The Western Hockey League.Tthe Moose Jaw Warriors as they were left searching for an answer from the Western Hockey League after their weekend ended with a controversy play on the shootout winning goal scored by the Everett Silvertips on Saturday night.

The team felt that goal shouldn't have counted after Manraj Hayer lost control of the puck entering the zone and had to retrieve the puck against the boards before going in and beating Justin Paulic.

Rule 25 of the WHL Rule Book states: “The puck must be kept in motion towards the opponent’s goal line and once it is shot, the play shall be considered complete... any time the puck crosses the goal line or comes to a complete stop, the shot shall be considered complete.”

The WHL's interpretation of the goal however is that the officials made the right call in allowing Hayer to continue his attempt after losing the puck as the puck never stopped moving towards the goal.

“A player can skate past the puck, come back and get it, as long as it still stays in motion, or as in this case it went off to the side and the player went out and picked it up and it was still in motion,” explained Kevin Muench, director of officiating with the WHL, during an interview with DiscoverMooseJaw.com.  “So it's legal for him to retrieve it, go in and take his shot.”

Muench added that there's nothing in the rule book concerning the side boards and as long as the puck continued moving towards the goal, the play should have counted.

The Warriors didn't feel that was the case and thought the shootout should have continued.

After the game, the Warriors remained on the bench looking for an explanation from the officiating crew, which included referees Curtis Marouelli and Jon Stephenson.  Muench said the officials have the choice to go over and speak with a coach after a game, but felt that they relayed the point through captain Sam Fioretti.

“It's certainly at their discretion,” said Muench.  “Sometimes it's good to be going directly to the bench, other times the officials have to weigh the emotion of the situation to see if they should go over there or if it's volatile.  I know they tried relaying a message through the captain back to the bench and that was the route they were trying to take.”

Not getting a chance to speak with the officials left the Warriors coaching staff and players looking for answers after the game and into Sunday.

“I phoned coach Stothers and spoke with him (Sunday) morning, just to make him aware of (the WHL's ruling),” said Muench.  “So I did have a discussion with him on (Sunday) morning.”

The Warriors will now have to move past the what could have been and on to the now with their US Division road trip continuing on Tuesday in Seattle against the Thunderbirds.  They've picked up one out of a possible four points so far.