Photo: The North Shore Record

The 14U championship held on April 5 in Chicago featured an apparent comeback victory for the Chicago Mission boys team, earning them the USA Hockey Tier 1 National Championship. The team (pictured above) celebrated their seventh title for Chicago Mission.

After falling behind 2-0, the Mission (green sweaters) raced back, scoring the last three goals of the game for the victory over Shattuck-St. Mary’s from Minnesota.

But was a third goal really scored? 

The call of the third goal for Mission confused the announcer, who (correctly) called the play a save by the goaltender, even from a significant distance away from the play.

A better view of the play would emerge on social media shortly after the game, clearly showing the goaltender making the save, and the official staring right at the play.

I still can’t believe what I’m watching. pic.twitter.com/cRCjMNFsC1

— Joe Gugino (@joseph_gugino) April 4, 2022’

The replies to the tweet are well worth the read.

The Shattuck-St. Mary’s goaltender looks simply stunned and confused after the play was ruled a goal by the nearby official.

You almost have to laugh at how bad the call was, but then you are reminded that there are kids involved. You gotta feel bad for the kids from Shattuck-St. Mary’s. It cost them a championship.

USA Hockey has yet to comment on the controversial “goal.”

By Jon Sorensen