Referees are no longer just whistling in the dark

Sporting News, The, Oct 2, 2000 by Larry Wigge

Every time I turn on the television, there seems to be an awards program honoring the best video of the year. When all is said and done, however, the real winner might not be 'N Sync or the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It might instead be the new video being shown by NHL director of officiating Andy van Hellemond. This latest release is not available at Blockbuster. Rather, it's on a limited-engagement run being shown to teams during training camp, aimed at officials and players and designed to crack down on slashing, hits to the head, hitting from behind, high-sticking, obstruction in the neutral zone, goalie interference and misconducts.

"At first I thought it was like watching Groundhog Day because I've heard this message a lot over the years," St. Louis veteran Al MacInnis said, after watching the video and hearing referees Paul Stewart and Kevin Pollock speak last week. "But there's one difference: Andy van Hellemond is behind this order.

"For about 14 years running, Andy was the best referee in the NHL. As a player, when you saw him working your game, you knew what you could--and couldn't--get away with."

Van Hellemond wants more consistency from his referees; the league wants to reduce injuries.

"Too often players just go for someone's head without any qualms about it," Stewart says. "That has to stop. Now anyone who targets someone's head will automatically get a penalty this year."

"It's like the players were waiting for one another to clean up their acts--and it didn't happen," MacInnis says. "There is a lack of respect among players--and we've left the league with no alternative than to crack down on us. It's a fine line we're walking now, trying to keep the emotion and hitting in the game. You don't want to lose that."

The captains of each team were required to sign a statement acknowledging they heard the briefing, so there will be no excuses later on.

"The referees also made it clear they wouldn't be shy about putting a team down 5-on-3," Blues captain Chris Pronger says. "In the past we were allowed to wield the lumber a little more in an attempt to kill off a penalty. Now ... they'll be watching us more closely."

Further enforcement means you can expect power plays to be more potent--with players getting more freedom to buzz the opponent's net.

Combined with the two-referee system, the new edict should add flow and give the stars a chance to shine.

"Stewart said this wasn't going to be a two-week or one-month crackdown, it was going to be from October through the playoffs," Pronger says.

The Blues' Tyson Nash, a master at stirring up trouble, says he was the video's star. "I was featured at least three times ... on what not to do," he says, smiling. "I'm going to have to change my game--or find my face on a most-wanted list in the league office."

And it's not just the players who are on notice. Referees will be given laptop computers and will be sent video and e-mail messages on how well their peers handled certain calls.

"As long as we stay on top of it, it won't lapse," van Hellemond says. "And it won't."

In other words, Big Brother will be watching everyone.

TSN's Power Poll

Larry Wigge knows what he's doing. In fact, in last year's TSN Hockey yearbook, he correctly predicted the Devils and Stars would meet in the Stanley Cup finals. This year, the Devils top his first power poll of the season (the 1999-2000 column lists where Wigge picked the team in his preseason rankings last season and where it finished in total points).

Rk.        Team        1999-2006               Comment

 1.   New Jersey       (4, 4)      The Devils' system works--really
                                   well.

 2.   Colorado         (5, 9)      "Win it all for Ray" is the
                                   battle cry.

 3.   St. Louis        (7, 1)      Drake, Hill bring more grit and
                                   depth.

 4.   Dallas           (1, 6)      Nieuwendyk, Lehtinen must
                                   rebound.

 5.   Detroit          (2, 2)      Beam up more defense, Scotty.

 6.   Toronto          (9, 7)      New goal: Go to the net.
                                   Aggressively.

 7.   Philadelphia     (10, 3)     Boucher's for real. Believe it.

 8.   Washington       (17, 5)     Kolzig's ready to claim another
                                   Vezina Trophy.

 9.   Florida          (16, 8)     Help on defense will be the
                                   objective.

10.   Buffalo          (3, 16)     Hasek's last stand will be a
                                   good one.

11.   Ottawa           (8, 10)     Yashin QBing another kind of
                                   power play.

12.   N.Y. Rangers     (15, 23)    This team won't be off the Mark
                                   again.

13.   San Jose         (11, 15)    First-round success carries over
                                   to 2001.

14.   Phoenix          (13, 12)    Wayne's team will soon be Great
                                   One.

15.   Pittsburgh       (6, 13)     It's all about goaltending
                                   for Penguins.

16.   Vancouver        (24, 20)    Sedins and other kids show
                                   lots of skill.

17.   Edmonton         (18, 14)    MacTavish's way will be a
                                   winner for Oil.

18.   Anaheim          (19, 19)    Second line? It's ducky.
                                   Finally.

19.   Los Angeles      (23, 11)    Who's kidding who about these
                                   goalies?

20.   Boston           (12, 24)    This is Burns' last chance as
                                   Bruins coach.

21.   Carolina         (21, 17)    Ozolinsh will have to be extra
                                   special.

23.   Chicago          (14, 21)    Amonte needs help from some
                                   friends.

24.   Nashville        (26, 25)    We know they'll play hard,
                                   but ...

25.   N.Y. Islanders   (27, 26)    If defense jells, this ranking
                                   goes up.

26.   Calgary          (20, 22)    Making no Hay with so many kids.

27.   Tampa Bay        (25, 27)    Lecavalier will be star--rest
                                   will see stars.

28.   Columbus         (n/a)       European offensive influence is
                                   the hope.

29.   Atlanta          (28, 28)    Keeping fans happy may be
                                   difficult.

30.   Minnesota        (n/a)       Wild about Lemaire, but not his
                                   roster.