There were so many excellent accounts of the weekend's games (Thank you Lee
and Walt) that I'll just add a few comments.
 
In Saturday's game, the refs as stated before were horrible. Ames appeared to
be the "head ref" with Buzzy being the assistant.
 
Tech had the Gophers' number from the get-go and it was too hard to climb out
of such a deep hole. Not doubting that they *could* have done it, but coming
from behind is getting real old here. Give me a 10-0 game any day of the week
over those sit-on-the-edge-of-your-seat ones!!!
 
From the overtime....
 
Bonin was *definitely* interfered with and a penalty should have been called.
If the refs think that they must swallow their whistles in a close game or in
OT then they should be reprimanded.
 
When Callinan's helmet/mask was knocked off by Mickesh, he was not pushed into
Cally by Dave Larson. I watched the replay and got it down to frame by frame
to see it!
 
This is the second time this season that I have seen Cally lose his
headgear.....maybe he needs to tighten that strap a bit. Gave the crowd and
his teammates quite a scare!! Poor Jeff Moen who had to come in cold to
replace Callinan.
 
What I want to know is why Woog didn't use his timeout to warm-up Moen?? There
was some discussion on the replay that they (NC$$) keep changing the rules
about whether you get a "free" warm-up of a replacement goalie when he comes
in for an injured player...but couldn't Woog have used his timeout to do it??
Might have made the difference, then again maybe not.
 
Sunday's game was *FUN*!!!! What a difference a day makes! :-) The refs were
better, although there were many calls on both sides that were missed. SO much
for interference being a priority call this year.
 
Aside from the refs themselves having to be consistent in their performance
during a game (or a series) I am disturbed that there seems to be such
inconsistency among all the refs in one league. I think they should all have
to pass a practical exam (much like a driver's license-you take a written and
a practical driving test) so that they all call the same way. Some use
wash-outs for dives, some just ignore them. What's crosschecking to one, is
roughing to another. I just want some consistency!!!
<climbing down off my soapbox>
 
I'd also like to state that I personally have no problem with any other school
recruiting Canadians. It makes good sense for schools like Michigan Tech and
Northern Michigan to recruit "up-North" as they are so close and recruiting
trips are short. *I* like to see the Minnesota schools, (St Cloud and Duluth)
recruit more Minnesota players than Canadians, but they do what they want.
 
I'm looking forward to the games this weekend with Michigan and Michigan State.
 Should be some great hockey!!
 
-Carol
GO Gophers!!!
 
Carol S. White                            BITNET: c-whit@uminn1
University of Minnesota        internet:[log in to unmask]
Office of the Registrar
(612) 625-8517                                    GO Gophers!!!