Boston University 2010-11 part II - The Hunt For Red November

[goalguard]

Re: Boston University 2010-11 part II - The Hunt For Red November

We're #2!! We're #2!!!I'm actually surprised we're not a little lower.

I had penciled in Yale for #1, not knowing that they lost their undefeated status yesterday by blowing a 3-0 lead when AF scored 4 third period goals. UMD goes to Wisconsin for two this weekend, so they could be the next to fall.

[TommyNoblesIsLife]

Re: Boston University 2010-11 part II - The Hunt For Red November

Depending on who's blog you read, the officiating was bad, but for different reasons. MC guy says more should've been called on us and that some MC penalties weren't warranted because of what they didn't call on us. Freep blog says they missed loads of obvious calls that should've been made. Either way, another bad night for the refs, this time for a different reason. Inconsistently called, though as MC guy pointed out, it was nice to see them let the teams play for the last 10-15 minutes without any power plays. Honestly, I'll reiterate what I wrote in the last thread, I wished Benedetto were there tonight. Though he has his tendency to start making really stupid nitpicky calls, he is able to control an overly chippy and physical game better than anyone else, and rarely does a game he officiates get way out of hand, as it did Friday night.

From my vantage point on Saturday, the missed calls on Merrimack were pretty dangerous ones to miss, like hitting from behind right in front of an official, punching players in the head behind the play in a manner in which the BU player's helmet was almost knocked entirely off, and a high-sticking which caught a BU player in the mouth.

Did the blown calls greatly affect the outcome of the game? Probably not. However, someday somebody could eventually get hurt because of how much players are getting away with at the moment.

I don't know if it's just me, but the Hockey East officiating this season has been pretty abysmal across the board. When you're aching for a Benedetto-Gravallese game, that's a bad sign. The officials don't seem to understand some of the rule changes, such as more enforcement for contact to the head. I thought that was an automatic major and game misconduct at the minimum, but there were at least two occasions this weekend when a player targeted another players head and either served a minor or nothing at all. I saw (I believe) Noonan do it on Friday and Bigos do it on Saturday. Bigos got a 2 minute minor for interference, and Noonan got a 2 minute minor for hitting from behind. Why aren't they enforcing this properly? There are times to let a team play, and then there are times when you need to step in. Contact to the head is one of those things that shouldn't be ignored.

The icing rule also baffled the officials on Saturday, but that's a different story.

[irishfan85]

Re: Boston University 2010-11 part II - The Hunt For Red November

From my vantage point on Saturday, the missed calls on Merrimack were pretty dangerous ones to miss, like hitting from behind right in front of an official, punching players in the head behind the play in a manner in which the BU player's helmet was almost knocked entirely off, and a high-sticking which caught a BU player in the mouth.

Did the blown calls greatly affect the outcome of the game? Probably not. However, someday somebody could eventually get hurt because of how much players are getting away with at the moment.

I don't know if it's just me, but the Hockey East officiating this season has been pretty abysmal across the board. When you're aching for a Benedetto-Gravallese game, that's a bad sign. The officials don't seem to understand some of the rule changes, such as more enforcement for contact to the head. I thought that was an automatic major and game misconduct at the minimum, but there were at least two occasions this weekend when a player targeted another players head and either served a minor or nothing at all. I saw (I believe) Noonan do it on Friday and Bigos do it on Saturday. Bigos got a 2 minute minor for interference, and Noonan got a 2 minute minor for hitting from behind. Why aren't they enforcing this properly? There are times to let a team play, and then there are times when you need to step in. Contact to the head is one of those things that shouldn't be ignored.

The icing rule also baffled the officials on Saturday, but that's a different story.

Forget what BU player committed the penalty, but there was a hit on Merrimack's Ryan Flanigan in the corner to the right of the Merrimack bench on Friday night at Agganis that was the poster hit for the new 5 minute major contact to head rule, but was only called a minor.

Both teams got away with some stuff and both teams were called for some ticky tack penalties. I've never really been sure why everyone dislikes Bennedetto and Gravalesse so much. They have been by far the best referees in Hockey East for a decade now. Not saying they are perfect, but they are the best.

[mookie1995]

Once fitzy quit..... Yup

Forget what BU player committed the penalty, but there was a hit on Merrimack's Ryan Flanigan in the corner to the right of the Merrimack bench on Friday night at Agganis that was the poster hit for the new 5 minute major contact to head rule, but was only called a minor.

Both teams got away with some stuff and both teams were called for some ticky tack penalties. I've never really been sure why everyone dislikes Bennedetto and Gravalesse so much. They have been by far the best referees in Hockey East for a decade now. Not saying they are perfect, but they are the best.

[TommyNoblesIsLife]

Re: Boston University 2010-11 part II - The Hunt For Red November

Forget what BU player committed the penalty, but there was a hit on Merrimack's Ryan Flanigan in the corner to the right of the Merrimack bench on Friday night at Agganis that was the poster hit for the new 5 minute major contact to head rule, but was only called a minor.

Was it toward the end of the game? I remember a hit on Flanigan that I thought was clear-cut major and misconduct for the BU player who did it, but I don't remember which player it was.

Benedetto and Gravallese call everything, which can get annoying, but I discovered this season that it's more annoying to watch players get away with everything, regardless of which team the player plays for.

[buoldtimer]

Re: Boston University 2010-11 part II - The Hunt For Red November

Once fitzy quit..... Yup

He was the best.

[slurpees]

Re: Boston University 2010-11 part II - The Hunt For Red November

Was it toward the end of the game? I remember a hit on Flanigan that I thought was clear-cut major and misconduct for the BU player who did it, but I don't remember which player it was.

Benedetto and Gravallese call everything, which can get annoying, but I discovered this season that it's more annoying to watch players get away with everything, regardless of which team the player plays for.

Timmy and Johnny have their moments where they just like to hear themselves call penalties, but they really are the best in the conference, and the most fun to yell at. They really don't make the boneheaded calls some of these young clowns make, know how to handle arguing with coaches without issuing needless penalties, don't allow games to get out of hand where dangerous play can lead to injuries, and pretty much are the best in the conference. I don't think wishing for those two is a "you know it's bad when..." kind of thing for these reasons. But really, outside of the instances where they get whistle-happy (which can be BAD), they're solid officials.

Benedetto sucks.

[mookie1995]

Re: Boston University 2010-11 part II - The Hunt For Red November

I'm still waiting for nesn to start a reality show, "Layin' Gravel"

[ActionJoe]

Re: Boston University 2010-11 part II - The Hunt For Red November

Timmy and Johnny have their moments where they just like to hear themselves call penalties, but they really are the best in the conference, and the most fun to yell at. They really don't make the boneheaded calls some of these young clowns make, know how to handle arguing with coaches without issuing needless penalties, don't allow games to get out of hand where dangerous play can lead to injuries, and pretty much are the best in the conference. I don't think wishing for those two is a "you know it's bad when..." kind of thing for these reasons. But really, outside of the instances where they get whistle-happy (which can be BAD), they're solid officials.

Benedetto sucks.

*****http://i1127.***********.com/albums/l640/ActionJoe1/roflbot1.jpg******

[FiveHole12]

Re: Boston University 2010-11 part II - The Hunt For Red November

I'm still waiting for nesn to start a reality show, "Layin' Gravel"

"Layin' Gravel"?... geezus, sounds X rated... X for eXtremely gross.

"Diggin' Gravel"... the family friendly version.

[Salvo1017]

Re: Boston University 2010-11 part II - The Hunt For Red November

while this may run the risk of hijacking and setting the thread off on a tangent I'm gonna say it anyways.

It's time to lose the cages.

Parker had a great quote in his presser after Saturday's games. Part of the problem is these kids are suited up with armor. Take the cages away, replace them with half shields. You're gonna get better vision on the ice from the finesse players, and you're not gonna see the big guys head hunting anymore.

It has been discussed in offseason conferences both by HE themselves as well as the NCAA overall. I really think it would be a step in the right direction.

[Bomber]

Re: Boston University 2010-11 part II - The Hunt For Red November

We're #2!! We're #2!!!

I'm actually surprised we're not a little lower.

Fun times in the Connelly household. A "clip and save" week for sure.

[Federal League]

Re: Boston University 2010-11 part II - The Hunt For Red November

while this may run the risk of hijacking and setting the thread off on a tangent I'm gonna say it anyways.

It's time to lose the cages.

Parker had a great quote in his presser after Saturday's games. Part of the problem is these kids are suited up with armor. Take the cages away, replace them with half shields. You're gonna get better vision on the ice from the finesse players, and you're not gonna see the big guys head hunting anymore.

It has been discussed in offseason conferences both by HE themselves as well as the NCAA overall. I really think it would be a step in the right direction.

Parker has been at the forefront of the half shield movement for a while now, and I totally agree with him. In the season-plus BU Hammer and I have been covering the team, he's brought it up probably 15-20 times, usually unprompted. One of the best quotes I've gotten from him was this one from over the summer when all the new rule changes were being discussed:

"Over and over again, the coaches have told the rules committee that the full cage is the more dangerous way to play," Parker said. "Unfortunately, the only way they're gonna change is when somebody sues them. Somebody's gonna wind up in a wheelchair and they're gonna sue them, and the NCAA's gonna have to pay a lot of money for it.

"If they used the half-shield and somebody lost an eye, his quality of life would be diminished, but he wouldn't be blind. He just wouldn't have one eye and he wouldn't be able to play hockey anymore. A kid winds up in a wheelchair, that's a different story. I have former players that only have one eye. I only have one former player that's in a wheelchair. I know who's worse off.

"The NCAA safeguards committee has no idea what they're talking about. They think they're protecting eyes and teeth. Big deal. If it was the safest way to play, why don't the pros wear a full shield? They don't want their players hurt. The players themselves are trying to make a living. They don't wanna get hurt. If it was the safest way, why don't they wear it? Because it's not.

"You get hit so many more times because you're getting blindsided. Your peripheral vision has disappeared. Kids are leading with their heads because they think they can't get hurt. The game is so much more dangerous because of the full shield. It's amazing. And every coach in college hockey knows it. You know who the experts are? The coaches. Not some doctor in New Haven, Connecticut."

[slurpees]

Re: Boston University 2010-11 part II - The Hunt For Red November

Oh hey look, we have a thread.

[claver2010]

Re: Boston University 2010-11 part II - The Hunt For Red November

while this may run the risk of hijacking and setting the thread off on a tangent I'm gonna say it anyways.

It's time to lose the cages.

Parker had a great quote in his presser after Saturday's games. Part of the problem is these kids are suited up with armor. Take the cages away, replace them with half shields. You're gonna get better vision on the ice from the finesse players, and you're not gonna see the big guys head hunting anymore.

It has been discussed in offseason conferences both by HE themselves as well as the NCAA overall. I really think it would be a step in the right direction.

Call me aiding hte hijacker but I completely agree. You won't see as much of the garbage towards the goalies either. People are fearless with the full cage.

Quick note: One thing I'll always remember is in the 08 HE quarters against PC there was a puck that went directly in the air in front of Muse. A PC player tried to hit it like a baseball player and slashed Muse in the neck. Petrecki ripped the guys facemask and literally broke the straps. I thought a full brawl was about to ensue.