The WCHA announced Wednesday that the officiating crew of Buzzy Christensen, Jon Campion and Mark Nebel was suspended for one weekend, following a series they refereed in Marquette, Mich.
The crew officiated both games of the Nov. 22-23 weekend between the Northern Michigan Wildcats and the Minnesota Golden Gophers, which the two teams split; Minnesota won Friday, 5-2, and the Wildcats won Saturday, 2-1.
The most discussed play came at the end of Saturday’s game, when Northern Michigan’s Roman Kompis checked Gopher Mike Crowley from behind and into the boards. The new rule this year says that any such play is punishable by a five-minute major and a game misconduct, with an option for a game disqualification.
The three officials failed to make the call, claiming they didn’t see the hit. Video replays clearly showed it was a violation.
The officials then whistled play dead with Crowley laying injured on the ice, and proceeded to move the faceoff out of the offensive zone to center ice.
WCHA officials reviewed the video tape of the game, and suspended the three referees for one weekend.
