With Rich going to RPI games for 4.5 years, it's pretty amazing that he
hasn't seen Pierre Belanger give out a penalty for a player looking at
him wrong.  Pierre has been know to misconducts on a player for giving
him lip service.  If Ivan Moore's penlty was the only one of this type
this year, then Belanger has much improved in this respect.  Just go and`
ask any Cornell fan about Pierre lecturing players.
 
There has seemed to be a lot less negative comments about the referees this
year, especially since the beginning of the year.  When I was watching the
Olympics, the CBC announcers made a comment about how people shouldn't
complain about the NHL refs after seeing those for the Olympics.  The
Canadian team didn't like Makela at all, he is a poor skater and tends to
lag behind the play.  The Canadians were glad to have the US ref for the
semi-final game.  He would let them play a more physical type of game.  I
think that McCorry from Canada did a fine job as well.  It has got to be
pretty tough with all of the Europeans, the Czechs especially, diving on
the ice left and right.
 
Mike Zak
Clarkson '87, '90