I can't point to any one call that I thought was outrageously bad (though of course I don't know exactly what was said for the unsportsmanlikes and the bench minors). Still, this felt like an overcontrolled game to me. I personally hate games with too many power plays; they're too static, too much perimeter play, and lack end to end action. I think that the fact that there were unsportsmanlikes called, and the fact that BOTH coaches ragged on the ref were indications that the game was called too tightly for a national finals game. However, to give credit where it's due, didn't Noeth ref one of the semis? I don't remember feeling that he overcontrolled the game. Actually, the fact that I'm not sure it was him means that I didn't notice who the ref was, which is a good sign. I thought the best reffed game that I saw in this year's tournament was Michigan/UNH. There were only two penalties called. Of course, it's possible that there were calls that were missed. But the signs of a game that's called too loosely -- e.g. escalating chippiness, increasing levels of clutching and grabbing -- didn't seem to happen. So I assume that either the ref controlled the game without giving penalties, or the teams played a disciplined game, and there weren't penalties to be called. If it's the former, I congratulate him for being able to control without sending guys to the box, and if it's the latter, then I congratulate him for not feeling that he had to call penalties, even if they weren't there. I think the ref was Schmitt. Is he a WCHA guy? Clay > -----Original Message----- > From: Andrew Weise [SMTP:[log in to unmask]] > Sent: Sunday, April 04, 1999 10:10 PM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: anyone impressed with Noeth? > > After watching ECAC games religiously for the past 5 years, > Noeth has risen to become the top ref in the league. He's done > an excellent job of knowing when and when not to call a penalty > and (IMO) has clearly shown everyone that he's the boss. He's > also been the ref in the past two championship games in Lake > Placid (1998 & 1999), so the ECAC has taken notice. I can't really > think of any other ECAC ref that has been better. > > Andy Weise > SUNY Potsdam '93 > Union College '95 > > HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to > [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List. HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.