Initial Frozen Four crease ruling was right

I wish I didn’t have access to the NCAA rulebook regarding “in the crease” rulings so I wouldn’t have to write this letter, but I do and I must. I also wish I didn’t tape the game while I was in Boston, but I did. The rule says and I quote exactly Rule 6, Section 18, Par.c., (7): “A goal shall not be allowed in any of the following cases: If any member of the attacking team (other than the player in possession of the puck) was in or skating through the goal crease when the goal was made, unless the goaltender was outside the crease when the play was made (in which case the goal is allowed). (Exception: 6-29-d).” The exception deals with being pushed into the crease and I see no evidence of that.

The following facts are clear beyond a reasonable doubt from a review of my tape of the game:

Hamilton’s skate was in the crease by a few inches behind a Denver player “when the goal was made.”

The Denver goaltender’s skate was outside the crease during the time “when the goal was made.” Review the play and you will see what I mean. Please note that the operative time for the rule to take effect is different for the attacker as opposed to the goaltender. For the attacker it is when the goal was made, while for the goaltender it is when the play was made.

I think the goal should have been allowed. The ironic part about this is that the initial call on the ice was right and all the modern technology the NCAA could muster up only served to botch the call.

Maybe I’m prejudiced because I’m a Maine hockey fan, but that’s the way I see it.

Stan Karod

Camden

Hockey without goalies a joke

You published a letter on April 13 from a basketball fan who proposed improving hockey by eliminating the goalies and taking the puck out of bounds after each goal. He states that it would be more exciting to see a score of 37-24 rather than suffer through a game that ended 2-1.

Would he also improve baseball by replacing pitchers with a batting tee?

Either this was a late April Fools joke or you wasted an entire column on someone’s inane and preposterous suppositions.

Brent Carter

Harrington

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