> At the AHCA Convention in Naples, Fla. last month, coaches were asked
> about various aspects of their jobs with these results:
 
> . . .Which ref would you
> want in an NCAA championship game: Frank Cole (Hockey East), Rob Hearn
> (ECAC), Greg Shepard (WCHA), Matt Shegos (CCHA). . .
 
I have not seen Shegos or Hearn enough to make any comment on them,
but I was *very* impressed with the job Shepard did in the NCAA
tourney this past year.  He was extrememly consistent, quick to admit
if he made a mistake, and generally a credit to college officials.
 
(I know someone out there will tell me he blew some call back in
January that cost someone a game, but I am talking overall.  I agree
with his selection as he stood out as one of the best refs I have
seen)
 
It is no secret to the list that, overall, although Cole did not have
as good of a season as usual, he is still, IMHO the best ref in Hockey
East.  Not to always defend him, but I will still argue (and have
argued with friends) that the *horrific* officiating job that was done
in this year's championship game was due to Leavitt and not Cole.
 
If you understand how the mechanics work, the unexplainable non-calls
almost always occurred when Leavitt was the ref "in deep" and thus
responsible to make the specific calls.  Cole was just put in the
unfortunate position of then trying to make all the calls from bad
angles and still trying not to step on Leavitt's toes.  I will
argue that Cole was NOT being anti-BU or pro-Maine, it was only
Leavitt who was behaving questionably.
 
I know Cole has gotten somewhat of a bad reputation by many observers
of that game, but I think he is being unfairly assocciated due to
the embarrassing job Leavitt did.
 
To the BU fans:  It was Leavitt, not Cole who became too personally
                  involved and anti-Parker.
 
To the non-HE fans:  Please don't judge Hockey East officials by that
                      game.  Cole really is good, he was just paired
                      up with the worst. (for reasons I don't quite
                      understand)
 
 
Well, to repeat, I strongly agree that Shepard and Cole belong
there.  They have earned it.  Although I have not seen the other
two enough to properly judge them, I am sure, based on the selection
of Shepard and Cole, they deserve it.
 
 
Tony BU'92'93
Former Ogre
 
PS - I am also very glad that they recognize the best officials
each year.