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Report: Coach’s challenge to be part of World Cup

Mike Babcock

Mike Babcock

AP

The coach’s challenge made its NHL debut last season and provided its share of controversy (click here and here) and criticism (click here, here and here).

And yes, the coach’s challenge is part of the upcoming World Cup of Hockey, too, as per a report from Puck Daddy at Yahoo Sports, quoting NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly.

More from Puck Daddy:

This is a significant change from other IIHF events, as the challenge system that debuted in the NHL last season will be used in international competition. “There will be Coach’s Challenges and they will be decided in the same way as in the NHL,” said Daly.

That means reviews on offside calls and goaltender interference on goal-scoring plays will be up for review, with on-ice officials reviewing the plays.

All other video reviews outside of the challenge system – like plays reviewed to determine if a goal was scored – will be handled by the Situation Room in Toronto, with NHL-only personnel making the calls.

The coach’s challenge was discussed at the general manager’s meetings in March, while it was still in its initial campaign.

But despite its share of controversial moments throughout the season -- one such issue was on goals scored from potential goalie interference infractions deemed as “50-50" judgment calls -- the concept was met with positive reviews from some league GMs.

“If you look at the big picture, we’re in a better place than we were a year ago. The whole point of the coach’s challenge was to try to get rid of those ones that are egregious. I think we’ve accomplished that,” Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman told ESPN.

“In the process, you talk about every single thing, but at the end of the day, it’s a judgment call, and we’re not going to agree on everything because it’s not definitive, it’s not if the puck went over the line.”