The ECHL’s Fort Wayne Komets saw their season come to an end in controversial fashion: on a disallowed goal.
The Komets saw their potential game-tying goal in Game 7 waved off due to goaltender interference. A deflected shot by Oliver Cooper beat Cyclones goaltender Beck Warn, but the league felt he was interfered with just prior by Sam Dove-McFalls. The late goal was overturned.
Joe Ernst, ECHL Senior VP of Hockey Operations, joined hosts Justin Cohn and Jacob Stoller to discuss the play on the “THN on the E” podcast:
“As soon as he makes contact with the goaltender… where you see his glove was over to his left,” Enrst begins. “He gets his left shoulder – where the goaltender is in his crease, and the goaltender is not initiating contact – that’s where the contact comes into play on that goal.”
Check out the video for the complete explanation, which includes Ernst’s admission of another goal earlier in the series that should have been disallowed — but wasn’t.
“The last think the officials want to do is have a controversial goal or a penalty that shouldn’t have been a penalty,” Ernst added, regarding ovetime calls. “Then it’s a power play goal and the game is over.”
Cincinnati hung on to win the game 1-0, claiming the series and advancing to the next round of the ECHL’s Kelly Cup Playoffs.
