Apparently, Clarkson coach Mark Morris was not pleased with the officiating
of John Gallagher and John Melanson in last night's semifinal game.
 
In the Watertown Daily Times, Morris was quoted as saying, "Year in and year
out, we're going to crack down on things and year in and year out, the whole
focus changes at the end of the year. I don't mean to sound like sour
grapes but it's fact. Year in and year out, when you go by the rules that are
written in the rule book and when playoff hockey comes around, you
play by a whole new set of rules. It's not fun. It's embarassing and I
feel strongly about this."
 
The Times reporter wrote, "Clarkson's leading concern was with RPI's
physical style around the net. Clarkson goalie Jason Currie was knocked
onto the ice several times, including a blindside shot by Tim Regan after
the whistle blew, one that was called."
 
In my personal opinion, I disagree with Morris. All in all, the officiating
was decent.
 
Granted, RPI's first power play was questionable. RPI took a few cheap
shots in the Clarkson zone, no penalty; when RPI broke out the ref called
a penalty on a play similar to one of the cheap shots ignored in the RPI
zone.
 
However, I think the physical play was pretty evenly distributed.
Clarkson took as many cheap shots as RPI did. They took as many,
if not more, liberties around Little as the Engineers did around
Currie.
 
Often times, on both sides, a forward would stop near the goalie
who covered up the puck. A defenseman would shove or cross-check
the guy into the goalie. Then a whole melee would ensue and the goalie
assumes it's the other team's player's fault. Granted, the goalie probably
couldn't see the cheap shot by his teammate but naturally a shoving
match would ensue anyways.
 
Little was in front of me for two periods and, again, Clarkson took at
least as many liberties with him as RPI did with Currie. Several plays,
which appeared to be cheap shots, were actually caused by the shove of
a Clarkson defenseman, which Morris might not have been able to see.
 
Morris was quick to give RPI credit, though, "RPI deserved to win. They played
exceptionally hard... and played like they had something to prove."
 
***************************************************************************
Bri Farenell                                     Clarkson '95
[log in to unmask]                 Glens Falls High '91
AHL and NCAA contact for rec.sport.hockey        Go Erin Whitten (GFH '89)!
Adirondack Red Wings, AHL Calder Cup Champs: '81  '86  '89  '92
Bri's Hoops Final Four picks: Arizona, Michigan, Kentucky and Florida.
        "It's a great day for hockey."  ---Bob Johnson