Wednesday night my partner and I received directives from the league director to call the game extremely tight. He said he wanted cheap penalties called and didn't care how much stupid, nit-picky things we called. He didn't want any replays of last week's near-brawl (which was all caused by ONE player who is new to the league and doesn't realize fighting is not tolerated at all). So, my partner and I did just that.
We didn't really call too many more penalties than normal, we just ended up calling tiny, silly things. As directed, I ended up calling an interference penalty on a goalie because he stepped two feet out of the crease and pushed an opposing player from behind. My partner called a silly body checking penalty on a guy who was hit by another, but the other guy fell down.
Almost every player felt the games went well and weren't upset about anything. Of course, there was one guy who was called for a roughing penalty behind the net. My partner made the call and skated to the scorekeeper to report it. The guy, after realizing he was going to the box, exclaimed loud enough for me to hear (but not my partner) "Throw me out then! Go on, just throw me out!"
At that point, I almost tossed him myself, which I think I really should have now that I think about it. Instead, I skated to my partner, told him what he said and recommended he toss him. He didn't though, much to my chagrin. I'm a firm believer in calling penalties on people when they ask for them. I don't think he is. *shrug*
What would you have done in that situation?
-Craig
Washington State
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