‘Consistently brutal’: Hockey watchers confused by goalie interference call against U.S.

A key goal for the Americans was called back after Canada requested video review for goalie interference midway through their world junior hockey championship semifinal on Tuesday in Halifax.

Canadian goalie Thomas Milic made the initial save on a shot by Luke Hughes as American Jackson Blake was driving to the net. Blake picked up the rebound, spun around and made contact with Milic’s head or shoulder in the crease before he put the puck in to tie it at 3-3.

Blake also appeared to be shoved by Canadian defenceman Owen Zellweger.

Canadian coach Dennis Williams challenged the call and after a lengthy review, referee Anssi Salonen called the goal back.

According to rule 69.1 of the IIHF rule book, “Goals should be disallowed only if:(I) an attacking Player, either by their positioning or by a “relevant contact”, impairs the Goalkeeper’s ability to move freely within their Goal Crease or defend their goal; or an attacking Player initiates intentional or deliberate contact with a Goalkeeper, inside or outside of their Goal Crease.”

Very quickly, ‘ NO GOAL’ started trending in Canada on Twitter.

Several minutes later, Joshua Roy scored for Canada to give the home side a two-goal lead.

Here is a sampling of some of the reaction to the call on social media.