Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn. Jerseys Cheap Basketball .ca! Hi Kerry, I have a question regarding the "in-person hearings." The public is only ever told that a player has been "offered an in-person hearing", and rarely is the actual process discussed. I was wondering, what actually happens during one of these hearings? How much dialogue is there between the player and the NHL officials? From an outsiders perspective, it seems like the league has its mind made up, but has to invite the player simply because they want to issue a suspension longer than 5 games. Any insight into these closed-door meetings would be interesting to hear! Thanks! Ryan SteevesOttawa, ON ----- Hi Kerry, Max Lapierre on Dan Boyle - Obviously, that garbage has no place in the NHL. The ensuing fights, hits (Brent Burns for instance) and the injury - clearly someone needs to put their foot down. My question is - did the officials on the ice handle that properly? How many games does he sit? Sadly, Im not sure if Brendan Shanahan will give a stiff enough penalty to Lapierre and it could allow dirty players to continue doing this with a fair trade-off in their minds. That being said - my last question: Has the NHL ever asked you to head up the Department of Player Safety and would you (though I would be sad to see it since this column would have to go away)? Always hated it when you were the ref since you actually called the rules by the book and actually did a good job! I would love to see you in that position - I feel a former referee plus players advising is more appropriate way to structure that department. Cheers (and thanks for always doing a great job as a Ref), Zach Karabat Ryan and Zach: Thank you for your questions. Zach, you can bet the farm that I wont be included as a member of the Player Safety Committee let alone heading the department so have no fear, youll be able to keep reading Cmon Ref! Likewise, Ryan it would be totally inappropriate for me to speculate on what takes place through the discipline process that Brandan Shanahans office is responsible for; either through a telephone interview with the player or by invitation of an in-person hearing. What I can share with you however is a firsthand account of player hearings that I was required to attend. The format of player hearings changed a number of years ago when Brian Burke became the Vice President of Hockey Operations. Burkie was not only a lawyer but as a former General Manager and good hockey man determined that hearings could often be conducted by telephone for convenience/cost without the physical presence of the player or the Referee who called the penalty. When I began my NHL officiating career Clarence Campbell was the league president. Mr. Campbell was a Rhodes Scholar and a lawyer similarly to all his successors that have held the position, including current Commissioner Gary Bettman. Mr. Campbell was also part of the Canadian Army prosecution team at the Nuremburg trial of Nazi war criminals. The reason I mention this is because Mr. Campbell was a stickler for detailed report writing. He and his designee, Vice President Brian ONeill (responsible for supplementary discipline) insisted on the Officials writing independent detailed reports when game misconducts and match penalties were assessed in the event a player hearing was required. The Referee was always compelled to attend the hearing to provide evidence and be questioned on his report. The hearing was the players "day in court" and he and often appeared with his team General Manager. They were able to plead their case and speak on the charges levied against him. Unlike today, some games might not have been televised and no footage was available of the incident so the Referees report became a very important component in the proceedings. In most hearings the player attempted to diminish what had taken place and lay blame to his opponent or even the Referee. I have also seen situations where the player showed true remorse and appealed to the goodness and mercy of the court. I want to share the bizarre details of one hearing I attended just to give you a glimpse of how creative a players line defence can be. On March 23, 1983, I assessed a match penalty to Dave "Tiger" Williams of the Vancouver Canucks for breaking his stick on the back of Washington Cap defenceman Randy Holts head. Tiger used the fact that the game was not televised to his advantage in the emergency hearing that was called by Brian ONeill. It was the best defense I ever heard in a hearing. Going into the game in the Cap Center Randy Holt, trailed Tiger by a couple of penalty minutes for the league lead in that department. Patrik Sundstrom, a skilled rookie, bumped into Holt in the corner by accident. The Caps tough guy threw down his gloves and started pummeling the Swede. I was close by and witnessed Tiger charging from the blue line with his stick held in a cross-check position straight for Holt who was facing the end boards and doing a number of Sunny. I stepped in front of Williams and like a crossing guard held my hand out signaling - Stop! There was stopping Tiger and I stepped aside as Williams shattered his stick shaft on the back of Randy Holts helmetless head! The next day at the hearing in the Toronto office, Brian ONeill read my report (no video remember) and asked Tiger if he had anything if he had anything to say in his defence. For the next 15 minutes, Tiger talked about hunting grizzly bears with a bow and arrow and turning them into rugs. The essence of his defence was that he only got one shot at a charging grizz and had to make it a kill shot; thats why he only uses "aluminum arrows" - kills em dead! For that very reason its why Tiger said he used a "wooden" hockey stick because they break real easy unlike aluminum. If he had hit Holt with even the slightest force using an aluminum stick he wouldnt have gotten up! Tiger then used me as his defence witness by referring to my report which said Holt did not fall down after being struck my Williams stick. We walked out of that hearing and I said, "Tiger, thats the biggest load of horse---- I have ever seen shoveled at one time." With a big grin on his face he replied, "You know, I think he went for it. I couldnt believe Holt didnt go down, because I really hammered him." The only punishment Tiger Williams drew was an automatic two-game suspension that came with accumulating game misconducts. Tiger was a character as well as a big-game hunter. The Referees assessed the correct penalty to Maxim Lapierre (major for check from behind and game misconduct) and the players fate is now in the hands of the Player Safety Committee. I know one thing for sure - Maxim Lapierre, Brent Burns and all the other players leveling dangerous hits on their opponents arent hunting grizzlies! This recklessness has to stop... Cheap Nike Indianapolis Colts Jerseys . -- Dwight Howard vs. Jerseys Cheap Online . 1 and No. 2 in womens golf at the World Ladies Championship. Park closed with a 6-under 67 for a five-shot victory over Suzann Pettersen in a Ladies European Tour event.MILWAUKEE -- Up-tempo Oregon ran into a big red speed bump. Joseph Young scored 29 points but missed a potential game-tying 3 from the wing with 13 seconds left, and the Ducks watched their 12-point halftime lead crumble in an 85-77 loss Saturday night to gritty Wisconsin. Ben Brust hit a 3-pointer with 1:07 left for the second-seeded Badgers on a possession saved twice by offensive rebounds. It gave Wisconsin (28-7) the lead for good in a clash of styles played before a boisterous pro-Badgers crowd at the anything-but-neutral Bradley Center. "The momentum switched there pretty quick. It kind of boiled down to us not getting stops that we needed to, and then with the one-point lead late, the ability to get a big rebound," Oregon coach Dana Altman said. Traevon Jackson followed Brusts 3 with three free throws, but missed one with 21 seconds left to give the seventh-seeded Ducks (24-10) one more chance to tie trailing by three. Oregon gave it to Young, who had made big shots all night. Couldnt make one more, and the Badgers sealed it at the foul line. "That shot he took, no one questioned it," Oregons Richard Amardi said about Young. "It looked good. Unfortunately it just didnt go it in when we wanted it." The red-clad fans erupted into a deafening roar. Their beloved Badgers are back in the NCAA regional semifinals for the first time since 2012. They will play Baylor or Creighton in Anaheim, Calif., on Thursday. "We knew they were going to come out and be emotional," Altman said. "We just didnt handle it very well. Gave up easy baskets and didnt get the stops we needed at all." Frank Kaminsky led the way for Wisconsin with 19 points, Jackson finished with 16 and Brust had 12. Left off-kilter by the Ducks transition game early, the Badgers hustled back in the second half to answer the Oregon charge. After 19 points on the break in the first half, Oregon had nothing in transition after halftime. "Do you know how many fast-break points they got in the second half? Zero," coach Bo Ryan said. Jerseys Cheap Baseball. "Oregon, one of the quickest teams in the country, so youve got to give the players a heckuva lot of credit." That pace played more their liking. Buckets in the lane by Kaminsky, a jump-shooting 7-footer, and coach Bo Ryans gritty guards set the tone inside, and later helped open up the perimeter. As had often happened during the night, Young had an answer. His 3 from the wing with 2:50 left to give Oregon a 75-74 lead. The Badgers grabbed offensive rebounds on their next possession. Off a timeout, Ryan re-inserted Brust, who was saddled with four fouls. The senior delivered in a huge spot with a 3 following an offensive rebound by Sam Dekker. Young couldnt deliver one last time. "Do whatever it takes to not make it your final game," Brust said. Jason Calliste had 20 points for Oregon, which set the tone early with in-your-face defence and an aggressive offence. Wisconsin found its groove by attacking the basket, a plan that has worked all year long when the team has been having problems. Dekker added 12 points and eight rebounds in another typically balanced effort. In the first half, it was Oregon dictating tempo in setting a breakneck pace. The Ducks quieted the sea of fans in a hurry, attacking on offence at nearly every opportunity and flustering Wisconsin. The frustration peaked when the Badgers bench was whistled for a technical foul near the end of the first half after arguing a call. Oregon pounced in the first 20 minutes. Sometimes it was Calliste driving to the bucket to draw fouls. Other times it was Young hitting mid-range jumpers. Then Wisconsin found its way in the second half. "To be able to handle that smack in the face in the first half and come back and deliver one of our own says a lot about this group," Ryan said. Despite the disappointing ending, Oregon had regrouped quite well since a midseason stretch of eight losses in 10 games. cheap nfl jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '