Jill Maser writes... >Question for the rule book folks: > >Last week someone (sorry, I forget who) asked: if two unrelated penalties >are called at the same time, do the teams skate five-aside? My original >reaction was: no--the penalties are not coincidental. Several emphatic >"yes" postings arrived before I could send in my answer, so I didn't. > >Last night I was sorta watching the Flyers-Nordiques game. After a Flyer >was checked from behind into the boards, "Wonder-boy" Koharski raised his >arm for the delayed call. When play finally stopped (I don't know if it >was due to the Nordiques gaining control, or the Flyers' Racine being >unconscious long enough) another Flyer hears Koharski's call for a 2-minute >roughing minor. Out of frustration, the Flyer took down the original >offender. A second 2-minute roughing call was made. > >The teams skated 4-aside. > >Are the rules different? Yes indeedy-doody. A couple of years ago, this would result in a 4-on-4 in college and a 5-on-5 in the NHL. But, they've flip-flopped. Now, the NHL takes two men (or women) off the ice for coincidentals but college doesn't. I prefer seeing 4-on-4's and even 3-on-3's, but I can see the argument against them in college hockey. IMHO, this favors the more talented team, and there is a larger variance in college than in the NHL with regard to talent level from team to team. For example, with no offense intended to the Irish: putting Michigan and Notre Dame in a 3-on-3 situation is almost giving Michigan a goal, maybe two. Keeping them at 5-on-5 favors ND, relatively speaking. Hence, I agree with the current rule. I don't want the game to be decided by 3-on-3 or 4-on-3 goals. Final note, back in the mid-80s the NHL was taking two men off for coincidentals, but Edmonton was killing everyone 4-on-4, so they changed the rule. At the time, staying 5-on-5 was known as "The Edmonton Rule." The NHL has since switched back. John H U Mich GO Blue! GO OILERS!