Mid Hudson Hockey Officials Association
"Blue Line" Archive
Poughkeepsie, NY


MHHOA "Blue Line" April 2002 



New Board Elected

At the March 12, 2002 meeting elections of the new MHHOA board were held. The new board for the 2002 - 2004 term are Lou Musella president, Joe O'Connell 1st VP, Jason White 2nd VP, Tony Janicik secretary, Mark D'Agostino Treasurer. Appropriate updates will be made to the online orientation package as soon as time permits.

Also discussed at the meeting were changes to the charter. Amendments were proposed and passed by a majority vote. The RIC and Scheduler positions will remain appointed positions by the president. With the amendments the new charter was passed by a majority vote. Appropriate updates will be made to the online orientation package as soon as time permits.



NIHOA National Meeting
by Mark D'Agostino

On March 23-24 Lou Musella and Mark D'Agostino went to the National NIHOA meeting in Woester, MA. NIHOA organizations throughout the country were in attendance to discuss their organization, members and other pertinent information. In addition, the national organization will implement a skating
test as well as a written exam beginning in 2002-2003.



Letter from Lou Musella

I as you know have always taken a great deal of pride in our association. As your president I feel one of my responsibilities is the growth our association.  I have been recently phoned by the scheduler of the Brewster Rink a Mr.Tom Andreacchio and asked if our association is willing to do games out of that rink. I realize some of our members are already skating for Tom when there schedule permits so we set a meeting date of 4/3/02.

Our meeting was held last night with Mark, myself and Tom it was in my estimation productive and positive. Many items were discussed such as money, who will schedule what games, and the amount of coverage Tom is looking for were a few of the topics we touched on. Let me first answer  the question in you are thinking about now, money although I don't have the exact dollar amounts in front of me at this time, I recall his numbers being comparable to ours if not more in some cases.

Tom needs help now for his summer leagues which are tier 1 # 2 along with senior league and hopefully during the regular season as well. Naturally no agreement was reached, I will not commit us to such an undertaking without first talking to you. Mark has asked Tom to send him his current Brewster schedule so he could study the possibility of such an undertaking. If it works this summer who knows we might be able expand just a little south to Brewster and do a few games

What I need to know is who is interested in skating this summer and possibly this winter out of the Brewster rink? There are games to be had and the hockey is of a better caliber. I do not think we should let this opportunity go by. Anyone interested please contact Tony (whistle19@att.net) asap so we can set up a follow up meeting with Tom and see if we can go forward we this opportunity.

Thanks

Lou



Benefit Game to be Held At Ice Time Arena
by Mark D'Agostino

On April 20th Lou Musella, Joe O'Connell and Mark D'Agostino will donate their time to officiate a Fire Dept. vs Police Dept. benefit charity game for victims of the 9/11 attack. It will be held at Ice Time Arena (please contact the arena for details 567-0005).



MHHOA Question of the Month 4/2002

A stick is thrown onto the ice from the players' bench to a player who has a broken stick. What penalty is imposed if the stick is picked up by any player?



March 2002 Question of the Month Answer

What guidelines should be followed by the Linesman when determining whether or not to report an infraction that has occurred behind the play?

The infraction must:

  1.    Constitute an "injury Potential" penalty
  2.    Occur behind the play in a  different zone from the zone in which the puck is located
  3.    be a very obvious infraction and
  4.    have been unobserved by the Referee
Rule references 503(d) and Glossary.

The linesman cannot stop play for this infraction; however, he must report such penalty immediately after the next stoppage occurs. The Referee shall have the final decision regarding the assessment of the penalty. If he elects to assess the penalty, any goal scored by the offending team on that play would be disallowed.  (USA Hockey Playing rules handbook, page 57, Rule 503 Situation 9 )



Officials Selected for Women's 19 & Under States
 by Dave Mateer

The weekend of Mar 15 - 17th, members of the MHHOA participated in the women's Tier 1 19 and under State Championships.  Games were held at the
Ice Hutch in Westchester County.  Seven of the best women's team from around the state competed for the crown, which was ultimately captured by
Syracuse.  Our own Matt Mateer and Mark Woinicki officiated the final game.  Also participating from the MHHOA were Mark D'Agostino, Dave
Mateer.  Officials  from other associations included Tim and Kevin Frusciante, Vince Butler, Rick Yarmy, Linda Choo, Sandy Smith, Joyce Connelly, Glenn Dudevoir, J. Reduto, and L. Wright.  Officials were coordinated by the Hudson Valley Supervisor, Bart Keiser.  The Ice Hutch  and its many volunteers did and excellent job of hosting the event.



New Look

Due to space constraints & poor service from "Hotmail",  I will be changing my email address over the spring & summer. My new contact address will be Whistle19@att.net. Please update your address books NOW. Whistle19@att.net email address is active now.

During this same period, I will also be creating an MHHOA email address. This address will be used to send out bulletins, reminders, and be used for other
chapter correspondence. Testing will begin shortly for MHHOA@att.net. You will be receiving test emails as I begin to build the chapter distribution list. Please make sure that I have your most current email address. As soon as this account is ready, I will "announce" it in a "Blue Line" bulletin.

Tony


Two boll weevils grew up in South Carolina. One went to Hollywood and became a famous actor. The other stayed behind in the cotton fields and never amounted to much. The second one, naturally, became known as the lesser of two weevils.



Contributions:

 If you have any newsworthy  item you would like to have included please contact Tony  Janicik at Whistle19@att.net.

I am looking to include new monthly features into the newsletter. If you have suggestions or comments please email them to me. This is YOUR newsletter you will get out of it what you put into it.

Current plans:



Other Items of Interest:

Any  questions on any bulletin item should be addressed to a MHHOA Board member




 
 

MHHOA "Blue Line" March 2002 



March Meeting Reminder

The MHHOA March meeting will be held on 3/12/02 6:30pm at Ice Time Sports. This meeting is very important with several major items on the agenda including ratification of the updated charter and bylaws and election of officers for the 2002-2004 term. Please plan ahead & make sure you are in attendance.



Fred Lahey Award

The Mid Hudson High School Hockey League will hold it's annual all-star game on 3/10/02 6:45 pm at the Mid Hudson Civic Center. At this game the MHHSHL traditionally makes it's awards to it's best and brightest participants (players, coaches and volunteers). This year will be the inauguration of a new award by the HS league. The Fred Lahey Memorial award will be given to the MHHOA referee who "...has demonstrated a long term commitment, dedication and service to High School Hockey. In addition they should be an individual that has earned the respect and admiration of the members of the HS Hockey community through their consistency, fairness and proficiency", according to HS League president Dick Hill. "As for naming the award after Fred Lahey, it pays tribute to someone that helped found and nurture HS Hockey in this area and gives a sense of tradition and history.  The Fred & Richard Ward memorial we give to our regular season champion instills this feeling amongst our member teams. It is our hope that the Fred Lahey award will be as well received by the HS & Referee community. ", said Mr.  Hill.

When Lou Musella was informed of the naming of the award he commented "...I am very happy that your board will has decided to name your annual award after Fred Lahey...His heart was always in the right place. In the short time he was with us he accomplished a great deal for the hockey community in our area. All of us who love this sport have a lot to be thankful for due to the hard work of Fred."

Fred Lahey was one of the original founders of the MHHOA in the late 1960's and early 1970's. He along with Dick Flint, Jack Hedberg, Jim Sanborn (and others), noting there were no officials for their children's youth hockey games set about contacting the governing youth hockey organization (AHAUS, Amateur Hockey Assoc. of the United States). Upon completing the prescribed training and testing these gentlemen became the officials for the only 2 rinks in the area at the time (Millbrook and Trinity Pawling....both outdoor rinks with roofs only, if you think the rinks are cold now....you should have been there in the 60's and 70's, makes the rinks that are there now seem down right balmy). The membership grew and they formed an organization with Fred at the "helm".

Since "organized" hockey was relatively new to Dutchess County (and the surrounding area) he knew that officiating was important and cost would be a major factor. He decided that youth hockey would be officiated for free so as to keep the costs down and hopefully allow more kids to play. The officials at that time were not compensated for doing youth games of any level. It was not until the MHCC opened and had men's, college and high school games that officials were then compensated, but youth hockey remained free. Fred was always interested in improving himself, the quality of hockey, and every official in the organization. As president he saw to the motivation and training of all the officials under him. When high school hockey first started in this area Fred became the driving force in recruiting and certification of NIHOA officials for the high school league (which played under NCAA rules at the time), and helped with the formation of the league and it's bylaws and/or rules.

He was a one of the original members of the semi-pro Dutchess Blues that played in Dutchess County. This team played it's home games at Millbrook and many of it's members were coaches for the DYHA, and/or referee's for the fledgling association. When the MHCC  was built (1975-1976) the Dutchess Blues used that venue as it's home briefly before folding.

When Fred died (197x) it left everyone in the hockey community (refs, coaches, players, administrators, parents) in shock and deep sorrow. In his memory a bronze plaque was made and placed next to the referee's changing room door at the Mid Hudson Civic Center. That plaque read:

In Memory of Fred Lahey,

Let all who enter this room rededicate themselves
with the professionalism that he exemplified

That plaque has since been lost during the Mid Hudson Civic Center remodeling that was done in the late 1980's early 1990's.



Jim Yarter to Receive Fred Lahey Award
 

The recipient if the first annual FRED LAHEY award will be Jim Yarter. Jim's officiating career has spanned 25 years. Some of Jim's officiating accomplishments are:

Jim is married to his wife Mary. He has a son Tim and 2 grandchildren.

Here are some comments from some of  Jim's fellow officials, coaches,  and players had to say...


Jim will receive this award at the MHHSHL annual all-star game. The game is scheduled for 3/10/02, at 6:45pm. Awards from the league are given out at the conclusion of the game. Let's all try  to attend to congratulate Jim.



MHHOA Question of the Month 3/2002

What guidelines should be followed by the Linesman when determining whether or not to report an infraction that has occurred behind the play?

Go to: https://mhhoa.tripod.com/MHHOA_QOTM.htm



February 2002 Question of the Month Answer

BOB'S (Hayden) RESPONSE:

Adult players have the right to wear any type of facial protection, including none, that they choose. They are responsible for their own actions and for the consequences of actions by others in that regard. Altering a HECC-approved facemask decertifies that facemask. The bottom line is that facemasks are only "strongly recommended" for Adult players, and HECC-approved facemasks are desired but not mandated. As such, an altered HECC-approved facemask may still be legally worn by an Adult player. Incidentally, there are no "grandfathered" rules of any type, protective equipment or otherwise, in the USA Hockey rule book.

From the "Ask the Officials section of the USAH website
http://www.usahockey.com/usa_hockey/officials/home_officials/ask_official_week11_/



Officials Selected for Bantam States

The following MHHOA officials have been selected to participate in this years Bantam Tier III state championships at Ice Time the weekend of 3/8-10/2002 (r=referee, l=linesman): Tom Batewell (r), Mike Beach (l), Mark D'Agostino (r), Joe Hughes III (l), Tony Janicik (l), Dave Mateer (l), Matt Mateer (l),  Joe O'Connell (r),  Scott Potter (r), Lou Rittendale (l), Eric Updike (l), Mark Woinicke (r). Linesman will also be serving as goal judges during the tournament..

Other officials selected from outside our area were: M. Ilardi (r), and R. Yarmy (l).

John Barnard, and Bart Keiser will be serving as Supervisor of Officials. Tournament director is Bob Simmons.

Nice work guys, and congratulations on a significant achievement.



A Good Linesman Makes for a Great Game
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Paul Hennessey
November 5, 2001
http://www.officiating.com/index.cgi?session=3c7112ba7ff3afbe&category=hockey&page=ph_goodlinesman
 

As I stood watching the chaos of an ugly line brawl, feverishly writing down numbers and trying to put out fires left by my linesmen, it finally became crystal clear to me why its said that a good set of linesmen can make a referee’s job much easier.

Awareness Pays
Its been said many times that a referee should have eyes in the back of his head. In hockey, he does and they're called linesmen. A linesman who is aware of his surroundings, aware of the play, and aware of the players on the ice is a great asset to an officiating team. The job of linesman consists of much more than skating between the blue lines, calling icing, offside, and offside pass infractions. A good linesman becomes the “eyes” in the back of a referee’s head.

Take the traditional 3-man system. Some associations (like the NCAA) have made linesmen “associate referees” with the ability to call penalties. Here are some good tips, but be aware of the parts that may not apply to you.

Putting out Fires Before They Start
A good linesman practices “preventative” officiating, meaning they’ll make sure potential situations get taken care of before they escalate. To do this, the linesman should be aware of who is on the ice and what players are exchanging “pleasantries” during the play.

Linesmen should key in on these players and rush in when the whistle blows. In doing this, a linesman establishes presence early and prevents the war of words which almost always leads to pushing, shoving and penalties.

Linesmen can also prevent retaliation penalties by communicating with players. A simple “We’ve got him, you have the power play”, spoken firmly to an offended player, can help prevent many ugly situations.

Watching your Partner’s Back
In a traditional three-man system, only the referee has the power to call penalties. This doesn’t mean that he should be the only one looking for them. As play is moving up the ice, the linesman is responsible for watching the players behind the play and noting any infractions he may see (this varies by jurisdiction and rulebook, so check your rulebook for what penalties you can report).

By watching for these infractions and reporting them, you have the ability to stop retaliation later in the game. Even if you can’t report the infractions that are occurring, telling the referee “Check back!” or “They’re okay.” shows him you’ve got his back, leaving him to focus on other things.

Taking Numbers
Another area where a good linesman can make a difference is during a player ejection situation. Many rulebooks state that if a player cannot serve his or her penalty, a player from the ice at the time of the infraction must serve it for them. A good linesman will quickly make a note of the players on the ice and ensure that only a player who was on the ice serves the penalty.

During fights, or multiple fights, a good linesman will remember the numbers of the players he’s escorted off the ice, and report them to the referee. He’ll be watching the fights, looking for infractions the referee may not have seen, and report them. He’ll also keep a watchful eye on those who are picking up equipment to prevent any flair-ups.

Positioning, Positioning, Positioning
A good linesman uses his body and presence to shield players from each other and from the referee. If a penalized player starts moving towards the referee, a good linesman will get in between, preventing any escalation of the situation.

While escorting players to the penalty box, a good linesman puts himself between the penalized player and opposing players, the opposing bench, and the referee in order to prevent any new situations from developing. When coincidental penalties are due to end, a good linesman will stand between the penalty benches to keep the players from “renewing the fight.”

Needless to say, a linesman will always be in the proper position to make the calls he is charged with making because every time a linesman misses a call, the referee takes more heat from the benches. Referees generate their own share of griping, and don’t need to take grief for linesmen’s mistakes, too!

A Good Linesman Makes for a Great Game
Believe it or not, a linesman who is aware of his surroundings, aware of the play, and aware of the players on the ice can make the difference between a smooth game and a “gong show.” Make sure you do your part!

By Paul Hennessey
http://www.officiating.com/index.cgi?session=3c7112ba7ff3afbe&category=hockey&page=ph_goodlinesman


Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused Novocain during a root canal? He wanted to transcend dental medication.



Contributions:

 If you have any newsworthy  item you would like to have included please contact Tony  Janicik at Whistle19@hotmail.com



Other Items of Interest:

Any  questions on any bulletin item should be addressed to a MHHOA Board member
 
 




MHHOA "Blue Line" February 2002 

February Meeting Reminder

The next MHHOA meeting will be 2/12/02 6:30pm at Ice Time Sports. Levels 3, 4, NIHOA, and HS level officials are required to attend.


Rink Rage and Other Games Adults Play
By DANIEL HENNINGER
(http://interactive.wsj.com/fr/emailthis/retrieve.cgi?id=SB1011314705529816600.djm)

You knew the sporting life in America had changed when the sports pages began running the athletes' box scores inside the criminal-justice system.

So when a suburban Boston jury convicted hockey father Thomas Junta last week of involuntary manslaughter in the beating death of a dad/referee, the talk across the land was less about the sport than whether Tom Junta got off light for a killing. There was more than one abstruse dinner-table discussion of Junta's head-slamming and the distinction between voluntary and involuntary manslaughter.

Meanwhile in New York this week, you could have read an entire sports column deep into whether Shaquille O'Neal got off light with a three-game suspension for trying to sucker-punch Bulls' center Brad Miller after Miller and co-contractor Charles Oakley premeditated a heavy hit on Shaq in the post. Both jury and readers faced the same issue -- whether the punishment fit the foul and whether it was an adequate deterrent.

Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?

DiMaggio is dead. Not for nothing, when he died several years ago, did the world reminisce big time. DiMaggio represented an era when famous athletes were about one, maybe two, things -- excelling on the field and, sometimes, living the high life off, meaning mostly wine, women, and sleeping it off. Of course in the deconstructive spirit of our times, DiMaggio wasn't dead a year before a TV documentary was out, proving the great man was also, at times, a major jerk.

That may be true, but we all know that back in the years of the Greatest Sports Generation, the idea that two fathers would ever get into a blood-drenched smackdown at their kids' game was unthinkable. Not now. The Junta story had every sports parent in the country telling tales of an adult going ballistic, if not homicidal, at some Little League, Pop Warner or Biddy basketball game. I recall a 5-foot-9-inch, 200-pound father-referee at a grade-school soccer game telling a crazed sideline critic to shut up or come out on the field and settle it. The guy shut up.

How sports in America got from fields of dreams to flagrant fouls, on and off the field, is worth a moment's thought.

Some of us grew up on that wonderful show of Jim McKay's, "The Wide World of Sports." The one thing everyone remembers is the McKay tagline over the opening montage -- "The thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat," a nine-word phrase that says as much as anyone needs to know about why mankind has thought up ways to break a sweat and keep score since at least ancient Athens. At the highest and lowest level of the game, it's fun, indescribable fun. Guys lying on their deathbeds, who have no idea of their net worth, can recall the details of wins and defeats from grade school.

Somewhere along the line, the game changed. Hockey fans not all that long ago still argued the merits of the Europeans' finesse game and the NHL's arcane code of Canadian brutality. That debate's over. I recently watched a high-school game on cable end with kids skating across the ice to hammer off-the-puck opponents. So where does a 16-year-old get the idea that a cheap shot is just part of the game? Of course, on television.

For those of us who love sport, television was a gift from the gods. But along with the vicarious thrill of many victories, TV also brought whoofing, taunting, "clothes-lining" and the elevation, to a planned strategy, of winning through intimidation. Some fans will argue that intimidation is in the warp and woof of contact sports, but others will say they gave up watching when TV's cameras started celebrating the sight of thugs celebrating their muggings. The leagues aren't wholly insensitive and have tried to suppress some of the pros' steroidal rage; hilariously, the NBA has its own version of involuntary and voluntary manslaughter -- Class 1 and Class 2 flagrant fouls (both in court and on the court, intent matters).

Somehow, the stakes in sports just keep rising. Vince Lombardi may or may not have said, "Winning isn't everything; it's the only thing," but we should be so lucky if sport was only about winning anymore. Now it's about all sorts of things.

No less than Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones offered this insight after Washington threw Marty Schottenheimer off the coaches' sled (after a .500 season): "In my other businesses I've enjoyed long-term relationships. Philosophically, I'd like to think that will be the case in our game. Realistically, it looks like that's not the case."

What's the wonder that we recurrently hear about parents fighting each other at their kids' games. After all, it's the adults now who are heavily invested. The day of the pick-up game is gone. Adults run the youth leagues, adults run the games, adults run the summer camps (and to get to the upper levels, you do have to attend the organized camps). If my memory serves, before the adults launched their takeover, the kids settled fouls, penalties and outs with a little shouting and shoving and a life's worth of experience is learning how to settle disputes. Now the kids learn from dad how to intimidate the ref.

The pros like to say they're getting paid to play a kid's game. Wrong. The kids are being taught to play an adult's game. By definition, the stakes in an adult's world will be higher, and in the world of pro sports, as we all see on TV, the stakes are very high (or so it appears). Somehow the lines have gotten crossed and confused, so that at the margin the occasional Thomas Junta snaps. Sometimes sitting on the sidelines, or on the couch, one wants to yell at the game, "Get real!" But to do that, you first have to know what's real in sports in America, and what isn't.



MHHOA Question of the Month 2/2002

From the USAH Website:  I have two questions pertaining to facemasks. I have, on occasion, used a modified modern face cage ( i.e. I cut a couple of bars out of it for increased visibility). In one USA Hockey match I was forced to take it off by the official in order to continue to play. Supposedly it was deemed "unsafe" despite the fact that it provided more facial coverage than some of the old style facemasks (which many guys still use), and that all sharp edges had been filed down.

I understand that there are rules against modified equipment. However, in adult leagues, facemasks are not required. It seems to me that some sort of facemask is better than none. When I asked about the old style facemasks (some of which are no longer manufactured because they are not deemed safe), I was told they had been grandfathered in. Try as I might, I have yet to find the "Grandfather" equipment rule. Is there one? And is there enough leeway built into the system so that officials can  apply "common sense" to non-required protective equipment?

Go to: https://mhhoa.tripod.com/MHHOA_QOTM.htm



January 2002 Question of the Month Answer

On a breakaway, if the player throws his glove one way and dekes the goalie the other way, what is the penalty? (Found on the net at http://www.usahockey.com , the "Officials" section, archived "Ask An Official" Nov 23, 2001)
 

BOB'S (Hayden) RESPONSE:

While it originally sounded like a "stretch" to impose any penalty, common sense would tell us that this is not in the spirit of the game. Here's the call: Minor penalty to the player throwing his glove undoubtedly to distract the goalkeeper. If we go to Rule 636(b), we find the answer that supports the call. The penalty applies for throwing a stick or any other object in the direction of the puck in any zone (unless a penalty shot or awarded goal applies, obviously not in this case). Maybe the glove wasn't in the exact direction of the puck, but it certainly went from maybe a 3 foot elevation to ice level where the puck is.



March meeting

The MHHOA March meeting will be held on 3/12/02 6:30pm at Ice Time Sports. This meeting is very important with several major items on the agenda including ratification of the updated charter and bylaws and election of officers for the 2002-2004 term. Please plan ahead & make sure you are in attendance.


MUSCLE CRAMPS: Do they cramp your style?
(Reprinted from: http://www.varsityedge.com/)

"I get excruciating cramps when I play tennis in the heat. Could something be wrong with my diet...?"

"I cramped so badly during the marathon. I had to quit a few yards from the finish line. I just couldn't go any further."

"Should I drink pickle juice to prevent cramps...???"

If you've ever experienced the excruciating pain of a severe muscle cramp, you may fearfully wonder if it will strike again. You may also wonder if nutrition imbalances are at the root of the problem and if diet changes would be the simple solution.

Muscle cramps are poorly understood. Historically, no one has been able to predictably cause a muscle to cramp; this hindered the ability to study the underlying mechanisms that contribute to the these unpredictable spasms. Just recently, researchers have found a way to cause cramps. Hopefully, this will open the door for more research on ways to prevent them from happening.

We do know that muscle cramps most commonly occur among athletes who work their muscles to the point of exhaustion. The overexertion theory of muscle cramps goes like this: When a muscle gets tired, the numerous muscle fibers that comprise the muscle fail to contract in a synchronized rhythm. This is likely related to overstimulation from the nerves that trigger the muscles to contract.

What to do
What should you do if you get a cramp? Popular remedies include massage, stretching, accupressure (relaxing the affected muscle by applying pressure to it), and giving yourself a hard pinch squarely on the upper lip.

What about nutritional remedies? Previous theories have suggested cramping is related to fluid loss and electrolyte imbalance. These theories do not always hold true. (For example, musicians, who do not get sweaty, often complain of muscle cramps.) Yet, if you are plagued by cramps, you should at least rule out any possible factor that might contribute to getting them. Here are a few food tips to help you rule out theoretical nutritional causes.

Theory #1. Lack of water. Cramps often occur when an athlete is dehydrated. (But even athletes who are well hydrated get cramps.) To reduce the risk of dehydration-associated cramps, simply drink more than enough fluids before, during, and after you exercise. On a daily basis, drink enough fluids so you have to urinate every two to four hours. Your urine should be light colored and copious. During extended exercise, drink as much as tolerated, optimally 8 ounces every 15-20 minutes.

Theory #2. Lack of calcium. Calcium plays an essential role in muscle contractions. Anecdotal stories suggest that athletes who eliminate calcium-rich dairy products can become plagued by muscle cramps. For example, a ballet dancer who added yogurt and skim milk back into her diet reports her cramps disappeared. A mountaineer resolved his muscle cramps by taking calcium-rich Tums.

Exercise scientists question the validity of these anecdotes, believing a calcium imbalance is unlikely to be the cause of muscle cramps. After all, the bones are a calcium reservoir and can supply the body what's needed for proper muscle contractions. Never-the-less, to rule-out any possible link between a calcium-poor diet and muscle cramps, I recommend that athletes plagued by cramps consume calcium-rich foods at least twice a day, such as low-fat milk on cereal and a yogurt for a snack. This good nutritional practice certainly won't hurt them, and may possibly help.

Theory #3. Lack of sodium. Many health-conscious athletes restrict their salt intake on a daily basis, believing this will help prevent blood pressure problems. However, if these athletes are losing a significant amount of sodium through sweat, they may be putting themselves at risk for developing a sodium imbalance that could contribute to cramps. This situation is most likely to occur in extreme sports such as an Ironman triathlon or 100-mile trail run, particularly if the athletes have consumed only plain water during the event, no sodium-containing food or beverage.

Theory #4. Lack of potassium. Athletes who sweat heavily may lose some potassium, but they are unlikely to become potassium depleted. And if they did, the whole body would be affected--not just one muscle. Never-the-less, eating more potassium-rich fruits and vegetables will hurt no one. Theory #5. Lack of pickle juice. Some football players and athletic trainers swear two ounces of pickle juice taken ten minutes before exercise prevents cramps. The reasons are unknown and untested, but there's no harm in trying...!

The above suggestions are only suggestions, not proven solutions. But you might want to experiment with these dietary tips if you repeatedly suffer from muscle cramps. Adding extra fluids, low-fat dairy products, a sprinkling of salt, extra fruits and vegetables, and even some pickle juice certainly won't harm you and may possibly resolve the worrisome problem. I also recommend you consult with a physical therapist, athletic trainer or coach regarding proper stretching and training techniques. Nutrition may play no role at all.

Nancy Clark, MS, RD, nutritionist at Boston-area's SportsMedicine Brookline, counsels both casual and competitive athletes, addressing their food questions and weight concerns. Her information-packed, best selling classic, Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Guidebook, Second Edition is available at bookstores or via www.nancyclarkrd.com.

THE ATHLETE'S KITCHEN
Copyright: Nancy Clark, MS, RD


MHHOA Real Life Situation

Situation: Attacking player bats the puck with his hand at the opposing goalkeeper. The goalkeeper freezes the puck. Where is the ensuing face off?

Go to: https://mhhoa.tripod.com/MHHOA_Reallife.htm



Red Hook goalie brings a lot of heart to the ice

   By Justin Rodriguez
   Times Herald-Record
http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2002/01/17/ericigna.htm

 Hockey – John Clavin didn't believe what his teammate was telling him.

Our goalie has a fake leg? Yeah, right. It just didn't make sense to Clavin. After all, Eric Ignatowski looked so good in the net at practice. Here he was in his first game, making some pretty nice saves. It just couldn't be. But it was the truth. Ignatowski has a prosthetic left leg. He is the starting goalie for the Highland jayvee hockey team, which competes in the Orange County High School Club Hockey League. "I didn't believe it until my coach (Kevin Beck) told me,'' Clavin said. "You could never tell. I didn't think anything at practice, just that he was a good goalie. On a scale of one to 10, I'd give him an 8½.'' That's pretty good, considering Ignatowski, a junior at Red Hook, never played before this season. But Ignatowski has always loved hockey – roller hockey. He's spent the last six years playing goalie in various leagues.

And Ignatowski, 16, became pretty good. That's why so many people suggested that he give ice hockey a try. "This is definitely my favorite sport,'' said Ignatowski. "Hockey is a different game, it's different than anything else. I like the speed a lot. There is too much delay in football and baseball. I like the nonstop action in hockey.'' Ignatowski was born with Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency (PFFD), a congenital birth defect that affects approximately four in every million children. The cause of PFFD isn't known. Ignatowski was born without the center part of his femur, meaning his left leg would never be as long as his right leg. At 10 months old, Ignatowski had his left foot amputated, so he could be fitted for a prosthesis. Four years later, he underwent an operation to stop the maturing of the growth plates in his knee. Ignatowski was fitted for his first prosthesis when he was a year old.

He's already outgrown 12 of them. They're changed about every 18 months or so, depending on how much he grows. But that hasn't kept Ignatowski from being active in sports. Hockey, baseball, football, basketball – name the sport and Ignatowski, who is 5-foot-9, 145 pounds, has probably competed in it. He also snowboards, spending at least one day a week on the slopes. "Since the minute he could walk he was super athletic,'' said Ignatowski's mom, Martha Carleton. "We told him to try anything, we let him set his own limits. Most people don't know Eric has a prosthetic leg. He's just a normal kid with removable parts.''  Ignatowski, who also plays ice hockey in the Millbrook Youth Hockey League, didn't start the season with Highland. But Highland coach Kevin Beck needed a goalie early in the year. Beck heard about Ignatowski from a mutual friend. He also heard about his leg.

That didn't matter, as long as he could play. So far, Ignatowski's effort has been admirable. He gives up four goals a game, averaging 20 saves, for an overmatched Highland team that is 2-9. Most opponents don't even know about Ignatowski's leg. Only upon close inspection can you notice that it takes him a few more seconds to get up off the ice after plays. Besides that, the leg isn't a hindrance. "When (Beck) told me about the leg, I said, 'You got to be kidding.' I couldn't believe it,'' said Cornwall jayvee coach John Wilson. "I was really impressed with him. He stopped a lot of shots against us. When I told my kids about him after the game, their mouths were wide open.'' Ignatowski's left leg extends just below his hip. The end of it slides into the top part of his prosthesis, which is made of carbon fibers, and is secured with Velcro straps.  The middle, which includes a hydraulic knee, is made of titanium. His foot is metal, but covered by flesh-colored rubber. To this day, none of his Highland teammates has discussed Ignatowski's condition with him. Nobody says anything when he changes in the locker room. Nobody stares. That's how Ignatowski prefers it.  "There is no reason to tell anyone,'' Ignatowski said. "I just let people find out for themselves. I see no reason why I can't compete. I just like showing everybody that I can do it."

http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2002/01/17/ericigna.htm


Two eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, but when they lit a fire in the craft, it sank, proving once again that you can't have your kayak and heat it, too.



And the winners are...

Mike M., Lou, and Joe O. (Also in the running were: Dave, Tony, Mark, and Joe H. Jr.)



Contributions:

 If you have any newsworthy  item you would like to have included please contact Tony  Janicik at Whistle19@hotmail.com



Other Items of Interest:

Any  questions on any bulletin item should be addressed to a MHHOA Board member
 
 


MHHOA "Blue Line" January 2002 

NCAA SECHL Playoffs:

On February 15-17, 2002 the NCAA Super East Collegiate Hockey League (Division II Club) will hold it's annual playoffs at Ice Time Sports in Newburgh, NY. NCAA officials from around the area will be working the games including own MHHOA (NIHOA) members. 

MHHOA members attending the game(s) are invited to join the officials for a buffet courtesy of the MHHOA.

MHHOA Officials work charity game

On 12/22/01 a charity game was held at the MHCC to benefit September 11, 2001 victims. Ryan Brady, and Brian Booth volunteered their time and energy to the cause. The game was a current allstar -v- alumni allstars non-checking game; 3, 20 minute periods with ice cuts. 

Thank you Ryan and Brian for your time and efforts.

 

March meeting

I know what you are thinking, "...he's telling us about he March meeting in January?...". 

The MHHOA March meeting will be held on 3/12/02 6:30pm at Ice Time Sports. This meeting is very important with several major items on the agenda including ratification of the updated charter and bylaws and election of officers for the 2002-2004 term. Please plan ahead & make sure you are in attendance.

Your Uniform

We are receiving numerous complaints regarding officials appearance. We need to remember that we are being paid well to provide a service to the hockey community of the Hudson Valley. As such we need to keep our appearance as professional as possible on and off ice.

  • Dress in neat clean street clothes when arriving for a game you are working. A clean neat sweat suit is acceptable. When appropriate (tournament play, league playoffs etc.) dress clothes should be worn ("business casual", or shirt and tie).
  • Torn jeans, dirty clothes are NOT proper street apparel when you are working any game.
  • On Ice uniform shall be clean and free of wrinkles. If necessary bring your jersey and pants on a hanger in a garment bag if you cannot fold them neatly in your bag. 
  • Your helmet shall be kept clean. Keep your helmet in a bag so it doesn't get "scuffed" in your equipment bag. Polish your helmet with spray furniture polish to keep clean and shining.
  • Skates should be frequently inspected for damage and repaired when necessary.
  • Skates should be clean, with "protoe" (or similar product) covering the toe so as to protect the skate and give a clean appearance to your skate. Silicone or similar product can be used to shine the protoe for an even better appearance
  • Skate laces are to be white. Pure white is preferred, however, white with black (or blue) "flecks" is acceptable for "regular" season. For tournament play, pure white is strongly recommended.

  • Equipment should be cleaned and/or "aired out" on a frequent basis. Foul smelling equipment may be good for a few laughs with your playing buddy's it IS NOT ACCEPTABLE as an official
ENERGY BARS: Better than a banana?
(Reprinted from: http://www.varsityedge.com/)

Once upon a time, candy bars were the most popular energy bars. But in 1987, PowerBars entered the sports scene and started the onslaught of designer sports foods that are fighting for today's food dollar. Questions arise: Are energy bars better than, let's say, bananas? The following article answers the questions athletes commonly ask about energy bars. 

Question: "My workouts have improved since I started eating an energy bar within the hour before I train. Would a banana or some other natural food do the same job, or does this "designer food" have magic ingredients? "

Answer: Energy bars are not magic, nor are they preferable to-or better than-natural foods such as fig cookies, dried apricots, bananas, and other popular pre-exercise carbohydrates. The testimonials in magazine ads often proclaim "I'm a champion now that I eat SuperBar before I work out..."--but the ads fail to mention the athlete used to eat nothing pre-exercise. Clearly, any fuel is better than no fuel. In fact, eating even a candy bar five minutes pre-exercise improves performance when compared to having eaten nothing. 

The "magic" about energy bars is they are convenient, prewrapped, portable, and durable. They are ready-and-waiting, hassle free. Some energy bars claim to be "easily digested," but digestibility varies greatly from person to person. You'll have to judge that for yourself--be it digestibility of energy bars or bananas, for that matter.

Question: I get overwhelmed by the numerous kinds of energy bars. Are some better than others?

Answer: Some energy bars, like Clif Bars and Boulder Bars, are made from whole foods; they are filled with fruits, fiber, and wholesome goodness and quality nutrition. They are preferable to the energy bars that taste like candy and are little more than sugar-coated vitamins, minerals, and protein. With names like Fudge Brownie and Devil's Food Cake, do you really think these snacks offer better nutrition than found in an orange, banana, or peanut butter sandwich? And why are no berries listed in the ingredients for the Ironman Yogurt Berry Bar? Who's getting fooled here...

Question: "I eat energy bars for breakfast on the run, lunch at the office, and snacks before I exercise. Is there a health danger to eating too many energy bars?

Answer: In the long term, eating too many designer energy bars could potentially lead to health problems. Here's how.

1. In theory, if you eat lots of engineered foods, you can displace too many natural foods from the diet. That is, instead of grabbing a pre-exercise fruit, you choose a Chocolate Brownie Boom Bar. Because fresh fruits and vegetables are among the most health protective foods (and are already underconsumed in the typical athlete's diet), you'll likely end up with an even lower intake of the fiber, carotenoids, and other health-protective phytochemicals found in fruits, veggies, and whole grains. The solution: for each energy bar, be sure to eat a banana, some dried apricots, raisin bran, orange juice, yogurt, or other powerhouse snack food.

2. Eating too many highly fortified energy bars could potentially contribute to an overdose of minerals. An Ironman Bar, for example, provides 50% of the RDA for zinc. When you eat several highly fortified energy bars per day, plus take a multivitamin and mineral supplement and eat highly fortified breakfast cereals such as Total or Smart Start, you're consuming megadoses of vitamins and minerals. Whereas you will most likely excrete the excess vitamins in your urine, your body may develop health problems related to mineral imbalances. That is, minerals compete with each other in the body, and too much chromium, for example, can interfere with zinc absorption. This could potentially weaken your immune system. Too much zinc has been shown to elevate cholesterol levels. Good nutrition relies on the proper balance of nutrients; this balance may be difficult to achieve with excessive supplementation.

3. A diet rich in energy bars is often poor in variety. Athletes commonly consume only 10 to 15 different foods per week. If the bulk of your limited diet is energy bars, think again. You may be missing out on important nutrients obtained from a variety of foods. Food variety adds spice to your nutritional life. 
Your goal is to consume at least 20 to 30 different kinds of foods per week. So either eat a variety of natural-food energy bars, or better yet, how about replacing the bars with whole grain bagels, nuts, peanut butter, apples, carrots, oatmeal cookies, and other assorted snacks?

Question: I'm trying hard to dump my plump. I do well when I eat packaged foods like a Balance Bar or 40-30-30 bar as a fundamental part of my diet plan. Is this a safe way to lose weight?

Answer: Dieters tend to like energy bars because they offer a defined amount of calories, carbohydrates, protein, and fat, and this nutrition information on the label makes it easy for the dieter to calculate his or her food intake. But energy bars have no secret ingredients that promote weight loss. Their small portion assists calorie control by simply having a defined start and finish. That is, when you eat an energy bar, it's gone. But when you grab a handful of pretzels, what's left in the bag can tempt you to eat more...
Some dieters eat energy bars to the exclusion of whole foods. Bad idea. The best way to not only lose weight but also keep it off is to learn how to eat appropriate portions of your favorite foods. That means learning how to navigate cookies, birthday parties, and fast foods--and not just avoid these foods while you live on energy bars. 

The Bottom Line: Eating energy bars is preferable to eating candy bars and Twinkies. But the better bet is to eat a variety of wholesome foods that offer nature's bounty of health-protective compounds. You'll simultaneously save yourself lots of money. Energy bars easily cost $0.70 per 100 calories. In comparison, raisins are only $0.18/100 cals.; banana, $0.20; granola bar, $0.28. When used in sports situations, energy bars can be handy, but for day to day snacking, choose real food.

Nancy Clark, MS, RD is nutrition counselor at Boston-area's SportsMedicine Brookline. She is author of the best selling Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Guidebook, Second Edition, available by sending $20 to Sports Nutrition Services, 830 Boylston St., Brookline MA 02467 or via www.nancyclarkrd.com.

THE ATHLETE'S KITCHEN
Copyright: Nancy Clark, MS, RD 4/2000

MHHOA Question of the Month

On a breakaway, if the player throws his glove one way and dekes the goalie the other way, what is the penalty? (Found on the net at http://www.usahockey.com , the "Officials" section, archived "Ask An Official" Nov 23, 2001)

Name these officials. I'll post the results in the 2/2002 Blue Line

Other Items of Interest:
  • Please remember to call Mark D'Agostino (718-447-5200 x216) between the 20th and 25th of each month to establish your schedules
  • The January Meeting will be for Levels 1 & 2 officials only on Tuesday 1/8/02, 6:30pm at Ice Time Sports. This meeting is mandatory for levels 1 & 2.
  • The next MHHOA meeting will be for 3/4/HS/NIHOA on Tuesday 2/12/02 6:30pm at Ice Time Sports Complex.
  • Attendance is now mandatory at all meetings. Please check the Schedule of Events at the MHHOA Website for the meeting and attendance schedule 

  •  

Any  questions on any bulletin item should be addressed to a MHHOA Board member.
Contributions:

 If you have any newsworthy  item you would like to have
 included please contact Tony  Janicik at Whistle19@hotmail.com
 


Contributors: Tony Janicik, Dave Mateer, Mark D'Agostino

 



 

MHHOA "Blue Line" December 2001 

Revised 12/10/01
American Flag Sewing Instructions:

Place the American flag patch centered on the left sleeve of your referee's sweater. This flag should be worn about 2 1/4" inches below the left shoulder. It should be placed in such a position so as not to be obscured by the orange "referee" armbands when worn.

If you have NOT been issued your flag, please contact Tony Janicik at 845-433-6912, or email Whistle19@hotmail.com.

NCAA SECHL Playoffs:

On February 15-17, 2002 the NCAA Super East Collegiate Hockey League (Division II Club) will hold it's annual playoffs at Ice Time Sports in Newburgh, NY. NCAA officials from around the area will be working the games including own MHHOA (NIHOA) members. 

MHHOA members attending the game(s) are invited to join the officials for a buffet courtesy of the MHHOA.
 

Breaking up Fights

Posted by: Kevin Redding (Farmington, CT) on 11/29/2001 11:42pm 
(Reprinted from: http://ihonc.com/LockerRoom/index.php3?msg=4952)
 

  • Never grab a player from behind. That player doesn't know whether it is someone in stripes or if it is an opponent jumping him. Consequently, the reaction might be more violent than expected. 
  • If the players are spinning circles while fighting, don't follow them. Stay on the perimeter and let them get themselves dizzy. 
  •  If in an end zone and the situation permits, take a quick look to see if the attacking defense have come in. If so, the resulting face-off will be in the neutral zone. 
  • This should go without saying, but the first thing you need to do is put your whistle in your pocket. Going in to a fight with your whistle on is a good way to break a couple of fingers and get someone else hurt. 
  • If the players go down in a heap, lay on them. The top guy can't take a windup punch at the bottom guy if there is someone laying on him. 
  • While one official is on top, the other offical should try to wedge himself between the player and get them seperated. 
  • If you have multiple fights, pick one, break it up, get the player into the box, MAKE SURE THE PENALTY DOOR IS CLOSED, and then go  back for fight #2 as a team. If the player re-enters the fray by coming out of the penalty bench after the door was closed, there are some severe penalties coming his way. If he never makes it into the penalty bench before you leave, then technically he never left the penalty bench and the referee is in a tough position to make the additional calls against him. 
  • When escorting the players to the penalty bench, make sure there is always an official between them and any other opponent that might be in the vicinity. 
  • When escorting a player to the penalty bench, be in a position to be able  to corral a player who decides he wants to go back for more. You can do this by lightly holding on to the back of their sweater or holding on to the top of their pants. They probably won't even know you are doing     it. Be careful not to unnecessarily manhandle them. 
  • When discussing the resulting penalties with the referee, make sure there is at least one official still watching (preferably amongst) the players. It looks pretty bad when the three officials are huddled in the referee crease and another fight breaks out in one of the end zones. 
  • As an official, it is not your responsibility to fetch the combatants equipment for them. Let their teammates do that. You have more important things to do. 
 
Other Items of Interest:
  • Due to a "head crash" on my computer, email to the MHHOA membership will be temporarity "disrupted" until the mailing list can be recovered. I expect  this to be accomplished by middle to end of December. 
  • Please remember to call Mark D'Agostino (718-447-5200 x216) between the 20th and 25th of each month to establish your schedules
  • December meeting: Levels 3, 4, NIHOA, and high school officials Tuesday 12/11/01, 6:30pm @ Ice Time Sports 
  • The next MHHOA meeting will be for Levels 1 & 2 officials only on Tuesday 1/8/02, 6:30pm at Ice Time Sports.
  • Attendance is now mandatory at all meetings. Please check the Schedule of Events at the MHHOA Website for the meeting and attendance schedule
Contributions:

 If you have any newsworthy  item you would like to have
 included please contact Tony  Janicik at Whistle19@hotmail.com

Any  questions on any bulletin item should be addressed to a MHHOA Board member.



 

MHHOA "Blue Line" October 2001

Modified/Revised 11/6/01
 
Conn Hockey Conference
(Pawling Youth Hockey)
Playing Rules
B: Length of Penalties
Section 1: 
For games with a period length of less than 15 minutes Minor Major Misconduct
Mite 1 3 5 Minutes
Squirt 1 3 5 Minutes
PeeWee 1 1/2 4 6 Minutes
Bantam 1 1/2 4 6 Minutes
Midget 1 1/2 4 9 Minutes
Junior 10 Minutes
Section 2:
In all games where periods are 15 minutes or
longer, the following penalty times will apply.
2 5 10 Minutes
Section 3: 
All penalties will be stop time.

 
 
 
American Flag Sewing Instructions:

Place the American flag patch centered on the left sleeve of your referee's sweater. This flag should be worn about 2 1/4" inches below the left shoulder. It should be placed in such a position so as not to be obscured by the orange "referee" armbands when worn.

If you have NOT been issued your flag, please contact Tony Janicik at 845-433-6912, or email Whistle19@hotmail.com.

Hudson Valley League News:

Effective immediately the Hudson Valley League has "repealed" the throat guard rule. Throat guards are no longer required for any HVL team. This means all games are now USAH rules (with NYSAHA modifications).  This "update" is NOT reflected on the HVHL website.

Orange County High School League

UPDATED: 11/6/01

The Orange County League (OCL High School) has requested that we file game reports for any game misconduct's assessed for it's member teams during any game (league or non-league). Reports are to be filed DIRECTLY to the OCL through Mike Ciardullo.  Mike has asked that reports be FAXED only to the number below. Officials shall fax the game sheet and a brief description of the incident no later than the Monday following the date of the game.

Mike Ciardullo
92-94 Main Street
Walden, New York  12586
Fax: 778-2822

OCL Teams:

Pine Bush (V/JV), Vikings (V), Cornwall (V/JV), Washingtonville (V/JV), Gypsies (V), Kingston (V/JV), Highland (V/JV), Lakeland Panas (V/JV), Burke (V), Hendrick Hudson (JV), John Jay (JV), Warwick (V) 

FYI: I have confirmed directly with Mike C. that Monroe has withdrawn from the league.

*NOTE: Officials are REQUIRED to PRINT their names on scoresheets in addition to signing scoresheets for ALL OCL games (leage and non-league)
 

Other Items of Interest:
  • Please remember to call Mark D'Agostino (718-447-5200 x216) between the 20th and 25th of each month to establish your schedules
  • Certification for 2000-2001 ends on 11/30/01. You must have current certification for 2001-2002 to continue to officiate after this date.
  • The next MHHOA meeting will be for NIHOA, HS, Level 3, and Level 4 officials only on Tuesday 12/11/01, 6:30pm at Ice Time Sports.
  • Attendance is now mandatory at all meetings. Please check the Schedule of Events at the MHHOA Website for the meeting and attendance schedule
Contributions:

 If you have any newsworthy  item you would like to have
 included please contact Tony  Janicik at Whistle19@hotmail.com

Any  questions on any bulletin item should be addressed to a MHHOA Board member.

 


January 6, 2000

Bob Hayden (the National RIC) has instructed us to call CHC (Conn. Hockey Conference, Conn. State) rules when Pawling Youth hockey is hosting a game. Since Pawling is registered in Conn, when PYH *hosts* a game, both teams are bound by Conn. rules.  No doubt those of you that are on my list received the note from Harvey Cohen (Conn. Supervisor of Officials) that had Bob Hayden's response in it.

I have personally discussed this matter with Lou Musella, Mark D'Agostino, Dave Mateer & through emails with Harvey. Lou and Mark have requested that I send out this email, and ask that you all pass this on to any officials in the MHHOA that work Pawling Youth Hockey that may not have received this note. This (I am sure) will be discussed in greater detail at the next MHHOA meeting: 2/24/00 7pm at the Ice Time Sports Complex.

As stated in previous email's Conn. & the CHC have no special rule modifications or changes. 'Straight' USA Hockey rules are to be enforced when PYH hosts a game. **Please note this does not apply to the Pawling High School team which plays in the Mid Hudson High School Hockey League. NYSAHA rules shall still apply to the Pawling High School team.**

Any questions regarding this decision should be directed to a MHHOA board member.

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