The state of the reffing in the WCHA is in bad condition because the leadership in the WCHA is terrible. The incident with Schmidt just exposes it more and brings it to the surface. The fact that the decision affected a Big Ten School makes it even more glaring. Can you imagine if that incident had happened to the WCHA bench mark school? There would be a $#!t storm bigger than the one that happened with Wisconsin. Remember what happened when the AR made the right call?
If Sheppard and McCloud were gone I think that would be the first step in improving the league, clean house and get rid of the dead weight. Randy Schmidt would be gone immediately after his last gaff. I also don't know why the NCAA and the various leagues can not call the games like the NHL, it should be a no brainer. There shouldn't even be a discussion on calling the game like they do in the NHL, I personally don't care if some of the teams can't keep up under the NHL rules, it would be betterment of the game. If any thing I think the reffing in the WCHA is causing this parity and I would be willing to bet that a lot of the coaches don't want the games called like they are in the NHL because they couldn't compete under those rules. I also think if the games were called that way the NHL games are you would see the seperation that some of the other leagues have like the Cup Cake Hockey Association. I think others have mention the EZAC, CCHA and HE call the games more closely to the NHL than the WCHA. The Sioux like one person mentioned do a lot of obstruction because they can get away with it and they would have some adjustments to make as well. I shouldn't have to watch a player like Oshie get hack, whack and high sticked when he is in the offensive zone. That type of crap shouldn't have to be accepted as being part of the game. Can you imagine if Sidney Crosby had to put up with that in the NHL? It isn't acceptable in the best league in the world the NHL is shouldn't be acceptable in the best college hockey league.
It is time for the status quo to no longer be accepted.