Congratulations, Greg Shepherd. You've been complicit in creating an environment in which it's open season on Abbey Murphy. You have refused to hold your referees accountable for not calling penalties committed against her. Yes, she commits a lot of penalties herself, and it's justified that they are called on her. But they have to be called both ways, and your employees have conspicuously failed to do so.
Tonight, it produced exactly the outcome anyone who was paying attention knew it would.
With five minutes left in regulation, Klara Hymlarova slew footed Murphy into the boards. It should have been a major penalty, but it ended up being coincidental minors, since Ella Huber picked up a penalty for coming to Murphy's defense. In fairness, Huber earned her two minutes, but if the referees would ever do their jobs, she wouldn't have had to.
With fifteen seconds left, C.C. Bowlby drove her shoulder through Murphy's head on a face off play. Finally, finally, the refs called a major penalty. But it's too late. Murphy likely has a concussion. This could have been prevented, if your operation wasn't grossly negligent.
I blame Hymlarova. I blame Bowlsby. I blame goon coaches like Brian Idalski. I blame Tyler Olsen and Glendon Seal. But, in the end, this is on you. You are the one who has the job of making sure that the rules are followed and that the game is as safe as hockey can be. You have manifestly failed to do your job.
This isn't new. It's been obvious for years that you instruct the officials you lead not to call the game as they have been instructed to do by the NCAA. That you think that this is what you should do is an indication that you are unfit to hold the position that you do. You are one of the most useless ************* in the entire sport of hockey. The WCHA needs to fire you and start over.
