The Clarkson-SLU game almost featured a very rare event.  About halfway
through the third period, with Clarkson leading 4-2, SLU's defenseman
Justin Harney was knocked down into the SLU crease and covered up a subsequent
Clarkson shot while lying there on his belly.  Clarkson's (?) Saper dove
in after (or at) the whistle and gave the prostrate Harney a wicked
cross-check to the back of the neck.  The referee (Harry Amian - one you
always notice) decided to give Clarkson a penalty shot for the covered
puck infraction and Saper a 5 minute major for the crosscheck (Harney
needing medical assistance to get up and find the bench).  Just for fun
he also gave SLU's other defenseman a 10 minute misconduct, probably for
ill-advised comments on the quality of Amian's officiating.   So far
nothing is too unusual and all the calls could be justified.
 
The interesting part was watching who Clarkson put out to take the
penalty shot - none other than the major penalized Saper!  They even
went so far as to have another player hold his spot in the penalty box.
Can it possibly be legal for a player who has just been hit with a
major penalty to be allowed to participate immediately in the game and
given a prime opportunity to score?
 
Fortunately for the Saints (as well as justice) Saper whistled his
penalty shot high and wide.  The Saints came back to 4-3 and Paul
DiFrancesco just missed getting the tying goal in the final minute on
a shot that slid by the post.
 
Robin Lock
St. Lawrence University
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