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It seems the officials overlooked a critical moment in the game.
The Olympic referees, already facing criticism from Czechia following their 4-3 overtime defeat against Canada in the Men’s Ice Hockey quarterfinal on Wednesday, apparently missed a crucial call. Late in the third period, Czechia had six players on the ice when they scored what was then the go-ahead goal.
Despite being thoroughly defeated by Canada in a 5-0 preliminary round match last week, Czechia appeared set to turn the tables on the North American team. Ondrej Palat’s goal, scored roughly 52 minutes into the match, gave Czechia a 3-2 lead.
However, Canada responded swiftly, with Nick Suzuki scoring a goal to tie the game at 3-3 and push it into overtime.
The Canadian victory was sealed by Mitch Marner, who scored just two minutes into the extra period.
With the Canadians now looking ahead to Friday’s semifinal against Finland at the Milano Cortina Games — not to mention Sidney Crosby’s status after exiting Wednesday’s game early due to a lower-body injury — star Connor McDavid said Thursday he’s “upset” the team didn’t catch their opponent’s extra player.
“I’m upset we didn’t see it either, but everybody’s on the bench watching the game and none of us saw it so refs didn’t see it, nobody saw it seemed like. Gad that it didn’t cost us our tournament, with that being said we definitely gotta be more aware of what’s going on out there,” the Oilers’ capatain said, according to TSN.
The International Ice Hockey Federation [IIHF] reviewed the moment in question and recognized errors can occur — even after a “thorough process” to vet the officials for the Olympics.
“An IIHF spokesperson today said they reviewed it and obviously saw what we all saw, there was a missed called there. The IIHF says they went through a thorough process to select the on-officials for this tournament, the best of the best are here. But mistakes happen. The spokesperson said everyone involved has regrouped and are focusing on the rest of the tournament,” Canadian hockey insider Pierre LeBrun posted Thursday on X.
Czechia coach Radim Rulik railed against the officials postgame Wednesday.
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“The referees really worry me. What they’re allowing against us is unacceptable,” he told the media, according to a translation. “After every game, we send them two or three clips where they confirm that the opponent should have been penalized. I don’t understand it. I just don’t get it.”
Rulik took exception to a play, also in the third period, when Canada’s Devon Towes appeared to hook Martin Nečas in the neutral zone before a breakaway.
“I watch two NHL games on replay every single day,” Rulik said. “The play Necas made today — when his stick was touched on the breakaway — is always a penalty in the NHL. But suddenly, not here. I’m really sorry about it. The guys deserved a top-level performance from the referees.”
In addition to Canada and Finland, the U.S. and Slovakia have also advanced to the semis.
The winner of Friday’s semifinal games will face off in Sunday’s gold-medal clash, while the bronze-medal game is set for Saturday.