wow did not see this coming

[apsco17]

If Kirk and Savage decided to call more penalties on Monday night, Calgary would have been in the box a lot more than Kelowna.

[dondo]

possibly -- hopefully tonight we just see more realistic reffing.

[Rockets1231]

There's realistic refing for you, they can't count to 6 apparently...

[AlanC]

There's realistic refing for you, they can't count to 6 apparently...

Or maybe us fans just don't know the rules properly all the time. The refs made the right call on that alleged too many men.

This is rule 74.1 from the WHL's online rulebook:

74.1 Too Many Men on the Ice - Players and goalkeepers may be
changed at any time during the play from the players’ bench provided
that the player or players leaving the ice shall be within five feet (5') of
his players’ bench and out of the play before the change is made.
...
If in the course of a substitution either the player(s) entering the
play or the player(s) retiring is struck by the puck accidentally, the play
will not be stopped and no penalty will be called.


So, since both Calgary players were within five feet of the bench, it was a legal substitution. And since the player who was leaving the ice had his back turned when he was hit by the puck, it was clearly an accidental touch of the puck and therefore the play should not be stopped and no penalty assessed.

I admit, I thought at the time that it should have been a penalty, but the rulebook makes it pretty clear that the refs got it right instead of us fans.

[LifelongChiefsFan]

Or maybe us fans just don't know the rules properly all the time. The refs made the right call on that alleged too many men.

This is rule 74.1 from the WHL's online rulebook:

74.1 Too Many Men on the Ice - Players and goalkeepers may be
changed at any time during the play from the players’ bench provided
that the player or players leaving the ice shall be within five feet (5') of
his players’ bench and out of the play before the change is made.
...
If in the course of a substitution either the player(s) entering the
play or the player(s) retiring is struck by the puck accidentally, the play
will not be stopped and no penalty will be called.


So, since both Calgary players were within five feet of the bench, it was a legal substitution. And since the player who was leaving the ice had his back turned when he was hit by the puck, it was clearly an accidental touch of the puck and therefore the play should not be stopped and no penalty assessed.

I admit, I thought at the time that it should have been a penalty, but the rulebook makes it pretty clear that the refs got it right instead of us fans.

I didn't get to follow the game last night unfortunately, so I never saw the play in question, but that is an interesting rule that I wasn't aware of. However, I do think that maybe some refs should take it to heart as well. The majority of too many men calls that I've seen made were due to what most would call 'accidental touching' of the puck during a change.

[Rockets1231]

Or maybe us fans just don't know the rules properly all the time. The refs made the right call on that alleged too many men.

This is rule 74.1 from the WHL's online rulebook:

74.1 Too Many Men on the Ice - Players and goalkeepers may be
changed at any time during the play from the players’ bench provided
that the player or players leaving the ice shall be within five feet (5') of
his players’ bench and out of the play before the change is made.
...
If in the course of a substitution either the player(s) entering the
play or the player(s) retiring is struck by the puck accidentally, the play
will not be stopped and no penalty will be called.


So, since both Calgary players were within five feet of the bench, it was a legal substitution. And since the player who was leaving the ice had his back turned when he was hit by the puck, it was clearly an accidental touch of the puck and therefore the play should not be stopped and no penalty assessed.

I admit, I thought at the time that it should have been a penalty, but the rulebook makes it pretty clear that the refs got it right instead of us fans.

That would be correct, however, the Calgary player SHOT the puck while the other player was still on the ice. The first time it wasn't too many men because it was accidental. The puck then bounced toward the Rockets line and the player coming on the ice shot the puck on net (and scored) while the other player was still on the ice.