Delay of Game, Checking from Behind, and Fisticuffs: A Review

I was a good kid last night. No complaining. Even though Mad Eric was out there. Of course, not 24 hours after I pointed out that the refs in our league don't follow the zero tolerance view regarding arguing calls, one of our guys argued a terrible call, and was immediately assessed a minor for arguing and a misconduct. Naturally, later in the game when one of their players wouldn't shut his cake hole asking for a delay of game call against our goaltender for knocking the net out of place (the net not even having a mooring on one side, it slid pretty easily), no call. Same ref. Oddly enough, not Mad Eric. But don't worry, Mad Eric participated in his share, as discussed below.

Some notes from blown calls last night (these are just ones that not everyone necessarily knows, these aren't all the bad calls):

At the end of the game, with a 2-1 lead, the opposing team was doing everything it could do to freeze the puck along the boards. We've all done this, whether killing a penalty or trying to get through the last few seconds of a period or game. Guess what? Not allowed. Not that a referee in our league would ever call it. Note the italics I've included:

Rule 629 Puck Must Be Kept in Motion

(a) The puck must at all times be kept in motion. Play shall not be stopped because the puck is frozen along the boards by two more opposing players, unless a player falls on or is knocked down onto the puck. If one player freezes the puck along the boards or if a player deliberately falls on the puck a minor penalty for delaying the game shall be assessed under Rule 609(e) or Rule 612(a).
(Note) Notwithstanding the above, the Referee may stop play along the boards if in his judgment allowing play to continue will lead to unnecessary contact surrounding the puck.
(b) A minor penalty shall be imposed on any player including the goalkeeper who holds, freezes or plays the puck with his stick, skates or body along the boards in
such a manner as to cause a stoppage of play.
(c) A player beyond his Defending Zone shall not pass nor carry the puck backward into his Defending Zone for the purpose of delaying the game except when his team is below the on ice numerical strength of the opponents. For an infringement of this
rule, the face-off shall be at the nearest end face-off spot in the Defending
Zone of the offending team.

and the explanatory note:

In the instance in which only one player intentionally holds the puck along the boards for three seconds, the Referee shall have no alternative but to assess a minor penalty for Delaying the Game to the offending player.

Why did I note the italics? Because with a minute to play, one of our guys got frustrated at this tactic, and while one of their players was "tying" the puck up against the boards, he hit him hard from behind. That wouldn't have happened had the referees enforced the rule above. Nonetheless, everyone on the ice and the bench saw what was clearly a major penalty. Here's the rule:

Rule 607 Checking from Behind

(a) A minor plus a misconduct penalty, or a major plus a game misconduct penalty, shall be imposed on any player who body checks or pushes an opponent from behind.

Interesting to note that even if the penalty itself deserved a minor, not a major, a misconduct penalty shall be imposed. In our case, a major was the right call.

Of course, immediately following the check from behind/boarding, the opposing player got up swinging he elbows trying to hit our guy (who had already skated away). This, too, we've all done. As I said the other day, sometimes you have to stick up for yourself. Instead of hitting our offending player, he hit another of our players. However, there was no penalty assessed. Mad Eric's reasoning? "He thought that was the guy that hit him." So, in my nicey-nicey-I'm-the-team-captain-and-I'm-entitled-to-an-explanation voice (really, I was quite calm) I say, "so that's not a penalty -- he's allowed to retaliate? Can you tell me what rule that is?" Mad Eric then said the other ref made the call. Which is amusing because after the game the other ref offered two explanations: (1) "I let Eric make the call;" and (2) "we've been allowing that all game." Elbowing? I don't think so. In any case, here's the unsurprising rule:

Rule 613:

(b) A minor penalty shall be imposed on a player who, having been struck, shall retaliate with a blow or attempted blow. However, at the discretion of the Referee a double minor or a major penalty may be imposed if such player continues the altercation.

Because knowing is half the battle . . .