The semi final round of the Hlinka Gretzky Cup featured a clash for the ages at
 Rogers Place in Edmonton, as Canada and the United States saw their under-18
national teams battle for a spot in the gold medal game. But controversy
surrounding a late tying goal will likely loom large over Canada';s thrilling
6-5 overtime victory.

Canada finds the back of the net as time expires and the officials rule it a
good goal to send the game to overtime. #HlinkaGretzkyCup
pic.twitter.com/hrvbsKSbmI

- TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 11, 2018

Trailing 5-4 with the clock running down, Canadian forward Dylan Cozens took a
pass from Bowen Byram in the slot and fired the puck towards the net. The shot
beat American goaltender Dustin Wolf to tie the game at 5-5. The only problem?
Television replays appeared to show that the clock had already run out before
the puck crossed the line.No Review Means A Good Goal

Upon reviewing the broadcast replay, TSN commentator Gord Miller explained:
"It';s a goal. It shouldn';t be, but it';s a goal." The other TSN broadcaster,
Craig Button, added: "We have clear evidence that it went in after time
expired." With no mechanisms available to them to review the play, the on-ice
officials ruled it a goal and sent the game to overtime. Canada';s Josh
Williams scored his second goal of the game at 1:44 of overtime to win it for
Canada.

"Prior to the competition, at the directorate meeting, it was decided there
would be no video review because the three venues being used don';t all have
that capacity," said Hockey Canada president and CEO Tom Renney, via TSN.ca.
"In the best interest of consistency and fairness throughout all three venues,
it was decided by all teams - and signed off on - that the officials on the ice
 would make that call, as they did tonight.Lethbridge Hurricanes star Dylan
Cozens tied the Hlinka Gretzky Cup semi-final game, but not without some
controversy. (Robert Murray/WHL)

Alexis Lafreniere, Jamieson Rees and Xavier Parent had Canada';s other three
goals. Nick Robertson had a hat trick for the USA, with Aaron Huglen and Luke
Toporowski adding the other American goals. Canada advances to meet Sweden in
the gold medal game, while the USA meets Russia for bronze.A Tournament';s
Growing Pains

The Hlinka Gretzky Cup is in its first year in Canada as part of a multi-year
partnership that also sees the event in Canada in 2020 and 2022. The games have
 been played at Rogers Place and Edmonton Community Arena in downtown Edmonton,
 and Servus Arena in nearby Red Deer. As a National Hockey League arena Rogers
Place has full replay capabilities, but the other two arenas reportedly do not.

It';s worth noting that none of the European arenas that hosted the prior
installments of the Hlinka Grezky Cup reportedly had replay capabilities,
putting the 2018 edition on equal footing with others in the history of the
tournament. However, the increased exposure of the event as it has moved to
North America - including games broadcast to a prime time audience on national
television (on TSN in Canada and the NHL Network in the United States) - has
brought along with it increased scrutiny.

Undoubtedly there will be a post-mortem of the tournament';s strengths and
weaknesses following its conclusion and the dramatic semi-final finish will
likely play into it. It';s a shame that such a situation may hang over the
tournament, as it';s really nobody';s fault - the players on both teams played
admirably, while the officials were constrained by the rules that the
participating teams all agreed upon. It remains to be seen whether any changes
will be made to goal reviews, either for the 2019 edition back in the Czech
Republic and Slovakia or 2020';s return to Canada.

The post Controversy Mars Canada';s Hlinka Gretzky Triumph appeared first on
The Hockey Writers.

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