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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!seismo!hao!hplabs!brunton
From: brunton@hplabs.UUCP (R. Scott Brunton)
Newsgroups: net.sport.hockey
Subject: Re: Lysiak vs. Referee
Message-ID: <1986@hplabs.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 9-Nov-83 20:12:33 EST
Article-I.D.: hplabs.1986
Posted: Wed Nov  9 20:12:33 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 12-Nov-83 04:59:52 EST
Organization: Hewlett Packard Labs, Palo Alto CA
Lines: 32


     Being stranded out here on the west coast doesn't afford me
the access to a newspaper with a *real* sports section, so I can
only comment on second hand information from the hub of hockey (ie.
Toronto).
     I understood that Lysiak had been waved out of a faceoff by 
one of the linesmen.  As he left the circle he took the linesmen's
skates with him.  When the referee (and the rest of the world) saw
this he gave Lysiak a Match penalty, which carries an automatic 20
suspension.  Apparently, Lysiak (or the Black Hawks organization)
found themselves a judge in Chicago who provided an injunction in
the matter.
     As far as the suspension is concerned, there are definitely
two ways to look at a penalty of that severity.  If you look at
the case of the Boston Bruin player who punched referee VanHellaman(?)
last year, one could easily say that the officials ought to be 
protected in some means from this type of physical abuse.  On the
other hand, if you make have a penalty which carries an extremely
high suspension, the referee will hesitate to use it in a situation
where a simple game misconduct in not enough.
     I for one think that an automatic 20 game suspension is too 
severe.  I would expect that 10 games would be sufficient, given
that the NHL president (and the Referee-in-Chief) would have (and
presently do have) the authority to assess further suspensions.  I
would then expect referees to use the Match penalty in those in
between type situations.
     I presently am a certified referee in AHAUS and can speak from
experience in such matters, that have a penalty with too much weight
isn't much practical use.

    				Scott Brunton
			      {ucbvax!hplabs!brunton}