> Well, part of the problem is that there is no clearly defined way in which
> to award assists.  The NCAA rule book says, ...
 
I've always thought that the SIDs (maybe all of them!) were making up
rules when
 
o they tried to figure out the past 2 players to touch the puck and
 
o awarded no assists when the defense knocked the puck into their own
  net.
 
Here's a case that shows me the shortsightedness of the current defacto
rules ...
 
Last weekend, Maine's Bobby Stewart sped down the right side, beat the
defender, squared to the goalie, then looked at a teammate streaking
down the *other* side.  With what looked like a shoulder fake to the
teammate, Stewart snapped home a shot as the (excellent) NU goalie was
in the process of moving to stop the player on the *other* side.
 
That player on the *other* side did not touch the puck and was not awarded
an assist, but was as much a "part of the play" as anyone that has been
awarded one.
 
cheers,
 
Wayne T. Smith                 mailto:[log in to unmask]
Systems Group -- CAPS          University of Maine System
Co-owner of the College Hockey mailing lists
 
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