Garrett Lanzy <[log in to unmask]> writes:
>
> >    0 Determined that an altercation is concluded when the referee
> >    enters the referee's crease or, in the absence of penalties, signals
> >    a face-off location (Rule 6-14-e)
>
> So a fight will magically end when the referee enters the ref's crease?  :-)
> I know what they mean, but their wording is somewhat humorous.
 
I would bet anything that this was clarified because of the controversies
over several captains being ejected when the referee considered them to
have been leaving the bench to join an altercation, while the players were
supposedly just going out to talk to the referee and find out what was
going to happen.
 
The problem is that the referee doesn't know what the intent of the player
is.  Sometimes a player leaves the bench during an altercation at the end
of the ice and stands there waiting for things to cool down so he can skate
over to the referee, but the referee sees him leave the bench while the
altercation is going and hits him with a penalty.  The rule as formerly
worded does specifically prohibit any player from leaving the bench at all.
 
This is a big deal because the penalty carries a game disqualification with
it and thus a suspension.  And usually a team's captains are its better
players.
 
I think that the original wording of the rule indicated the NCAA's desire
to stop players from coming off the bench but did not account for captains
coming out to talk to the referee, which is a normal occurrence.  The new
wording makes it clearer and now teams will know to keep their captain on
the bench until the proscribed end of the altercation.
 
WCHA ALL STARS
 
This is unusual (for hockey) because the team will not be representing a
country and does include underclassmen.  It is also coached by an NCAA
coach.  As such it falls under the rules for a foreign tour -- somewhat.
Note that the roster does not include more than four players from any one
school -- a school is allowed to send up to four players on such a team but
if more than four were to go, then that school would be charged with the
use of its once in four years foreign tour exemption.  (17.30.2.1)
 
I believe that the players are not charged with a foreign tour appearance
-- meaning that the WCHA (or any other league) could do this each summer if
it wishes and send some of the same players again.
 
---                                                                   ---
Mike Machnik                [log in to unmask]               *HMM* 11/13/93
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