Bob Strong writes:
>     I haven't noticed anything on the net about Hockey East using
>two referees per game.  One thing the change seems to have done,
>in my opinion, is reduce grandstanding by the linesmen.  "Drop the
>puck" cries are fewer, and the game progresses quicker.
 
Of course, grandstanding by referees hasn't decreased any (can you say
"Steve McBride"?). :-)  I do think the point about the rule requiring
centers to be tossed out if their teammates try to cheat into the circle is
a good one.  I have seen much less jostling of opponents on draws and
players aren't moving around as much as they used to, which allows linesmen
to drop the puck more quickly.  Lots of those folks who yell "Drop the
puck!" don't seem to know much of what they're talking about, anyway.
 
Steve Kapetanakis, who was at the BU-Lowell game with me tonight, suggested
that the change has resulted in poorer calling of offsides and icings since
one of the referees now has to pick up the slack, and I think he may be
right.  That seems to be something that they'll need to work on; one BU goal
tonight seemed to have come on an offside play.  But I think this may be
more due to the individual officials because I have seen certain pairings
where the lines were called well.
---
Mike Machnik    [log in to unmask]   Color Voice of the Merrimack Warriors
(Any opinions expressed above are strictly those of the poster.)    *HMN*