Viewpoint

When was the last time a goal judge affected a game? Not a fair question.

Let's face it, when was the last time Bryan McCabe affected a game? He's still around.

I went to the Rangers/Flyers pre-season game last night at MSG with my son. He noticed it first and texted me from another part of the arena when he noticed it.
I think if you don't see a ton of posts here on the subject, that alone will tell you how unnecessary the average fan finds the goal judge. We can all recall umpires blown calls in world series games, and football referee miscues at some point or another.
Can you remember anytime when a goal judge made some significant infamous mistake in a game? I'm trying to and I can't.
Long after middle aged guys like me leave this world, video will survive us. They might as well send the goal judges upstairs into a booth with the tools of technology.

Most arenas have an isle that the goal judge occupies. There is no revenue gained by having a fan in the isle, see the fire marshal. If the aim is to get it right, it makes no sense to have a goal judge moved from 15' away from the net to 100' away.

Have the fans vote on shots with cell phones. It makes as much sense.

Happy Holidays

Contrary to Matt's comments I found this topic most interesting. As a Canuck living in the States, I rely on the CBC as well as the other Canadian national sports broadcasters to keep me in touch with the game. Being a Vancouver fan I could care less about Toronto's ills, but I do care about the game. It is of intrest to see what is happening to the tradition of the goal judges. I can't say that I blame the inevitable move but it does continue the trend of relying on technology. I don't know where it should end but I too love the human element in the game. (Unless it cost's the Canucks a goal!)

Good job Glen. I grew up watching NHL hockey during the 1980's. Coming from a small town we used to idolize the goal judge in our arena, that resembled more a barn with a frozen puddle in the middle of it.

I fully agree with you. Some of the changes to the game are a bit rediculous and sterile. Whatever happend to those games of home to visitors, with a hot chocolate warming your fingers, french fries filling your stomach.

When I had visited the rink for a game a few weeks ago, we had seats very close to the goal judge. I sat there pondering the purpose of the seemingly ‘archaic’ role, until the play went to the other end and everyone in our section relied on the distant flashing red light to confirm a goal on the other side of the rink.

Being at the game last night I immediately recognized that the Goal Judges were absent from their regular spot and instead found them up on the catwalk.

It was noticeable that the new vantage point can impact some of the ‘trigger speed’ as we had joined the players in cheering the first goal before the goal light went on [Winchester’s goal quickly was fired into the top corner of the net and fired back out of the mesh].

However, it was not so noticeable to condemn the experiment as the remainder of the game I didn’t give it a second thought. I am sure that a goal judge’s signal has no doubt been delayed from the traditional vantage point for one reason or another as well.

The red goal light is necessary and therefore the human element will be needed until technology or other means are able to, if ever, to replace it. In the meantime why not manage to sell a few more season seats with a new arrangement.

Wow, another hot topic from Scott Morrison.

Perhaps the servers or down or there is some other explanation, but not a single post in nearly 48 hours.

I am not trying to pick on you Scott but your last few blogs have been weak at best.

For this current topic maybe knowone really cares or perhaps it is because the average fan will never be able to afford the price of the ticket anywhere near the goal judge area and that it really does not matter to them...hmmm...maybe??

Here is a better topic...from a Leafs Nation perspective...Who should take most of the blame for the Leafs inability to win of late? What needs to be done to right the course? Are any of the legions of Leafs fans beginning to panic or is this the slump that naturally occurs in the 82-game season?

You can offer up some analysis if you want and then pose the questions…

The way technology is today, it wouldn't surprise me if they eliminate the goal judge entirely. With some sort of radio beacon in the puck and sensors in the goal posts, the red light could be triggered with out any manual intervention whatsoever. After all, if FOX can create that ridiculous blue streak, anything is possible!

I guess Scott is running out of things to write about. Can an introspective look at the life and career of former Montreal Expos mascot Youpi soon be in the works???

Do they still have goal judges? Seriously, when was the last time they affected a game?

Move them out of sight? Why not right out of the building? Do we really need a red light? Most rinks have horns now, although they may sound prematurely sometimes, which are more noticeable than the red light. Goal judges are a tradition which is now obsolete. No one ever consults them anymore so they should be removed. I get to quite a few games and never look to see if a red light is on to determine if a goal was scored.

I grew up watching NHL hockey during the 1970's just to date myself for you. During the last 3+ decades I have seen many changes and for the most part they have been positive. The "NEW" NHL is fast and very exciting. However, with increasing technology there will be a human element that will disappear, just as the goal judge did years ago with the use of instant replay. My concern is when will the reliance on technology end? Will the game become so sterile and perfect that the referee will join the goal judge in the studio? Will the Linesman's whistle blow from the surround sound because he is not even at the game? Will an automatic puck dropper create the most fair face-off for the centerman?? I am an advocate for human error in sport. Sometimes the call goes for you, sometimes it doesn't. That is a part of Hockey
that is exciting, frustrating and necessary. Let's not remove too many people, and human decision from the game. The new whistle that stops the clock is a great addtion to the game, however lets NOT use the nets that light up when a goal is scored. That idea is right up there with the "glowing blue" puck. If the NHL truly wants to create more fan support and revenue, they must address the "BLACK OUT" regulations. Fans should be able to watch what ever team they want every game. Why would I buy the NHL package for $250 when the games I want are blacked out?? This is a huge opportunity that needs to be examined more thoroughly, not glowing red nets.