Ref conflict of interest controversy in Minnesota prep hockey playoff

Sports organizations are always trying to eliminate the whiff of impropriety that radiates from conflict of interest. And that takes a lot of Febreze when you have, say, a son playing in the league you’re governing or if, say, your wife works for the high school in the championship game you’re officiating. 

The latter case might not seem so contentious, but the Minnesota State High School Hockey League is dealing with some backlash after it played out in a Class 1A semifinal game last Friday at Xcel Energy Center.

Warroad and St. Paul United played in a semifinal game, which St. Paul United won, 4-3, thanks in part to three power-play goals. Overall, nine penalties were called against Warroad, and just two were called on St. Paul United.

Here’s the rub, according to the Star Tribune: Mark Arriola, one of four officials working the game, is married to an employee at Visitation, one of the two private schools that feeds players to St. Paul United – which, again, had a two penalties called vs. their opponents’ nine.

The controversy was amped up with Bill Kronschnabel, coordinator of hockey officials for the Minnesota State High School League, said Arriola was responsible for recusing himself from the game and didn’t. While Kronschnabel doesn’t belive the game was “compromised,” he said Arriola would not have worked the game if he had been cognizant of the fact that the official’s wife worked for the school. “It’s our policy not to put officials on games if there is even the appearance of conflict. I’m not real happy,” he told the paper.

When Warroad coach Dave Marvin was told about the potential conflict of interest, he was … not pleased. “It’s the high school league so I have to be positive and sportsmanlike, right?” he said. “It’s a shame. I think all the penalties took away from a really good game.”

Now, if “conflict of interest” fears can be stretched to include the fact that someone’s spouse works for a school – not as a coach, not as a trainer, but a communications manager – then perhaps the problem is with those who assume professionals are unable to be professional because of said assumed “conflict.” It’s not the first time this has happened, we imagine, but it might be the first time it’s happened and nine penalties were called on an opponent. Which is why it’s an issue.

Well, that and Kronschnabel calling it into question, in a roundabout way. But that’s policy.

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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at [email protected] or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.