Tainted goal stands; Wranglers can clinch

Nick Christensen

Tuesday, April 13, 2004 | 9:45 a.m.

A mistake was made, but play on.

That was the message Monday from ECHL commissioner Brian McKenna, who conceded that a contested Wranglers goal in Friday's 3-2 Las Vegas win against the Idaho Steelheads probably never crossed the goal line, but said that the league will not grant Idaho's request to replay the remaining time of Friday's game after the disputed goal occurred.

With 11:13 remaining in the third period Friday, Idaho led the Wranglers 2-1. Ryan Christie's shot deflected off the left goalpost, went across the red line, then bounced out off the right goalpost. The goal judge, a local volunteer, hit the goal light, but referee Chris Ciamaga waved off the goal and told the teams to play on. The Steelheads went on to score to go up 3-1, but Ciamaga conferred with the goal judge and awarded the tying goal to Las Vegas.

McKenna and the league agreed that the Wranglers goal should not have counted, but said that without the benefit of in-game replay, nothing else could be done.

"We've reviewed the entire situation, and the result stands," McKenna said. "The goal stands for Las Vegas, it was a 3-2 win, and they have a 2-1 lead."

It was a disappointment, but not a surprise, to Steelheads president Bill Waller.

"We knew that it would be a pretty Herculean task to have something like that overturned. We felt that it was certainly worthy of consideration, it's not the result we would have liked, but we're willing to accept what league has to offer and need to move on," Waller said.

Even Wranglers coach Glen Gulutzan was sympathetic.

"I've been on the other side of the coin," Gulutzan said. "I've played in a game where we've won, and with a ruling we've ended up losing. It doesn't feel good for Idaho. I don't feel good about it, but at the end of the day, that's hockey."

Waller was hopeful that at the very least, some ECHL procedures might change to allow for more review.

McKenna also said that it's possible that in the future, reviews could be available to officials to determine whether goal calls were accurate.

"I think as a result of this, we'll look into that for the future," McKenna said.

McKenna also said that the goal judge who made the call, as well as referee Ciamaga, will likely not work again in the Idaho-Las Vegas series.

The series could end tonight at Boise. With a win, the Wranglers can advance to the second round of the ECHL playoffs, to face the Alaska Aces. A Steelheads win would force a fifth game Wednesday night at the Orleans Arena.

Gulutzan seemed to be frustrated with the team's performance after three games.

"I'm less concerned about the result -- obviously, we'd like to win and end the series -- but I'm less concerned about that," Gulutzan said. "I need the team to show me they're willing to play playoff hockey, they're willing to do ugly things to get things done."

The team got mixed news over the weekend, aside from Saturday's loss. Defenseman Jon Krall was put on the injured list, as was center Morten Ask, who had just come off the injured list Friday.

But defenseman Deryk Engelland and forwards Justin Kelly and Garrett Bembridge all were sent down from Lowell.

"I hope they make a big contribution," Gulutzan said. "I think they could bring some energy and confidence to guys that could be lacking that right now. Boise's gotten two players back as well. I'm just hoping we can as a group come out and play good hockey."