Mar 9, 2014 4 min read

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Nobody lost – and two teams were declared winners – after a marathon, seven-overtime high school ice hockey state championship game in Ohio.

Cleveland St. Ignatius and Sylvania Northview fought through regulation and seven overtimes tied 1-1 Saturday.

Then, according to the sanctioning Ohio High School Athletic Association, both head coaches, school administrators and the OHSAA decided the game at Nationwide Arena would end in a tie because of concerns about player safety for the two worn-out teams.

There is no shootout procedure in Ohio high school hockey.

David Marsh had a championship-game record 77 saves for Northview (17-13-2) in the longest title game in state history. Dylan McKeon had 31 stops for St. Ignatius (30-4-6).

Referee arrested: A Connecticut youth hockey referee faces a breach-of-peace charge after he ejected a player from a game and personally escorted him off the ice, angering many parents and players.

Police were called to the Champions Skating Center in Cromwell Saturday by onlookers worried the game for 13- and 14-year-olds was getting out of control.

Police said the 55-year-old referee, Stephen Levins of Rocky Hill, called a match penalty and ejected the boy from the game. They said the referee then went near the team’s bench to physically escort the player off the ice.

Authorities said teammates and parents took offense to the physical contact and tried to confront the referee.

Levins also faces a charge of risking injury to a minor.

Caps’ Kuznetsov to debut against Penguins: Newly signed Washington Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov is set to make his NHL debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight.

A crowd of about 50 gathered at Kettler Capitals Iceplex Sunday to watch as the 21-year-old Kuznetsov skate for 40 minutes with head coach Adam Oates and strength and conditioning coach Mark Nemish.

He went through a brief shooting regimen and performed a few drills along the boards before signing autographs and speaking to reporters.

“Every hockey player wants to play in the NHL and wants to win the (Stanley) Cup,” Kuznetsov said. “It’s my dream to play in the NHL.”

Kuznetsov was a first-round draft pick by the Capitals in 2010. He played five seasons for Traktor Chelyabinsk in the KHL.

He has long been considered one of the top prospects in the world and joins the Capitals in a playoff race. Washington is one point outside the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.

“Every guy on the team wants to win the Cup – wants to play playoffs,” said Kuznetsov. “I watched every guy yesterday (vs. Phoenix). Everyone wants to win every game, every time, every minute.”

Since being drafted, there was some uncertainty as to whether Kuznetsov would ever leave Russia for the Capitals. The young phenom terminated his contract with Traktor Thursday and flew into Washington Saturday to sign a two-year, entry level contract.

General Manager George McPhee indicated Saturday the plan was to insert Kuznetsov into the lineup tonight.

N.Y. Rangers 3, Detroit 0: Henrik Lundqvist earned his 300th NHL victory and 49th career shutout in the New York Rangers’ 3-0 victory over the Detroit Red Wings Sunday.

Lundqvist made 30 saves in shutting out the Red Wings for the second time this season, as New York completed a three-game season-series sweep of its Original Six rival. The Swedish goalie is one win shy of tying Mike Richter’s franchise record of 301. He caught Rangers great Ed Giacomin for the club mark in shutouts.