Among the 14 main referees selected to judge Olympic ice hockey, there are two Swedes with the same last name, although they are not related: Mikael Holm and Christopher Holm.
– Enormously great and honorable to be chosen. “Since all the NHL players are there this time, it is the biggest tournament we are allowed to manage,” says the former, who officiated two World Cup finals in a row.
Although the Olympic Games take place on European soil, ice hockey is decided on a small ice rink. However, the regulations of the International Ice Hockey Federation apply – not those of the NHL.
However, Mikael Holm is convinced that it is the interpretation of different situations and not the rules themselves that make the most noticeable differences between the North American league and the international game.
– The International Hockey Federation almost killed the NHL rules when they created their rule book. On the other hand, people’s assessments of game-destroying elements vary somewhat. They are a little more eager than we are in Europe, he says.
Mikael has Holm in the toilet noted that players coming out of the NHL often have to adapt to the more permissive European refereeing judgments.
– They (the referees in the NHL) are perhaps a little stricter about possession and interference than we are.
– We work hard to track the intensity of the games in our ratings. It may be that they get a little more sent off for game-ruining moments than we do in Europe and Sweden.
Do you think it could be unusual for NHL players at the Olympics?
– Yes, I think so. Especially considering they have an NHL playoff just four days before the tournament begins. But they adapt very easily and most of these players have played big tournaments before.
A regular difference Otherwise, the penalty for fighting will be imposed. In the NHL, players who fight typically receive no more than a five-minute suspension. At the Olympics the punishment is harsher: five minutes plus a match penalty and possible suspension.
– Fighting is not in the DNA of ice hockey in Europe, but there. There is no room to fight. But I don’t have any major concerns that we will see it at the Olympics, says Mikael Holm.
You can’t take too much crap. Sometimes you have to stand up for yourself
NHL rules applied at last year’s Four Nations tournament. When the clash between Canada and the USA began with three early fights after the first drop, there were consequently no match penalties – although the penalty box was crowded.
Mikael Holm is convinced that we will not experience anything comparable in Milan. It will simply cost your team too much if a batsman receives a match penalty.
– It is clear that people can clash, but I don’t think we will regularly see determined fights like you can see in the NHL, says the judge and continues:
– In this case you will no longer be allowed to play – and may then be banned even further.
One that ended Florida’s Gustav Forsling found himself in a brawl in the last NHL game before the national team break. After receiving a series of shoves and punches from Tampa Bay’s JJ Moser, the Swedish Olympic defender responded by pinning the Swiss to the ice and throwing a series of punches.
– It just happened like that. Sometimes it’s part of sport, you’re just human. Sometimes it catches fire. I would say I was quite provoked by him. I tried to stay calm, but you can’t take too much shit. Sometimes you have to stand up for yourself, says Forsling and continues:
– Sometimes you see black and that’s what happened.
There are stricter rules against fighting at the Olympics. Are you going to hold back a bit here?
– Yes, of course. You have to follow the rules. Other than that, I don’t really focus on it. Fighting is not something I normally do. It is very rare.
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