I appreciate the view from the referees here, but I think we are
picking nits a little when you come down on the ref because he didn't
blow the whistle the second the hand closed on the puck.  It was a huge
moment in the game and I am sure the ref (who is human, some people say
refs are sub-human, but I am giving the benefit of the doubt here) had
to hesitate a second too on the magnitude of the call.

-Deron


--- james acheson <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> there are 2 rules which do not work together.
>
> closing thehand on the puck is an immediate whistle...
> once a player closes his hand, WHISTLE... do not give him the chance
> to throw it.
>
> then there is the monor for delay for throwing the puck.  the only
> way a player gets that is if the ref is asleep at the wheel
>
>
>
> [log in to unmask] wrote:
> In a message dated 4/12/2004 10:01:59 AM Eastern Standard Time,
> [log in to unmask] writes:
>
> Re: Deron's mention of penalties that had to be called.
>
> the ref actually gave Maine a gift, and a huge one with the delay of
> game call.
>
>
> I agree with Deron--it was a penalty that should have been called.
> The player didn't bat the puck forward, which would have been legal,
> he closed his hand on the puck and threw it forward, which is a
> penalty.  In addition committing a technical violation of the rules,
> the player's action gave his team an advantage because he threw the
> puck out of the zone.  That transformed a "let the players play
> hockey" non-call into a penalty that had to be called.
>
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