McKenzie Blog on TSN.com

[hockey&beer 16]

http://www.tsn.ca/blogs/mckenzie/?id=223380

I found this relatively entertaining. I really like the bit on the crackdown on hooking/holding/interference, it basically reads like a quote from Mickey Redmond.

“You could call a penalty every time there is contact if you went strictly by the rulebook,†Sinden said. “If someone says you have to call the game by the book, that person doesn't know what they're talking about. The idea is to strike a proper compromise with the rulebook. They're taking too stringent a view of it and I don't know if that's the way to do it.â€Â

Didn't somebody once remark that history repeats itself.

[eva unit zero 271]

http://www.tsn.ca/blogs/mckenzie/?id=223380

I found this relatively entertaining. I really like the bit on the crackdown on hooking/holding/interference, it basically reads like a quote from Mickey Redmond.

“You could call a penalty every time there is contact if you went strictly by the rulebook,†Sinden said. “If someone says you have to call the game by the book, that person doesn't know what they're talking about. The idea is to strike a proper compromise with the rulebook. They're taking too stringent a view of it and I don't know if that's the way to do it.â€Â

Didn't somebody once remark that history repeats itself.

One thing you are failing to recognize is that Sinden's attitude was WRONG, and led directly to the clutch and grab 90s where teams would commit obstruction penalties on pretty much every shift and rarely actually get called for them.

[hockey&beer 16]

I only through this up because of the NSH game where by the end of the game all of the players were scared to touch anybody and end up in the box. What it really comes down to is there is no consistency between the pairings of refs. I general, there probably are the same amount of "real" penalties that occur over the course of a week. But if you look at all the box scores there will be 3 games with 5 totals calls and then there will be games like Thursday with 20. Yes, human error blah blah blah, but all the refs go to the same meetings, read the same book, and have the same boss, so why such a noticable difference in the way a game is called?

[Hank 0]

One thing you are failing to recognize is that Sinden's attitude was WRONG, and led directly to the clutch and grab 90s where teams would commit obstruction penalties on pretty much every shift and rarely actually get called for them.

I whole-heartedly agree. The problem in hockey is that it's an extremely fast transition sport. And because of this there is no middle ground or gray area. It's like saying "she's a little bit pregnant".

Hockey players will take a mile if given half an inch.

While I get tired of seeing some of the ticky-tacky calls on some nights, the fact is, if the refs started officiating game based on how they feel it would take no longer than 7 days before the league looked like it did pre-lockout. And I for one want nothing to do with that kind of hockey. It was horrible.

I only through this up because of the NSH game where by the end of the game all of the players were scared to touch anybody and end up in the box. What it really comes down to is there is no consistency between the pairings of refs. I general, there probably are the same amount of "real" penalties that occur over the course of a week. But if you look at all the box scores there will be 3 games with 5 totals calls and then there will be games like Thursday with 20. Yes, human error blah blah blah, but all the refs go to the same meetings, read the same book, and have the same boss, so why such a noticable difference in the way a game is called?

In some cases you have to look if one of the teams was playing their 2nd game in as many nights or their 3rd game in a 4 day road trip.

They talked about this on XM204 and the stats were pretty telling. When teams were tired, there were a lot more penalties commited by that team.

Next time you see a game with a lot of penalties called, check to see if one, or both, of the teams was on the end of a long trip or 2nd game in 2 nights. Most of the time that's the case.

[Grittzkey 1]

Only call penatlies when they are blatant and not suger coated. makes sence to me.

[irishtemper14+25 11]

yea that was pretty cool, especially how different the money is....a guy like coffey not getting half a mil lol

[Kp-Wings 3]

My problem is the lack of judgement coming from the refs. If it's a definite hook or hold, then yes, call it. But I'm getting tired of these little stick taps from five feet away that result in a penalties. It's like the refs are all programmed robots, and once they see a stick touch another player they automatically scream "Penalty!". The whole point of the rule is if it's impeading a players progress, and half of the time, it isn't. Sometimes, the player doesn't even slow down, which is what makes it so stupid.

It's the same way with the delay-of-game rule by shooting the puck outside of play in the defensive zone. The refs should be able to determine if it was an accident, and if it was, don't call it. It's ridiculous how many times that weak ass call results in a goal from the other team, when more often than not, players do it by accident.

I don't want the game to go back to the clutch and grab days of the pre-lockout, but come on. There should be some sort of limitations on penalty's being called. There shouldn't be a penalty every time a player's stick leaves the ice and it just happens to touch an opposing player. The refs should make their own decisions on what is or isn't a penalty; not be forced to call everything that looks like penalty (even if it isn't) because their under Bettman's microscope.

Edited November 25, 2007 by Kp-Wings