Alte Herren » definitely enjoy this year better." Th

Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn.ca. Hello Mr. Fraser, With all the changes being made to increase scoring and offensive play in the NHL, why do the linesmen continue to stand on the outside of the blue line? This appears to create too many unnecessary stoppages in play due to offsides during offensive zone entry, where the puck is sent into the linesmens skates/legs and he has not enough time to react to allow the entry to proceed according to plan. I just checked online and what I found says they should be inside the blue line, but they seem to always be just outside (or at least I notice more when that happens, rather that when the chip in hits them and their arm doesnt go up because they are inside the line). Is it because in some rinks the glass starts at the blue line and they have to prop themselves up onto the ledge of the players bench to avoid being hit by the puck? Maybe these incidents tend to occur mostly in those rinks and not the ones where the bench extends further into the zone past the blue line. Thanks for reading!Rich Mandez Hi Rich: There are a few potential obstacles in the current NHL that the linesmen have to be aware of and overcome as they set up to make the correct call at the attacking blue line. - The removal of the center red line for the purpose of a two-line offside pass stretches the attacking zone all the way to the far blue line. - The enhanced standard by the referees to eliminate restraining fouls has created considerable speed through the neutral zone as teams transition more quickly on the attack. - Players are much bigger on average than any other era of the game, creating additional congestion on the ice. (Have you noticed the towering size of many of the current crop of linesmen as well?) - The "four-man officiating system" has added another body on the ice; one of which always leads the play by skating backwards into the attacking zone. Often his entry into the zone can be on the same side of the ice that the linesman making the off-side call at the blue line is positioned. - They are required to support their fellow linesman close to the foreword blue line in the event that he is bumped off the line and then must reverse direction quickly as the play transitions in the other direction toward the blue line that is his primary responsibility. Fast breaks can make this quite challenging. The bottom line Rich is that the linesman must do whatever is necessary to assume the very best position in order to see the puck cross the inside edge of their respective blue line ahead of any attacking player. This requires skating skill, speed, agility and athleticism which the NHL linesmen demonstrate on a consistent basis during every game! The "best position" is often obtained by sliding into the zone just ahead of the play and to gain an "unobstructed view" of the inside edge of the blue line. This inside position also allows the puck to cross the line cleanly without restriction by accidentally striking a linesman in the neutral zone as you suggest Rich. Once the puck enters the zone legally, the linesman is then required to immediately reposition himself outside the blue line in the neutral zone to prevent his body and skates from interfering with the pucks exit from the zone. In theory this sounds like a pretty simple process doesnt it Rich. In practice however, given the bullet point obstacles I mentioned and others I didnt, its not at all easy to accomplish. I am amazed at the close plays on the blue line that are almost always ruled correctly by the linesmen. These are the times we never even notice them. Often the only time we do notice the linesmen is on the rare occasion when the puck does hit them on dump or chip when they havent yet assumed that best position inside the zone through some unavoidable circumstance. When players gain the red line and pound the puck in their direction the linesmen are most vulnerable to being struck and even injured. They should avoid sitting up on the boards because from this position they are most vulnerable to being hit without any means of escape other than by being knocked into the players bench! I can assure you the linesmen do their very best to stay out of the way of the puck and flow of play but at times it just isnt possible. Perhaps your question here Rich will inspire the linesmen to work a little harder at gaining the most desired location inside the line whenever possible. The most creative linesman I ever worked with and certainly one of the very best of all-time is Hockey Hall of Fame linesman Ray Scapinello (inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2008). Ray was no giant at 57" tall but was lightning fast on his skates and earned the respect of every player and coach in the League. When Scotty Morrison hired 611" linesman Mike Cvik he paired him with the diminutive Scapinello in his first assignment in Toronto. Aside from the opportunity to learn from one of the best in Scapinello, Scotty demonstrated his sense of humor by putting Mutt and Jeff together in that game. When I was added to that tandem as the referee Scamp and I told big Honda not to stand near us for the National Anthem! Ray Scapinello read the play just as quickly as he skated and demonstrated a unique flair in making his calls on the blue line. Im sure he might have missed a call or two over his career because no one is perfect but I must confess I cant ever remember seeing him miss one in the many, many big games we worked together! Scamp would not only get inside the zone ahead of the play but on the close ones he would be down on one knee with his eyes set like a laser on the inside edge of the blue line. He did whatever was necessary to make the call. One time as players approached him with speed down the wall, rather than bump into the attacking zone I witnessed Ray jump into the players bench at the blue line to make the call;. The players seated on the bench had a stunned look on their face as Scampy made a washout signal from their side of the boards and then jumped back onto the ice once the attacking players passed by. Scampy always found a way to make the call from the best and most desired position. I am sure his advice to the current group of linesmen is to read and react to the play quickly and then move your feet to get in the best and most desired position to make the call. Ray Scapinello is without a doubt one of the very best linesman in the history of the NHL. Paul Millsap Jersey . But defending champion Elena Vesnina of Russia held off a strong challenge to beat Shuai Peng of China 6-3, 6-4, and there was another hard-fought victory for 2012 runner-up Angelique Kerber of Germany, who defeated Alison Riske of the United States 7-6 (6), 6-4. Cheap NBA Jerseys . Floundering in the English Premier League, United has delivered better performances in Europe this season and stunned Bayern by taking the lead against the run of play through Nemanja Vidics header in the 58th minute. Bayern had dominated possession but struggled to create a clear-cut chance before Schweinsteiger arrowed a half-volley high into the net in the 67th to give the German side a slight advantage ahead of the second leg in Munich next week. http://www.cheapnuggetsjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-allen-iverson-jersey . Both of Padakins goals came in the second period while Zane Jones added a single in the first period for Calgary (13-6-4). Hitmen goaltender Chris Driedger finished with 30 saves for the shutout. Cheap Denver Nuggets Jerseys . Josh Bailey had a goal and an assist as the New York Islanders earned a 2-1 win over Ottawa Wednesday, leaving the Senators five points out of a playoff spot with just five games to play and four teams ahead of them. Nikola Jokic Jersey . The 19-year-old Swiss centre back will initially have to impress in Uniteds reserve side to earn a spot in the first team. Veseli says "Manchester United has a long history of younger players coming through and hopefully I can follow and do the same. SOUTHPORT, England -- One year later, Inbee Park is still chasing history at the Womens British Open. Instead of trying to win an unprecedented fourth straight major, Park has a chance to become only the seventh woman to win four of the LPGAs majors. Instead of photographers capturing her every move at St. Andrews, the 26-year-old South Korean has gone about her work without fanfare at Royal Birkdale. That changed Saturday with a remarkable start, and a late ruling that put Park in the lead. On the tough opening stretch at Royal Birkdale, she ran off three birdies that sent her to a 4-under 68. Then, Park went from a one-shot deficit to a one-shot lead when Ahn Sun-Ju was penalized two shots after her round for building a stance in the bunker on the 18th hole. "I definitely enjoyed it last year," Park said. "But this year has just been a little bit different. Last year I enjoyed it and having pressure and experiencing something I never have experienced before. If I end up winning tomorrow, Ill definitely enjoy this year better." The 18 holes remaining could be a sprint among a dozen players. Park had a one-shot lead over a pair of major champions -- Suzann Pettersen of Norway (68) and Shanshan Feng of China (69) -- along with Ahn. Julieta Granada (72) and Amelia Lewis (71) were another shot behind. Ahn appeared to be the player to catch after what she thought was a 69 for a one-shot lead. She was summoned to the rules trailer, where officials determined she used her left foot to build her stance in a pot bunker left of the 18th green. Ahn was assessed two shots for violating Rule 13-3. Her par turned into a double bogey. Her 69 became a 71. And she went from a one-shot lead in the final group to having to make up ground against Park, the LPGA Tours reigning player of the year. "Its disappointing, but its my mistake and I have to follow the rules of the game," Ahn said through an interpreter. "I still have a day to go and I have to stay focused and try my best tomorrow." The penalty also created a wide-open final round at Royal Birkdale. Park was at 4-under 212, though 12 players were within three shots of the lead. One of them was Charley Hull, the go-for-broke English teenager who made ninee birdies early Saturday for a tournament-best 66 that suddenly put her into contention to become the youngest major champion in LPGA Tour history.ddddddddddddShe was at 1-under 215. Also in the mix was Mo Martin, the 31-year-old American done in by a four-hole stretch on the back nine that sent her to a 77. She also was at 215, along with former U.S. Womens Open champion So Yeon Ryu, who made one bad decision and one bad swing, both leading to double bogey. Ryu had a 74. Defending champion Stacy Lewis had a 70 and was three shots behind. Park has been virtually ignored all week, a big difference from last year. That could be about to change. "Yeah, I start to feel a little bit of pressure from now and tomorrow," Park said. "But Id rather be having the pressure than not being in contention." Ahn took the outright lead with a 25-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole, and was poised to stretch the margin. Her penalty on the 18th actually began with a photographer who took a sequence of pictures at the top of her swing on her second shot. She caught it heavy and pulled it left, into the bunker, as she and her caddie looked back to see who was the culprit. She blasted out of the sand and over the green, and did well to get down in two putts. Only later did officials determine she had built her stance. She said the ball was on the slope of the bunker and it was hard to make a stance. "So what I was trying to do was fix a stance," she said. "But after the review, it was determined that I used my feet to try to make an even lie. My intent wasnt to break the rules. It was just to set my feet firm in the sand just to be able to make the shot. But thats the rule. There was no intent and I cant do anything about it." A one-shot lead is next to nothing in golf. Three shots can disappear quickly. And what could make this Womens British Open go down to the wire is the finish at Royal Birkdale -- three par 5s over the last four holes. "You can make a double so quick on this golf course that youve just got to keep hanging in there," Lewis said. "I you get in trouble, get out, and just stay patient. If you make a bogey, its OK because youve got some par-5 finishing holes here." 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