The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Annoyed Stars coach opens fire at referees
ICE HOCKEY: Pacha says bad calls have cost team five goals in four games
Dundee Stars head coach Omar Pacha expressed his frustration with Elite League referees after more controversial decisions went against his side at the weekend.
Following a 2-1 defeat at home to Coventry Blaze and a 4-2 loss in Yorkshire to Sheffield Steelers, Pacha’s side slipped to the bottom of the table.
In four losses on the bounce, each game has had a goal decision that went against the Stars. Pacha said: “First of all, I am getting really annoyed with the refereeing. I mean that’s five goals in four games that we lose for bad calls.
“We are a team that’s a bit fragile on confidence and when you allow five goals in four games, it will hurt any team, and it all started against Cardiff.
“It is frustrating when you work so hard and you don’t get rewarded but there are things we did wrong this weekend and need to correct. If you look at the overall standings, it’s probably not reflecting the team we have but it is what it is, so we just move on.”
The Canadian coach doesn’t think the quality of officiating is improving in the Elite League. He said: “Are they doing the job well?
“They are not. That’s what the simple reality is – and we are not doing the right things as a league.
“We can get these calls right but the problem is right now we are not, and when we are not getting the calls right then unfortunately it won’t help any scenario.
“You can write up all the systems you want, you can do anything you want, you can tell the players this, you can tell the players that, but the reality is, if you’re getting calls constantly against you – and that’s five in four games – it is going to affect you.
“Over the last four games there were eight points up for grabs. We got zero and there were five goals that should have gone our way.”
The Stars boss believes it is more than just the referees to blame, as his side had other failures they need to address. He added: “Against Coventry it was a 1-1 game and we allow a PK (penalty kill) goal.
“That’s not the ref’s fault, that’s our fault. Coventry were a defensive team and we knew if we were able to contain them defensively, we might not allow many goals. We worked a lot on defence and we didn’t concede any five-on-five goals but then we have one situation where we are on the kill and have a chance to put the puck 200 feet deep and we don’t.
“Then we have a situation where we are on the powerplay and allow a short-handed goal. They are easy and avoidable goals.”
Making sure the Stars are not cast further adrift of the rest of the league is the main immediate aim for Pacha.
He said: “I’m not happy with where we are at in this moment of time but when you watch our team on video, there are certain aspects of our game that need to be better. As a team we need to play a better structured five-man game.”
The Stars are back in league action on Friday night away to Belfast Giants before hosting Glasgow Clan on Saturday evening.
The reality is, if you’re getting calls constantly against you – and that’s five in four games – it is going to affect you. OMAR PACHA