Hello again, <<<< regarding the offsides rule..... This is another mistake by the rules committee. The rules are there "interference" and "offside" - all the officials need to do is make the choice. Wait a minute the "new" rules that are being put into place are suppose to tighten up this idea of interference. Right ???? So, then the rules committee gives you the ides that its "O.K" to interfere at the blueine - just waive off the offside. Crazy. 2. A few years ago at the coaches convention in Florida at the tail end of another long (2 + hours ) of discussion on rules, Gino Gasparini stood up and said that in his opinion many rules are already in place for a great college game and all the game needs is competent officials to call what rules there are - in effect we don't need more rules , just better training and the people to call what they see. Every year when the "committee" adds more it effects the way the officials call the game for the first few weeks. Especially after they go to their clinic at the beginning of the season. Then they just ignore what they have been told and rely on the feel that they have for the game. 3. Beyond D-I hockey (D-II and III) the officials read too many of these rule changes and it really confuses them. 4. The verdict on overtime shootout was talked about at the convention - the experiment by H.E. and WCHA will give some insight to this idea for all college hockey. The opinion of some of the coaches is that it will add excitement. 5. last but not least.... on the blood issue. It's the sensible move - and I can't remember the "trainer's" name that said it won't happen - it has already in one of our games. A player had his chin cut open and he kept bleeding on the front of his jersey - a lot. We let him change jerseys because of it. In fact it was a Geneseo player - and Paul Duffy is there coach and he's secretary of the rules committee. anyway, keep all levels of college hockey in mind when you see these rules - not just D-I - many schools don't have doctors on site and some don't even bring athletic trainers on the road. that's long enough............. Brian Cavanaugh Canisius College Bitnet: cavanaugh@canisius