Recall last year's Hockey East experiment with 25 min halves? This year's big HE idea will be a two referee, one linesman officiating crew. One ref positioned at the goal line, one at the offensive blue, and the linesman at the red watching for icing, offsides, etc during transitions. This doesn't seem as likely to excite controversy as last year's innovation - at least not until the losers in close games begin complaining about inconsistancies or no-calls. The ECAC tried this several years age (before there was a HE), but I don't recall the linesman being part of the crew. It died because of a suspicion that refereeing became an Alphonse and Gaston act with each referee deferring to the other who might have a better view of the possible offense. We'll see if HE can make it work this time around.