Net detective on the job in Kelowna

By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
KELOWNA — It was Chapter 2 in the WHL’s Great Net Caper here Saturday night.
The Kamloops Blazers, who discovered one week earlier in Chilliwack that the Prospera Centre net they were to defend for two periods was three inches left of centre, ran into a similar situation here at Prospera Place.
Moments after the national anthem punctuated the ceremonies prior to what was the Kelowna Rockets’ home-opener, Blazers goaltender Justin Leclerc spoke with referee Colby Smith about a problem he perceived in his goal area.
“The net wasn’t in the middle of the crease,” Leclerc, 19, said after the Blazers had dropped a 5-4 decision to the Kelowna Rockets. “It felt like it was in the middle of the ice to me but it wasn’t in the middle of the crease.”
The crease, according to Leclerc, was a bit too far to the right of centre.
“From the experience in Chilliwack,” he explained, “even though the net felt like it was in the middle of the ice, I made them stop the game and gave myself some time to figure out exactly what was wrong.
“The crease being a little bit off doesn’t make too much of a difference as long as the net was where it was supposed to be in accordance with the circles.”
A week earlier, on-ice officials in Chilliwack chose to remove the long pegs used to anchor the net, shift it over about three inches and use the short, sharp pegs that normally are used in practices.
In Kelowna, however, the problem wasn’t deemed to be serious enough to need any action.
“I don’t think any of these things are done intentionally,” Leclerc said. “Maybe it’s a mistake that someone who’s not a goaltender really wouldn’t think about. The blue line being out two inches, that’s not a big deal. So I don’t think they would think twice about the crease being out.
“But maybe the league should measure it out.”
Leclerc said all of this didn’t have anything to do with the game’s outcome.
“Having said all that, it really wasn’t a problem,” he said. “I was where I was supposed to be in my mind . . . but maybe it’s just something that should be looked into.”
The Spokane Chiefs meet the Blazers on Tuesday in Kamloops where things are lined up properly.
“I measured them and they’re fine,” Leclerc said. “Credit to the rink people there. They’re great.”
After Tuesday’s game, the Blazers journey into Alberta for games Friday (Edmonton Oil Kings) and Saturday (Calgary Hitmen). Attendants in both arenas, both of which are NHL facilities, should consider themselves forewarned.
“Now I’m going to measure them out,” Leclerc said. “I’ve never found this problem before.”
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca

(NOTE: Regan Bartel is the radio voice of the Rockets. Here's a related piece off his blog — "The game last night was delayed from starting when Blazers goaltender Justin Leclerc complained that the net wasn't properly centered in the crease. The off-ice officials looked at Leclerc's complaint, but frankly little could be done about it. I happened to walk down to that area of the rink after the game, and Leclerc's claims were true. The net isn't properly centered in the crease. While it's only about a puck length out, you can bet the ice crew at Prospera Place will have it properly centered for Wednesday night's game."