Pierre LeBrun reveals IIHF admission on controversial Czechia goal
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Daniel Lucente
Feb 19, 2026 (11:09)
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Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Pierre LeBrun says the IIHF admitted the missed too many men call on Czechia’s 3-2 goal, and Milano Cortina 2026 fans are furious.
The play is the one everyone replayed in their head all night. Six Czech skaters were on the ice when that third-period go-ahead goal went in.
LeBrun reported the IIHF reviewed it and acknowledged the miss. The message was basically: we saw it too, mistakes happen.
That’s the part that lands like a cold puck to the ribs. A single counting error can swing an elimination game.
The on-ice result didn’t get rewritten, even though the video is loud. Canada still had to dig out.
Nick Suzuki forced overtime with a late tying goal. Mitch Marner ended it in OT for a 4-3 Canada win over Czechia.
The IIHF also leaned on its selection process for officials. “Best of the best” is the phrase LeBrun passed along.
That’s true, and it’s still not comforting. Fans don’t want a résumé, they want a whistle.
Pierre LeBrun and the Milano Cortina 2026 pressure cooker
If you’re a hockey fan, you’ve felt that mix of relief and rage, happy your team survived, still mad the sport made it this messy.
The tactical part is simple: bad changes get punished, but only if the refs catch them. When they don’t, the defending team loses its chance to kill momentum.
Too many men is not the kind of detail you expect to slip at this level. That’s why the backlash hit so fast.
Now the tournament rolls on, even if the trust takes a dent. Canada’s next test is Friday in the semifinals.
For the IIHF, “regroup” can’t just mean moving on. It has to mean tightening the standard before the next goal decides a medal.
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| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 19|321 ANSWERS Pierre LeBrun reveals IIHF admission on controversial Czechia goal Should the IIHF change how a too many men miss is handled after Pierre LeBrun’s report? | ||
| Yes | 304 | 94.7 % |
| No | 17 | 5.3 % |
| List of polls | ||