Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn. Cheap Hockey Jerseys Authentic .ca. Kerry, Long time reader, first time writer. My question to you from Tuesday night is regarding a hooking call that referee Dan ORourke made late in a tie game between the Blackhawks and Wild (4:35 remaining in 3rd period) on Wild forward Erik Haula. Patrick Kane was dangling along the blue line and Haula, with one hand on his stick behind Kane, tried to move it along Kanes stick to knock the puck off of it. Kane basically gave up on the play, threw his hands up in a questioning manner and pouted about having a stick placed upon his. Kane went on to score on the ensuing power play. Many similar and more egregious hooks, holds and other infractions were not called earlier in the game. In my opinion the standard had been set by the referees for what type of game was being called. Why was Kane allowed to embellish and not called for that, and a why was a new standard of officiating introduced so late in the game? Thank you for thoughts and I really enjoy and appreciate all of your insights and stories. Respectfully, Aaron Lapensky Minnesota Aaron: Thank you being a long time reader and especially a first time writer. I didnt see the game so am unable to comment on the standard of officiating presented throughout. I will provide you with my take on the hooking infraction that was called on Erik Haula, in addition to a philosophy of common sense officiating that is generally accepted by the hockey community. There is some expectation that a penalty is a penalty and should be called regardless of the score or time in the modern NHL. The expected standard, however, must be balanced with sound judgment to provide an entertaining flow of the game while determining when a player commits a legitimate infraction. There are many decisions made when a ref feels a players actions did not cross the threshold to impose a penalty. I like to refer to these non-calls as minute-and-a-half penalties! The referees also receive ongoing direction to strictly enforce specific areas of emphasis such as illegal checks to the head, diving, and restraining fouls. Infractions that are obvious, dangerous and those that affect a potential scoring opportunity must be called. at any point in the game. This being said, we have seen far too many examples (especially in the playoffs) when this is not the case and a shifting sand standard is employed. Once the standard is relaxed or the sand starts to shift the worst thing a referee can do is to overreact with a call that upsets the applecart. Many times we have seen more flagrant fouls let go only to see a strict standard of enforcement maintained on ticky-tacky hooks to the hand area of an opponent. There is usually a very quick-jerk reaction by the referees when the hands are touched to alter the puck carriers movement. That is exactly what occurred when Haula used a one hand fork hook from behind Patrick Kane as the Chicago player maneuvered the puck along the Wild blue line. Haulas stick went through Kanes hands and caused him to mishandle the puck slightly to force it just past the outside edge of the line. Kane quickly brought the puck back across the blue line to create an off-side. The linesman can be seen blowing the whistle immediately to kill the play. The referee in the neutral zone also reacted just as quickly to the fork hook that caused the off-side play. Kane did not quit on the play in an effort to embellish the restraint but rather stopped following the immediate whistle blown by the linesman. By the letter of the law and the expected standard that has been imposed upon the referees, the fork hook in the hands of Kane qualified as a penalty. In most situations it would likely be called. There was some effect to Haulas action when it created the offside at the blue line and forced a stoppage of play. Given the game situation however, the common sense philosophy of officiating would dictate that the severity of Haulas actions was minimal. No imminent scoring opportunity was lost nor was it a flagrant foul that must be called. I am uncertain if the referees switch immediately triggered when the stick restricted Kanes hands or as a result of the forced offside. Either way he perceived Haulas actions as a call he was expected to make. From my perspective, the game would be better served if the referee had taken a slight pause to consider the resulting effect on the play and settled on a neutral zone faceoff instead of imposing a penalty to Haula. This is especially true Aaron if, as you suggest, many similar or egregious hooks, holds or other infractions were not penalized. A new standard should not be introduced late in the game. Wholesale Hockey Jerseys . Sterling was banned for life and fined US$2.5 million by the NBA on Tuesday for racist comments the league says he made in a recorded conversation. Nash, who plays for the rival L.A. Lakers, spoke as a representative of current NBA players at a press conference assembled by Sacramento mayor and National Basketball Players Association adviser Kevin Johnson. Hockey Jerseys China . "I only want to go through this one more time," Crosby said Friday. The 24-year-old captain hasnt played since the symptoms resurfaced following a loss to Boston on Dec. 5. Doctors allowed him to return to full practice on Tuesday and while Crosby is pleased with the way his body is responding he refuses to put on his return. https://www.fakehockeyjerseys.com/ . Though the 26-year-old said he was able to participate, coach Dwane Casey kept Johnson out as a precaution.Paris, France - The 18th-seeded Ernests Gulbis was a quarterfinal winner Tuesday at the 2014 French Open. The talented Latvian upset sixth-seeded Czech star and former Wimbledon runner-up Tomas Berdych 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 on the famed red clay at Roland Garros. The 25-year-old Gulbis, who improved to 3-4 lifetime against Berdych, is currently riding a nine-match winning streak and already owns a pair of titles in France this season, including one in Nice just one day before the French Open commenced. Hes 13-0 on French soil for the year. "Its very special," Gulbis said in an on-court interview. "Today was the best match of the tournament. I did everything well." Gulbis has not lost to a seeded player at a Grand Slam event since the 2010 Australian Open, compiling a 5-0 mark. Former world No. 1 NNovak Djokovic was also a winner on Tuesday, defeating eighth-seeded Canadian Milos Raonic 7-5, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4. Hockey Jerseys Black Friday. Two more quarterfinals will be staged on Wednesday, when current world No. 1 Rafael Nadal takes on fifth-seeded fellow Spaniard David Ferrer and seventh- seeded Wimbledon champion Andy Murray meets 23rd-seeded French crowd favorite Gael Monfils. The 13-time Grand Slam winner Nadal captured a fourth straight French Open title and eighth overall championship here a year ago by besting Ferrer in the final. Nadal, who turned 28 on Tuesday, is 21-6 lifetime against the 32-year-old Ferrer, including 3-0 at Roland Garros. Ferrer, however, upset Nadal on clay in Monte Carlo back in April. The amazing Nadal is trying to become the first man to capture five straight French Open championships. ' ' '