At 11:42 PM 11-12-2004 -0500, Mark Lewin wrote:
>Forthe first and second period and part of the third, it appeared as if
>Union wanted this game more than RPI did.  ... They played more of a
>"western" style hockey than I've ever seen them play.

Yup.  What was it Red Berenson said in Detroit some few years
back?  "Aggressive hockey is back in town!"  From my seats in Section 2,
Union looked like the real deal.

>The only thing that kept RPI from tying the score was the defense's
>ability to clear the puck out of the slot and not give up rebound shots
>and good goaltending by Kris Mayotte. ... He made few spectacular saves
>because he didn't need to: the few rebounds he gave up were immediately
>swept away by his defense.

That plus the fact that RPI wasn't shooting on net.

>The officiating was "interesting" tonight.  I, personally, am in favor of
>the NCAA rule changes to try to reduce the clutching and grabbing and to
>open up the game more.

Agreed

>  I, too, am sick of watching games with no flow because of all the "new"
> penalties being called but I attribute that to the coaches and the
> players who know the rules have changed but continue their obstructionist
> play and then are surprised when they're called for it.

Agreed.  Remember twenty odd years ago, when the new fighting penalties
went in?  It only took about 2 games, and the associated automatic
suspension, for people to get the message.

>They did have an obstruction cross checking call.  Now, c'mon. Cross
>checking is a penalty but it's not obstruction.

The one I really like is Obstruction /Interference/.  Tautology, anyone?

>The only controversial calls of the evening actually went in RPI's favor.
>RPI's second goal (or maybe it was the third) was scored on a power play
>after Union got called for a trip behind the net. It was a legitimate
>tripping call but Union coach Nate Leaman was livid because of two
>no-calls just prior to that. RPI was guilty of boarding and holding, both
>of which were seen by one or more officials but no call was made.

That's Alex Dell - consistently inconsistent.

In general, however, I think that the officiating this year has been pretty
good.  However, does anybody else think that the linesmen are underperforming?

>And, despite a large Union contingent at Houston Field House, I'm pleased
>to say that not one orange was thrown onto the ice after Union goals.
>Hopefully, that nonsense is over once and for all

That may have as much to do with the netting behind the endline and in
front of most of the visiting fans in Section 1. <grin>  That and it may
also have to do with the security checks.  But you're right - it's a
pleasant change.


Joe
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