In tonight's nonconference game between Air Force and Merrimack, the
referees as assigned were Mike Tuell and Jim Villandry - two linesmen
who were getting a shot at wearing the orange armband.  Fans who are
still confused by the coincidental minors rule change this season can
take heart, because Tuell and Villandry were confused by it tonight as
well.
 
With Merrimack ahead 6-4, penalties were assessed at 14:14 of the
third period.  Merrimack's Rob Beck was being called for a
high-sticking minor, and after the whistle, a scuffle between Beck and
USAFA's Stephen Maturo resulted in additional offsetting minors to
each for hitting after the whistle.  No one else was in the box at the
time.
 
This should have been an easy call.  The offsetting minors cancel and
Beck's extra minor goes on the board for a 2:00 5x4 USAFA power play,
right?  Not tonight.  Tuell and Villandry conferred for several
minutes about the matter, and they still got it wrong.  All three
penalties were put on the board, 4:00 for Beck and 2:00 for Maturo.
Both teams' coaches even got into the act as well as the official
scorer, trying to correct the situation.  But the referees were
adamant in their decision, which everyone else in the rink knew was
not right.
 
The teams proceeded to play 4x4 for 2:00, after which Maturo returned
and USAFA had a 2:00 5x4 PP.  In the end, no goals were scored and
USAFA still got its power play.  But this was a situation that every
official is supposed to know.  Quite odd.
---                                                                   ---
Mike Machnik                                            [log in to unmask]
Cabletron Systems, Inc.                                    *HMM* 11/13/93