Gallant Sounds Off On Officiating

Gerard Gallant is fed up with Quebec Major Junior Hockey League officiating.

After last night’s 5-3 loss to the London Knights, the Saint John Sea Dogs head coach sounded off about the officiating during the post-game press conference.

Via Loose Pucks, Buzzing The Net, and a bunch of other media outlets, here is what Gallant said.

"I watched the penalties. Our discipline — I've been complaining all year. I've been in the Quebec league for three years and I've been complaining for three years about us getting the short end of the stick and I'm tired of it. I really am. Tonight it was again, how does Huberdeau get a penalty at the end of the game for four minutes for roughing? I watched that Gauthier. Just give me a break. I'm not taking anything away from London. They were the better team. But I'm so tired of that. That frustration at the end of the game, I don't want to do that. But I'm tired of it.
 "And that's not just tonight's game. That's all playoffs too ... you can check the numbers."

Gallant received a bench minor late in the third following the double minor to Huberdeau. Those penalties ended any chance of a Sea Dogs comeback with just over two minutes left in the contest.

The Canadian Hockey League has yet to announce if Gallant will be fined for his comments.

As Sunaya Sapurji points out in her article on the situation, three of the four officials – referee Jonathan Langille and linesmen Stefan Capano and Jay Doiron – were from the QMJHL. The other referee, Pat Smith, is from the Western Hockey League.

Despite London getting eight man advantages, they able to score on just one of them. Saint John scored two shorthanded goals.

Photo Credit: Marc Henwood/Station Nation