Allison may snub all-star game

Dave Allison doesn’t want to make a big deal of things, but he’s not about to take his punishment lying down.
The Borderland Thunder head coach was suspended by the SIJHL for four games for verbal abuse of an official after receiving a game misconduct and then a gross misconduct for his actions following the Thunder’s 2-2 tie with the Fort William First Nation Wolves here Saturday night.
As he left the ice, Allison said he told referee Andrew Brewer that he had refereed “a [expletive] brutal” game, and then repeated that sentiment outside the officials’ change room a short time later.
“The refereeing has not been up to standard the last two games this guy has done for us,” Allison said about Brewer, who also was the referee in the Thunder’s 5-3 loss to Dryden here last Tuesday night (Jan. 21).
“We’re the least penalized team in the league,” Allison added. “We haven’t received a bench minor all year. Our kids play hard from whistle to whistle.
“I talked to Byron McGrath [the SIJHL’s referee-in-chief] after the Dryden game about [Brewer], and the guy comes out and does a worse job the second time,” he fumed.
Dryden had a 7-3 advantage in power plays over the Thunder in their game last Tuesday while the Wolves held an 8-4 cushion in Saturday night’s contest.
During that game, the Thunder had to kill off a two-minute, two-man advantage, a five-minute major for fighting that the Wolves managed to avoid on the play, and a double minor for hooking and unsportsmanlike conduct to captain Josh Baxter late in the third.
When interviewed after the game, Allison was enraged at what he felt was a double standard being employed by Brewer.
“It’s frustrating when you’re getting slew-footed and butt-ended every time you turn around,” said Allison. “You could have thrown a saddle on [A.J.] Tucker in the last minute of the third the way the Wolves were riding him.
“Don’t we have an obligation to protect the health of the players? The league may not understand that, but I do,” he stressed.
As head coach of the first-place Thunder, Allison earned the right to be behind the bench for Team West during tonight’s SIJHL all-star game at the Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay.
But Allison said yesterday it was no certainty he would join the seven Thunder players who are participating in tonight’s game.
“I’m going to the league meeting before the game, and I want a clarification of what I got the gross misconduct for,” said Allison. “I think one game, maybe two, for what happened would have been sufficient.
“But a suspension is a suspension. If they tell me four games, then I consider the first game to be the all-star game,” he added.“ They can’t pick and choose which games they want me to serve the suspension.”
And if the suspension stands up, Allison said his radar will be on full alert for the rest of the season.
“If I hear another coach or a player from the other team bad-mouthing the official, then I want them suspended for three or four games, too,” he demanded.
Allison admitted he shouldn’t have done what he did, but said ultimately, league officials can’t be so sensitive to criticism.
“All I’m asking is that they grow a thicker skin,” he stressed. “Referees have a very difficult job, but there has to be discretion. When they screw up, they should stand up and say so.”
When contacted at his Thunder Bay home last night, Brewer refused to comment on the matter, directing all inquiries to McGrath.
McGrath also didn’t comment on the specific incident, but said he directs his officials always to maintain the highest standard of conduct while on the job.
“Andrew was as professional as he always is,” said McGrath. “Dave Allison and the other people connected to the team have only themselves to answer to.”
McGrath added Allison’s statements about referees needing to be more open to criticism, and that the Thunder were being unfairly treated by referees, were “fairly redundant.”
“He just got a suspension, so obviously he thinks the referees need a thicker skin,” McGrath said. “When it comes to his team, he’s supposed to be biased towards his club. That’s what he gets paid for.”
McGrath noted officials, coaches, and general managers need to adopt a stronger attitude of mutual consideration.
“It’s paramount that we have respect for one another to make sure the league continues to develop,” he stressed.
SIJHL president Jerry Blazino also declined to comment on the incident, other than to say it was a “confidential league matter.” He also said he still expects to see Allison behind the Team West bench tonight.
“I haven’t officially been told he’s not going to coach it, and so at this point, I’m assuming that he will be coaching the game,” said Blazino.
Then he added, jokingly, “If he doesn’t, I guess I’ll have to take him out back and go a couple of rounds with him.”