league do anything to improve this problem? Or likely sit back and continue to spew its usual rewind and replay answer about how they are concerned and taking things under consideration.

Sure lots of interference, holding, and hooking calls which the league has been cracking down on the last few seasons, but the hits to the head have increased. There have been an alarming amount of dirty hits that have gone uncalled, just ask the Senators who have had to endure a number of poorly officiated games so far this season, to the credit of Senators General Manager Bryan Murray and Coach Cory Clouston who handled the situation rather well, despite the leagues disinterest in their officially lodged complaint.

Players are bigger and stronger than they were

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