Championship Hockey Game Goes 109 Minutes, Eight Overtimes, Ends in Tie

Faithful LBS reader Denny was lucky enough to have been broadcasting Michigan Division 1 State High Championship game on Saturday. Marquette and Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (pictured together, above) dueled for 109 minutes on the ice, spanning eight overtimes, before the high school athletic association declared the two co-champions. The boos were abundant after the announcement was made, though some, including Denny, maintain the correct call was made.

One of the goalies in the game said both teams deserved to win. That’s great in terms of sportsmanship, but aren’t most athletic competitions supposed to have a resolution? I have to think that had it been my baseball team in the state finals playing an extra inning game, I wouldn’t care if it went 30 innings, so long as someone won it. I don’t think I could ever make that sort of concession in the spirit of competition. In poker for instance, sometimes they agree to chop a pot when they’re going back-and-forth, but that’s when different amounts of prize money are involved. When it’s a pure athletic competition like this, I would think the teams should play until one of them won the game. I’d be curious to hear what most of the players thought about the stoppage.

Also check out Christmas Ape’s take on the game at Deadspin.