Major Overtime Sabotage Leaves NCAA Furious

It was late Saturday night in Amherst, and the fierce Hockey East rivalry between UConn and UMass had pushed both programs to their absolute limits.

Sudden death overtime is supposed to be decided by crisp passing and solid execution from the guys actually wearing the sweaters.

Someone operating the Mullins Center game ops clearly had an entirely different agenda for the ending of this dramatic matchup.

Just as the Huskies crossed the blue line to set up a potential game-winning shot, utter chaos took over the building.

The deafening UMass goal horn inexplicably started blaring right in the middle of the offensive rush.

Less than a second later, the electrical power was completely shut off. Six skaters and two goalies were instantly plunged into absolute darkness.

We are talking about Division I athletes skating at top speed being completely blinded without any warning whatsoever on the ice.

You rarely see a malfunction this poorly timed in local beer leagues, let alone during a critical NCAA conference showdown with massive postseason implications.

Legitimate home-ice advantage usually involves dealing with a hostile student section and fighting through relentless physical pressure along the boards.

It absolutely does not include arena staff pulling the plug on the electricity to bail out the home team defensively.

The reaction from the visitor's locker room was immediate and justified fury. The coaching staff rightfully demanded answers from the officiating crew immediately.

Player safety is instantly compromised when the lights drop. A minor collision in the dark could easily result in a devastating injury.

The NCAA must launch a serious review of the arena protocols today. This level of home cooking crossed a very dangerous line.