WCHA refs limited to camera angles they see

FSN has seven different camera angles it can show its viewers on goals, said Jeff Byle, the station's executive producer.

It has two hand-held cameras, a third by the Zamboni, a fourth robo-camera over the other goal, and a fifth between the benches. Then it also has the two camera views the referees see -- the overhead camera over each goal and the center-ice camera.

So that's seven possible views of every goal.

"We would certainly allow it," said Pyle, asked if FSN would let WCHA officials to view all its camera angles on questionable goals.

The NBA uses FSN cameras to see if a basketball player was on the line or if a shot left a shooter's hands in time.

The issue with the WCHA seems to be that not all 10 arenas are alike in the number of cameras they have.

So the WCHA, in the interests of equity it seems, limits the camera views its referees can see at some rinks.

"It's a technical thing where our replay is a stand alone system."

Kevin Pates of the Duluth News-Tribune wrote on his blog that eight of the 10 WCHA rinks offer only overhead views of goals.

The WCHA has had instant replay since 2005-06. Refs go over and check a monitor by the scorer's table.

McLeod said the technology has not been set up at Mariucci to allow refs to see all possible replays.

That may have cost the Bulldogs a goal on Saturday, Nov. 21. Halfway through the third period, with the score tied 202, freshman D-man Wade Bergman of UMD was tripped and slid into the goal. He said later he got his stick on the puck and pushed it into the net past goalie Alex Kangas.]

Hopefully this helps explain to TV viewers why refs make some strange calls. Those at home get to see more angles. Now that's really strange.

WCHA UPDATES

* St. Cloud State goalie Dan Dunn is not making the trip to Alaska Anchorage this weekend. He has a lower body injury.He was apparently hurt in a collision in the crease in the Huskies' 3-2 victory over Denver. Dunn hopes to play again when SCSU plays CC on Dec. 11-12.

* Wisconsin has received a commitment from 5-11, 170 defenseman Jake McCabe who plays for the U17 national development team in Ann Arbor, Mich., according to a Wisconsin State Journal blog post. He will join the Badgers for the 2011-12 season. The Gophers, North Dakota, UMD and Notre Dame were among schools who had showed interest in him.

* Three Badgers will be invited to the minicamp in Grand Forks which will determine who plays on the U.S. team in the World Junior Championships. The three are sophomore defenseman Jake Gardiner from Minnetonka, sophomore center Derek Stepan from Hastings and freshman defenseman John Ramage.