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Breaking News Jan 2012 General Assembly Meeting Minutes (Posted: 18 Jan 2012) The meeting minutes from the January 2012 General Assembly Meeting are located on the Members Page. You must sign in to see these. If you do not have a username / password, contact the webmaster. Please do not share this information outside of our organization. Reminder - Next WPHOA Meeting Jan 18 (Posted: 7 Jan 2012) The next WPHOA meeting will be held next Wednesday (Jan 18) at the Ice Castle in Castle Shannon. The meeting will start at 7:00. NIHOA crests (Posted: 3 Jan 2012) NIHOA members can order NIHOA crests by contacting Jack Doherty. Reminder - Next WPHOA Meeting Nov 16 (Posted: 13 Nov 2011) The next WPHOA meeting will be held this Wednesday (Nov 16) at the Comfort Inn in Harmarville. The meeting will start at 7:00. Four Official System Manual (Posted: 5 Nov 2011) USA Hockey now recognizes the four-person officiating system. Here is a link to the Four Official System Manual. All officials who will work in this system should download this manual and review it. ACHA Officials Information (Posted: 1 Nov 2011) All ACHA officials should review the information in this zipfile. This packet includes: The 2010-12 Open Book Exam The answer sheet for the exam ACHA Shootout Protocol ACHA Shootout Score Sheet ACHA vs. NCAA Rules The NCAA Rules For Ice Hockey The NCAA Rules Summary (for ACHA) The NCAA Mid-Season Rules Memo A special offer on ACHA Officiating Apparel In addition, the following links may be helpful: The ACHA Contacts Page The ACHA Sweater Crest Link The NCAA 2010-11 Preseason Video The NCAA 2010 Men’s Rules Enforcement Video The NCAA 2011 Women’s Rules Enforcement Video The NCAA 2011 Mid-Season Rules Video A memo from the ACHA Referee-in-Chief that outlines the standards for approved goaltender equipment There have been many questions in regard to goalie masks, especially the "cat's eye" masks. Any HECC approved equipment has an approval sticker on it. The Goaltenders are NOT to remove the stickers. However, we know they sometimes do. The Goaltenders must carry the larger burden of making sure that their equipment is in compliance. If a goalie is wearing a mask that they say is legal, but he/she cannot prove it is legal, officials can remove it from the game. The link above (and here) clearly defines this. Finally, a reminder from the ACHA R.I.C., Andy Mecs... As a reminder: DQ = Player suspended for remainder of game and next game Game Misconduct = Player suspended for remainder of current game only Misconduct = 10 minute misconduct DQ's are cumulative. The 2nd DQ for any individual player equals a 2 game suspension. Any 3 game misconducts equals 1 game suspension. These rules are dictated to us by the NCAA. We are tracking DQ's and Game Misconducts. To protect yourself, please report them to Luc and me after every game. Tag-Up Offsides & Freshman Hockey - NO Checking (Posted: 14 Oct 2011) There will be NO checking in Freshman hockey for the 2011-12 season. There will be Tag-Up Offsides in all high school hockey (freshman, JV, & varsity). Oct 2011 General Assembly Meeting Minutes (Posted: 5 Oct 2011) The meeting minutes from the Octover 2011 General Assembly Meeting are located on the Members Page. You must sign in to see these. If you do not have a username / password, contact the webmaster. Please do not share this information outside of our organization. WPHOA Meeting ONE WEEK AWAY (Posted: 28 Aug 2011) The first WPHOA meeting of the 2011-2012 season will be held on Oct 5, 2011 at the Ice Castle (Castle Shannon, PA). The meeting will start at 7:00 PM. Please do your best to attend. New WPHOA Referee-In-Chief (Posted: 11 Sep 2011) Congratulations to Jim Weaver, who was apponited as the new WPHOA Referee-In-Chief of WPHOA, effective immediately. Many thanks to Dave Donatelli for his exceptional years of service as our RIC. Unfortunately for us, Dave has taken a job in Philadelphia and can no longer fill the RIC position. Fortunately, Jim is completely qualified and willing to serve in the role. Please wish both Dave and Jim well in their new roles. Body Contact Videos (Posted: 9 Sep 2011) USA Hockey has posted some helpful videos regarding body checking vs. body contact. Unfortunately, these were posted after many officials already attended their seminar. Please review the videos on the USA Hockey website (www.usahockey.com) under the Officials tab, Seminar Teaching Materials, Videos, Body Checking Videos. Losses to USA Hockey Family (Posted: 3 Sep 2011) USA Hockey has lost a few good men. Tony Mariconda, Atlantic District Referee-In-Chief, passed away on September 2. Tony was very influential in the world of USA Hockey and influenced many successful officiating careers. Also, Ken Tew, a longtime official in our Mid-Am District, passed away on August 24. Our condolences go out to their friends and families. WPHOA Member in the News (Posted: 18 Aug 2011) The Penguins posted an article featuring one of our WPHOA members for attending the NHL Exposure Camp. Congratulations to Steve Waters for being featured in the article on the Pens site. USA Hockey Seminars set - Mark Your Calendar! (Posted: 1 Aug 2011) The seminar schedule is tentatively set for the 2011-12 season. Mark your calendars! The dates can be found on the seminar page. Also, officials can now register (as of August 1) for the upcoming season. WPHOA recommends registering and taking your test before attending your seminar. A Loss to the WPHOA family (Posted: 29 Jun 2011) Adam Davidson's father passed away on June 10. The burial will be held on Friday, July 1 at National Cemetery of the Alleghenies (1158 Morgan Road, Bridgeville, PA 15017) at 1:00. A wake will be held at immediately following the burial at 25 Ralston Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15216. If you have any questions, Adam said you can call him at 412-477-0626. Our deepest sympathies go out to Adam and his family. Carrick Cougars Alumni Game (Posted: 22 Jun 2011) The Carrick Cougars Alumni Association will hold a benefit fundraiser with all proceeds going to benefit Deana Chisusano's fight against cancer. This will be held on Saturday, June 25 from 2:30 to 5:30 at the Ice Castle in Castle Shannon. Admission is $5 per adult & $2 per student (under 12 free). Zebra Cup - Huge Success (Posted: 29 May 2011) The sixth annual Zebra Cup was a HUGE SUCCESS! The tournament, which features teams of officials playing one another, was held on May 13-15. There were teams from Dayton, Columbus, Erie, West Virginia, Virginia/D.C., and three teams from WPHOA. Thanks to everyone for participating. Also, thanks to the brave souls who officiated these games. Thanks to Jimmy Koch & Jack Hays for the refreshments and incredible food at the picnic on Saturday (which may be the main reason that so many people come back year after year). Finally, thanks to Tim Morgret for coordinating everything. Everyone had a great time and is already looking forward to next year's tournament, which will be held the weekend after Mother's Day. Monopoly Tournament Properly Officiated (Posted: 29 May 2011) The National Kidney Foundation of the Alleghenies' 26th annual Corporate Monopoly Tournament held on April 28, 2011 was a huge success as usual. Thanks to the WPHOA Officials who donated their time to such a worth cause: Mike Trego, Jim Weaver, Mike Moorman, Scott Hutchison, & Larry Montebell. Thanks guys! May 2011 General Assembly Meeting Minutes (Posted: 26 May 2011) The meeting minutes from the May 2011 General Assembly Meeting are located on the Members Page. You must sign in to see these. If you do not have a username / password, contact the webmaster. Please do not share this information outside of our organization. WPHOA Meeting & Elections (Posted: 11 May 2011) The final WPHOA General Assembly meeting of the 2010-2011 season will be held on May 26 at the Ice Castle. Nominations will be accepted and then elections will be held for the offices of Vice President and Treasurer. The meeting is scheduled for 7:00. A Loss to the WPHOA family (Posted: 15 Apr 2011) WPHOA mourns the loss of one of our own; Bill Romary, long-time official, passed away on Wednesday, April 13. Bill was a fixture at the rinks for many years, and he will be missed by all. Visitation will be held at Laughlin Memorial Chapel (222 Washington Road in Mt. Lebanon) on Saturday (6-8 PM) and Sunday (2-4 and 6-8 PM). The funeral will be Monday morning at 9:15 AM. More details can be found in the obituary on the Post-Gazette website . Reminder: WPHOA Game & Zebra Cup (Posted: 1 Apr 2011) Our annual WPHOA game will be held on April 10, 2011 at the Ice Castle from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. There may be a spot or two remaining, so if you are interested, contact contact Tim Morgret . As usual, refreshments will be served after the game. The sixth annual Zebra Cup tournament will be held May 13-15, 2011 (the weekend after Mothers Day). If you wish to participate, contact Tim Morgret . This is always a great tournament with teams participating from Dayton, Buffalo, Erie, and others in addition to several local teams. As if the hockey weren't enough, the picnic is always incredible; WPHOA member Jack Hays consistently puts out a phenomenal spread that will have you coming back for more year after year. We hope to see you all there! March 2011 General Assembly Meeting Minutes (Posted: 16 Mar 2011) The meeting minutes from the March 2011 General Assembly Meeting are located on the Members Page. You must sign in to see these. If you do not have a username / password, contact the webmaster. Please do not share this information outside of our organization. WPHOA Member on YouTube (Posted: 27 Jan 2011) One of our WPHOA officials, Dorsey Dick, is featured in a YouTube video, which was seemingly shot in Troy, MI unbeknownst to him. The person that created the video has a great sense of humor. Click here to watch. Dorsey saw the humor in it as I hope you will. Enjoy. Officia's Q&A - Suspended Coach Communicating Via Text Messages (Posted: 26 Jan 2011) The following is a message from our Referee-In-Chief, Dave Donatelli after a scenario was brought forth at our most recent WPHOA meeting: A suspended coach is in the stands text messaging instructions to his assistant coach on the bench. As you remember, we had lively discussion. I have emailed both PAHL and PIHL Discipline Chairs about this situation and asked how they would like it handled. If it is brought to the on-ice officials attention that a suspended coach is attempting to give direction to his team from the stands: Inform the bench coach(s) that any communication with the suspended coach during the game can result in further disciplinary action Record it on the score sheet and submit an oral and written report within 24 hours of the game to the proper league disciplinary authority. It will be dealt with as Supplemental Discipline. Jan 2011 General Assembly Meeting Minutes (Posted: 19 Jan 2011) The meeting minutes from the January 2011 General Assembly Meeting are located on the Members Page. You must sign in to see these. If you do not have a username / password, contact the webmaster. Please do not share this information outside of our organization. NCAA Mid-Season Video (Posted: 19 Jan 2011) The NCAA has released its 2010-11 Midseason Video. This video is very helpful for illustrating many calls, especially the hybrid icing. Click (or copy and paste the following link: http://s3.amazonaws.com/ncaa/web_video/ice_hockey/2011/2011_mih_midseason.html Officials needed for Monopoly Tournament (Posted: 18 Jan 2011) Mark your calendars: The 26th annual Corporate Monopoly Tournament will be held on April 28, 2011 in the upper lobby of the US Steel Tower in downtown Pittsburgh. This tournament benefits the Naitonal Kidney Foundation of the Alleghenies, and WPHOA has provided 'referees' for this event every year since it's inception. Our participation is primarily ceremonial, but we do make some 'calls' and have a lot of fun for a great cause. They ask us back every year and everyone treats us much better than our usual crowds: they love us. All that is required is your referee sweater to wear during the event. They provide free drinks and dinner in a dine-around setup starting at 5:30pm. The Monopoly Tournament competition begins at 6:30pm and wraps up around 8:00pm. Please make every effort to attend and help out, there is plenty of room for everyone. For further information and to confirm your 'assignment' please email Jim Weaver. Officials showing up late (Posted: 12 Jan 2011) Some officials are showing up late for games. Remember that officials are to be at the rink 30 minutes prior to the start of games. Everyone needs to abide by this policy. When your partner is late (especially if that person doesn't call to let you know something happened), this should be reported to Jason. The first offense will result in a warning, the second offense will result in a two-week suspension, and the third offense will incur a month-long suspension. Suspensions include the loss of currently scheduled games. WPHOA Officials Numbers - Some MISSING (Posted: 11 Jan 2011) WPHOA has conducted an audit of the numbers given to all officials. The following numbers are missing: 125, 160, 186, 190, 193, & 198. If you have one of those numbers please contact the WPHOA Secretary and let him know which one you have. Thanks. 2011 Zebra Cup (Posted: 28 Dec 2010) The sixth annual Zebra Cup tournament will be held May 13-15, 2011 (the weekend after Mothers Day). If you wish to participate, contact Tim Morgret . This is always a great tournament with teams participating from Dayton, Buffalo, Erie, and others in addition to several local teams. As if the hockey weren't enough, the picnic is always incredible; WPHOA member Jack Hays consistently puts out a phenomenal spread that will have you coming back for more year after year. We hope to see you all there! Jim Gricar elected as new VP of WPHOA (Posted: 5 Dec 2010) Congratulations to Jim Gricar, who was elected in the special election for Vice President of WPHOA. Perfect Scores on Open Book Exam (Posted: 1 Dec 2010) The following WPHOA members achieved a perfect score on their Open-Book exam. Congratulations to Adam Davidson, Dave Donatelli, Don Fedor, Bruce Kaplan, Bob Koch, Vince Pavic, Chris Schultz, John Vasilisin, Jim Weaver & Rob Wojciechowski. Oct 2010 General Assembly Meeting Minutes (Posted: 1 Dec 2010) The meeting minutes from the December 2010 General Assembly Meeting are located on the Members Page. You must sign in to see these. If you do not have a username / password, contact the webmaster. Please do not share this information outside of our organization. NCAA Rules & Clarifications (Posted: 27 Nov 2010) Dave Fryer (Associate Commissioner of College Hockey East) has provided the following documents, links, & notes for those working ACHA games: 2010-12 NCAA Rules & Interpretations - The hard copies are not yet available Summary of options for "Aggressive foul" penalties - Dave will work on a smaller version (cheatsheet) to fit in an officials' riot pad. 2010-11 NCCA Ice Hockey Rules Committee - Final Changes - The list of rule changes & a brief summary of each 2010-11 NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Video This is extremely useful and probably the most-useful tool I can recommend. All officials should watch this in it's entirety. If you look at nothing else on this list, at least watch this video. USA Hockey Officials Development Program attainable-touch icing instructional video ("hybrid icing") - This is not an NCAA video but further explains the icing being used by the NCAA fairly well, especially if you're still not comfortable with it after watching the NCAA video. It is an instructional video for USA Hockey officials, so it does contain details specific to officials. A tip on applying this: it is the SAME rule as the touch-up icing the NHL uses, EXCEPT the linesman makes a decision on who will touch it first before the puck is actually touched. So treat it like NHL touch-up icing, just make a decision on who will get to the puck first well before that actually transpires. Even the NCAA video acknowledges it's going to take an adjustment period for everyone (players, coaches, fans, and yes, even officials). This has been reiterated to all the ACHA teams that fall under my direction (CHE, CHA, RMU). If you do make the wrong call, the face-off is at center ice -- no harm to anyone. Lastly, this rule requires linesmen who are active and mobile since they now must move into the zone with the play far more often. Therefore, fitness and hustle are increasingly vital to the performance of all the officials. Contact to the Head (Rule 6, Section 8 of the Rules and Interpretations) - While the icing rule is the most-common, this rule has quickly gained the most attention. This is an excellent rule for player safety, especially since a vast majority of ACHA players do not have a professional hockey career ahead of them. Safety is the priority, not a hard line to get more players ejected. The primary point of emphasis is that the hit/contact must be TARGETING the head. So please note that it is not a major penalty for every contact with the head, but rather a major penalty for hits directed at the head/neck area. Incidental contact is usually a minor penalty, or no penalty at all when it's really not even an impact. Also, do not confuse it as only high hits -- the player getting hit could be bent down and get hit in the head. It is the responsibility of the player throwing the hit to not direct his action at the opponent's head/neck area. The NCAA video covers this one very well. For purposes of clarification... The NCAA Rules Committee is only CONSIDERING a proposal at this time to allow the use of half-shields in the future. In other words, the "rule" that was passed this summer is only a mandate on doing studies and research related to the future consideration of this rule. Therefore, half-shields are still NOT to be used in games played under NCAA rules, including all ACHA games. The earliest the NCAA could possibly allow the use of half-shields is for the 2012-13 season. This is made more clear on page HR-10 of the rulebook versus the confusion created by the release of rules changes. Additionally, should the NCAA ever approve the use of half-shields, the ACHA will still need to approve them for use in ACHA games. So for the foreseeable future, full shields are required of all ACHA players. If any player/coach/team tries to convince you otherwise, tell them to call me. NCAA Rule Clarification - See this memo sent by the NCAA for additional rule guidance on hybrid icing, penalty shot/optional minor when a goal is scored, awarded goal/penalty enforcement, broken sticks, and high sticks. For more assistance... If you are unsure of anything, need a clarification, or have a question about a situation you experience, please do not hesitate to call me (412-715-5531) or email me (david.fryer@verizon.net) at any time. I may not have the answer to every inquiry right away, but I will always do my best to get you a correct response. Related to that, if you have any issues that arise in any CHE/CHA game, I am the primary point of contact for all hockey-related items in those two leagues. Never hesitate to call me on those things. Polar Plunge - Special Olympics fundraising event (Posted: 23 Nov 2010) On Saturday December 4th, (one of our members) AJ Maloney will jumping in the Allegheny River as part of the POLAR PLUNGE. I know, you’re wondering, “What the heck is the POLAR PLUNGE and why would anyone jump in the river in December???” Well, the POLAR PLUNGE is a sponsored event to raise money for Special Olympics. The Special Olympics is an amazing organization which allows individuals with various handicaps to participate in many sporting events. Anybody who has children or relatives with special needs or even if you yourself have participated in sports growing up, you know how important they can be to healthy living and quality of life. Some of the folks here at ATF Pittsburgh have formed a team for this event and we are asking you to please donate to this amazing cause. PLEASE click on the link below and then click on SPONSOR A PLUNGER. From there just type his name in ( AJ Maloney) and hit enter and follow the instructions. It is very easy to donate by credit card. If you wish to give cash that’s ok too, cash is king!!!!!!!!!! If You don’t think you’ll see him by the 4th, please give it to someone who will. If you wish to forward this to someone that may be interested, friends or co-workers please do so. Also, if you or someone you know can get larger donations from their employers by all means do so! Thank you so much in advance for all your help! http://www.specialolympicspa.org/specialevents/polar-plunge/114-pittsburghplunge USA Hockey - NCAA rule differences (Posted: 18 Nov 2010) A list of the rule differences between USA Hockey and NCAA can be found by clicking here . Please familiarize yourself with these if you are skating these games. There is no excuse for not knowing the rules! College Games - Report Game Misconducts & DQ penalties (Posted: 18 Nov 2010) Dave Donatelli, our Referee-In-Chief, wants game reports submitted for all game misconducts and/or DQs issued in college games. This can be as simple as sending him an email. There is a rule that if a player gets three game misconducts in a season, it carries a game suspension. These reports will let him track this. Please file them promptly after the game. USA Hockey Registration (Posted: 18 Nov 2010) If you have not yet fully registered as an official with USA Hockey, time is running out! You will not be able to work as of December 1 unless fully registered. The last seminar is this Sunday. If you want to skate, find a way to get there. Also, all of the procrastinators need to get their exams done. Again, you will NOT be assigned games after Dec 1 if you do not fully register. Next WPHOA Meeting Dec 1 (Posted: 5 Nov 2010) The next WPHOA meeting will be held on December 1 at the Comfort Inn in Harmarville. The meeting will start at 7:00. VP Election UPDATE (Posted: 29 Oct 2010) The candidates for the office of Vice President, Jim Gricar & Mike Burt, have each put together a message for all WPHOA members regarding their candidacy. These can be accessed from the Members Page. Vice-President Special Election (Posted: 20 Oct 2010) As decided at the meeting last night, there will be a special election to fill the office of Vice President. This election will be held by secret ballot, which will be sent out via postcards that will be returned to the chair of the Nominating Committee. These will be printed and sent out in the next few weeks. The nominees are Jim Gricar and Mike Burt. Zach Roberts was also nominated, but declined the nomination. Each candidate will be given the opportunity to address the organization regarding their candidacy via the website. An email will be sent to all members when these are posted. Oct 2010 General Assembly Meeting Minutes (Posted: 19 Oct 2010) The meeting minutes from the October 2010 General Assembly Meeting are located on the Members Page. You must sign in to see these. If you do not have a username / password, contact the webmaster. Please do not share this information outside of our organization. First WPHOA Meeting of 2010-2011 is Oct 19 (Posted: 28 Sept 2010) The first WPHOA meeting of the season will be Tuesday, Oct 19, 2010 at the Mt. Lebanon Rec Center, above the rink in room 1A. The meeting will start promptly at 7:30. Please make plans to attend as this will be a very important meeting heading into the new season. Check Out "The Chief" (Posted: 18 Sep 2010) One of our members, Bruce Kaplan, is involved in the production of a move based on the Pittsburgh Public Theater play, The Chief. For those that haven't seen it, this is a one-man show starting Tom Atkins as Art Rooney. The reviews have been stellar, and the movie should be great as well. If interested, check out the website for the movie. Officials Sweaters - NHL-style not acceptable (Posted: 10 Sep 2010) Reminder from Dave LaBuda (USA Hockey Referee-in-Chief): "the new NHL style referee/linesman sweater, along with the earlier Jofa style referee/linesman sweater, are not acceptable wear during USA Hockey sanctioned games. USA Hockey has not changed its position on alternate officiating sweaters for several reasons the most important of these reasons being the cost to individual officials to replace their sweaters and the total lack of good reason to make the change to a new style of sweater. NHL officials have their sweaters given to them, free of cost, by the league. We are certainly not in a position to do that. Looking uniform as a team is something that we still fell is a very important perception for ‘our team’ when they are officiating an ice hockey game." New Addition to WPHOA family (Posted: 24 Aug 2010) Congratulations to Matt & Missy Harmon on the birth of their son, Matthew David Harmon Jr. He was born on Aug 14 at 5:58 pm (7 lb, 12 oz and 20 3/4 "). Steel City Icebergs Charity Skate-a-thon (Posted: 22 Aug 2010) The Steel City Icebergs are sponsoring a "Skate-a-thon & registration event" on Sunday, 29 Aug 2010 at the RMU Island Sports Center from 11:30 am to 12:50 pm. The Icebergs are a hockey program for individuals with Autism, Down Syndrome, Traumatic Brain Injury, Mitochondrial Disease, & many other disabilities. Other highlights scheduled include a bake sale (with gluten free items), raffles, and food. For more information, contact Stephanie Maust by email or by phone at 724-712-3779. New Addition to WPHOA family (Posted: 10 Jul 2010) Congratulations to Mike & Jen Burt on the birth of their daughter. Addison Claire was born on July 10 (6 lb, 13 oz and 20 ") at 11:02 AM. (6 lb, 13 oz seems to be a popular size for WPHOA babies this weekend) New Addition to WPHOA family (Posted: 9 Jul 2010) Congratulations to Frank and Kristin Sparrow on the birth of their daughter. Mackenzie Rose was born on July 9 (6 lb, 13 oz and 18 ") at 8:16 AM. USA Hockey Seminars set - Mark Your Calendar! (Posted: 29 Jun 2010) The seminar schedule is tentatively set for the 2010-11 season. Mark your calendars! The dates can be found on the seminar page. Vice President Nominations (Posted: 25 Jun 2010) With the resignation of Tim Morgret, the office of Vice President is vacant. If you would like to nominate someone for the office, contact Bill Kelly (the chair of the nomination committee), Jim Gricar, or Ed Vanek. The vacancy will be filled at the next scheduled meeting, so get your nominations in ASAP. WPHOA thanks Tim for his years of dedication and service. Thanks Tim! WPHOA Scheduler Hired (Posted: 22 Jun 2010) The WPHOA Executive Board is pleased to announce that Jason Mirich has been hired as the new WPHOA scheduler. More details about scheduling will be forthcoming as the season approaches. Monopoly Tournament Properly Officiated (Posted: 31 May 2010) The National Kidney Foundation of the Alleghenies' 25th annual Corporate Monopoly Tournament held on April 29, 2010 was a huge success as usual. Thanks to the WPHOA Officials who donated their time to such a worth cause: Scott Hutchinson, Larry Montebell, Frank Sparrow, & Mike Trego. Thanks guys! Frank & Mike at work The usual crew - Frank, Mike, Scott, & Larry Another Successful Zebra Cup (Posted: 30 May 2010) Thanks to everyone who participated in and helped make this year's Zebra Cup another success. As usual, Tim Morgret did a great job organizing things and Jack Hays put out an incredible spread for the picnic lunch (People are STILL dreaming of the brisket he prepared)! Special thanks to Tim & Jack for a job VERY WELL DONE! Phil Parks has captured the event in his annual blog post on the event, which can be accessed by clicking here . Thanks to Phil for again posting pictures and a story! New Addition to WPHOA family (Posted: 18 May 2010) Congratulations to Tom & Heather Farmerie on the birth of their son, Calin Thomas, who was born on May 13 (6 lb, 15 oz and 20 1/2 "). Ziggy's Fundraiser (Posted: 14 May 2010) Dave Zeigler, more commonly known as “Ziggy” has been a mainstay of the hockey community in Johnstown and the entire hockey PIHL. Ziggy was always there for anyone from the local youth and scholastic programs to the Johnstown Chief and Pittsburgh Penguins. Last month, our friend Ziggy was diagnosed with brain cancer. As he was there for so many through the years, folks have stepped forward and set up a fundraiser for him. Check out the details on Facebook (search for "Ziggy's Fundraiser") or at the official website www.ziggysfundraiser.org. WPHOA Elections (Posted: 3 May 2010) Nominations for President and Secretary were closed at the last WPHOA meeting. The nominations for President were John "Corky" Vasilisin and Tim Morgret. The only nomination for Secretary was Michael Safko. Tim Morgret has since declined the nomination for President after thanking everyone for the nomination. There is only one nomination for each office, so Corky and Michael will continue on in their roles as President and Secretary of WPHOA. Loss to WPHOA Family (Posted: 27 Apr 2010) Corky's mother, Margaret Vasilisn, passed away yesterday. The viewing will be on Wednesday, from 2-4pm and 7-9pm at the Teichart-Gracan Funeral Home, which is at 212 Wilmot St in Duquesne (15110) on the corner of Kennedy & Wilmot Streets. The funeral service will be on Thursday, 10am, at the funeral home. Condolences can be offered on the obituary page at the Post Gazette. New WPHOA Members (Posted: 22 Apr 2010) Congratulations to the following persons; they were all moved up to full member status in WPHOA in 2010. Frank Bastone, Jason Binnie, Dan Boyle, Derek Carlins, Tom Chybrzynski, Wes Clawson, Dale Clawson, Chris Costa, Mario DeLeon, Dorsey Dick, Dave Fryer, Brian Hoebel, Michael Jacobs, Patrick Jacobs, Andrew Jager, Matt Kubacki, Syl Kubacki, Mark Lauzon, Rich Lavrich, Jeff Nunez, Louis Polonkey, Rob Rhyms, Tim Sheehan, Jesse Shoff, Kathy Smith, Zane Stoudt, & Don Szurszewski. Those that were at the meeting last night received your crest. The rest will get it in the mail with your payout. Congratulations! WPHOA Golf Outing (Posted: 17 Apr 2010) The sixth and FINAL annual Virginia Gentlemen's two-man shootout will be held on Saturday May, 22 at Montebell’s Twin Lakes in Kittaning, PA. This will be the LAST TIME to play the always-challenging Montebell-designed Par 3 layout in the scenic rolling fields of Kittaning. Space is limited so reserve your two-some early. The cost of this event is $35.00 which includes green fees, food and refreshments but, the entertainment is ALWAYS FREE. So make your plans to be part of this commemorative event. Contact Larry Montebell at larrymont1@penn.com for details or to register. - Shotgun start at 9 AM sharp - $35 per person - Two man scramble - 18 holes - Rain or shine - Prizes - Lunch at the turn - Dinner at the end - Refreshments throughout the day. WPHOA Meeting on Wed, 21-Apr (Posted: 15 Apr 2010) Don't forget; there is a WPHOA Meeting this Wednesday, April 21 at the South Park Clubhouse in South Park, PA. There is a link to get directions on the Meetings Page. Nominations for President & Secretary will be closed at this meeting. WPHOA Scheduler NEEDED (Posted: 13 Apr 2010) WPHOA needs to hire a scheduler for next season. Applications for the position should be sent to the Scheduling Committee, which consists of Jim Gricar and Dave Barry. Applications are due by May 1, & interviews will commence in May. New Addition to WPHOA family (Posted: 13 Apr 2010) Congratulations to Mike and Kelli Wetzel on the birth of Liam Michael Wetzel, born on April 8 & weighing in at 8 pounds, 5 ounces & measuring 21" in length. WPHOA Elections (Posted: 3 Apr 2010) The offices of President and Secretary are up for election. Nominations will be open until the meeting that we'll have at the end of April. If you would like to nominate someone for either office, contact Bill Kelly (the chair of the nomination committee), Jim Gricar, or Ed Vanek. WPHOA Game & Zebra Cup dates (Posted: 20 Feb 2010) The dates for the WPHOA game and Zebra Cup tournaments are tentatively set. Both games will be held at the Ice Castle. The WPHOA game will be held on April 25 from 3:00 to 5:00 PM. The Zebra Cup tournament will be held on the weekend of May 14-16. More details will be posted as these events get closer. Officials needed for Monopoly Tournament (Posted: 22 Jan 2010) Mark your calendars: The 25th annual Corporate Monopoly Tournament will be held on April 29, 2010 in the upper lobby of the US Steel Tower in downtown Pittsburgh. This tournament benefits the Naitonal Kidney Foundation of the Alleghenies, and WPHOA has provided 'referees' for this event every year since it's inception 24 years ago. Our participation is primarily ceremonial, but we do make some 'calls' and have a lot of fun for a great cause. They ask us back every year and everyone treats us much better than our usual crowds: they love us. All that is required is your referee sweater to wear during the event. They provide free drinks and dinner in a dine-around setup starting at 5:30pm. The Monopoly Tournament competition begins at 6:30pm and wraps up around 8:00pm. Please make every effort to attend and help out, there is plenty of room for everyone. For further information and to confirm your 'assignment' please email Jim Weaver. Loss to WPHOA Family (Posted: 21 Jan 2010) Bob Gregory's father passed away this week in Rhode Island. Our concolences go out to Bob and his family. Loss to WPHOA Family (Posted: 26 Dec 2009) Mike Trego's father, Sam Trego, passed away on Christmas Day after battling health problems over the past half year. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time, but services will be held at Wilde Funeral Home, 434 Main St., Parkesburg, PA 19365. Our condolences go out to Mike and his family. Allowing Play with EMT on Bench (Posted: 23 Dec 2009) When an EMT is on the player's bench (attending to an injured player, unprotected by glass), it the EMT's decision as to whether play can continue; the referee shall ask the EMT whether he/she is comfortable with resuming play while on the bench. This is PAHL rule 8.4.2 (Treatment of Players). CHA Overtime Clarification (Posted: 11 Dec 2009) Memo from CHA RIC Mike Welton: A 5 minute Sudden Death period will commence after a 1 minute break at game’s end. Teams will stay at the same end as they defended in the third period. Penalties from regulation carry over into overtime. It is a 4X4 format. During the 4X4, if there is a minor penalty, it goes to 4X3. If there is a 2nd minor to the same team, creating a 2 man advantage, it goes to 5X3. Teams revert back to the 4X4 at the first whistle after players return to the ice for full strength. Updated Assault Pamphlets (Posted: 21 Nov 2009) The "Assault on Officials" pamphlets have been updated. Every official should print these out (for all states in which you skate) and keep them in your bag. Hopefully you won't need it, but if you do, it is very good to have! Click on the link to open the document for each state: Assault - PA Assault - WV Assault - OH WPHOA Meeting on Nov 18 (Posted: 13 Nov 2009) Reminder - There is a WPHOA meeting next week on Wednesday, Nov 18 at 7:00. The meeting will be held at the Comfort Inn in Harmarville (in the meeting room upstairs where we've had meetings in the past). Major Penalty Substitution Rule clarification (Posted: 11 Nov 2009) Memo from David LaBuda (USA Hockey National Referee-in-Chief): Over the past several weeks there has been a lot of questions and discussion about the new Major penalty substitution rule. To answer all of these questions, the Case Book Committee met a couple of weeks ago and thoroughly reviewed, discussed and recommended solutions/answers to all of the situations that were put before us. Since the new rule book has released, we felt the best way to efficiently and clearly distribute this information is through the attached spreadsheet/chart which (as best as we can determine) covers all of the potential situations that could occur which involve the new major penalty substitution rule. To date, there has been some inconsistent and incomplete information distributed about this rule so with the next issue of ‘Stripes” (which will be sent out within the next few days) this spreadsheet/chart will be included for all of the officiating community to review and follow. Additionally, we have discovered that some of situations in the Case Book are incorrect and they along with some other typographical errors will be corrected in a mass mailing to all registered officials within the next few weeks. Goalie Gear / Neck Guards (Posted: 9 Nov 2009) Memo from Kathy Santora: In response to the several e-mails involving different equipment issues, the following will be what the PIHL Executive Committee wishes for the 2009-10 season, with more definitive wording added to next years PIHL playing rules: Goalie requirement current rules say "throat protection and neck guard". The "throat protection shall be defined as a "gobbler" style and/or extension of the helmet, as defined by PAHL as well. Player neck guards shall be either an independent piece or built into a garment that has been certified for this purpose, such as the MIssion, Reebok or Vaughn samples shown. The protection built into a garment must be able to be determined as containing additional solid material to provide protection from a cut. A mock turtleneck is unacceptable. If this determination cannot be made by the game official, they should require the players to leave the ice until they have the traditional independent neck guard. In both of these cases, if a game official has safety concerns, he would be within his right to make the player leave the ice until he has the protective equipment that official deems necessary. If your officials are not comfortable with this, then I would ask they at least send information regarding the team and player to me, and I will address this with the individuals involved. I have been informed that Mission went out of business six months ago and as I said earlier, USAH is currently reviewing the body style neck protection in order to make either a recommendation or possibly a requirement as with other protective equipment. Rule Differences (Posted: 28 Oct 2009) USA Hockey has put together a file that lists the 2009-10 differences in rules between three different levels of hockey (High School & below, NFHS, & NCAA). Click here to download the file. WPHOA By-Laws Update (Posted: 14 Oct 2009) The WPHOA By-Laws have been updated. Download the updated document by clicking here. Please review this copy; we will go over these at the General Assembly meeting NEXT WEEK, and then we will vote on adopting this version at the next meeting. Thanks - St. Margaret's Tournament (Posted: 14 Oct 2009) Thanks to everyone that skated for a good cause in the St. Margaret's Tournament last weekend, especially Dave Fryer & Frank Sparrow. CHMA Updates (Posted: 30 Sep 2009) The CHMA has several recent updates. First of all, the latest CHMA Game Protocol sheet has been issued (click on the link to download). Everyone who is working the games should have this & adhere to it. Also, the CHMA (& also CHA & CHE) has a zero-tolerence mouthgard policy. Please read this & enforce. SCORE ONE FOR LIFE - Blood Drive & Youth Hockey Competition (Posted: 16 Sept 2009) The Pittsburgh Penguins have partnered with Central Blood Bank to encourage youth hockey to get involved in the community blood program. This is an opportunity for you to provide blood to area hospitals and ultimately save lives. Participating donors will receive an authentic Pittsburgh Penguins T-shirt courtesy of the Penguins! In addition, all participating donors will be entered into a raffle to win authentic Penguins memorabilia, DVDs of the 2008-2009 Stanley Cup run and much more. Also, the youth hockey teams that sponsor each event will have a chance to win free ice time or equipment; the teams that have the most donors will receive these donations. Please take the time to schedule your life saving appointment sign up at www.centralbloodbank.org or call 1-866 donors1. The Blood Drives will take places at the following locations: Warrendale Blade Runners - Monday, Sept 21, 2:00 PM - 8:00 PM Bethel Park Blade Runners - Monday, Sept 21, 2:00 PM - 8:00 PM Center Ice Arena (Delmont) - Wednesday, Sept 23, 2:00 PM - 8:00 PM RMU Island Sports Center - Thursday, Sept 24, 2:00 PM - 8:00 PM Iceoplex (Southpointe) - Friday, Sept 25, 2:00 PM - 8:00 PM CHA Rule Reminder - Only TWO Goaltenders (Posted: 16 Sept 2009) Under no circumstances is any CHA team allowed to dress 3 goaltenders in a game. The responsibility lies with the coaches to know what league they are playing in. The EJ and Empire allow this but CHA does not. It is also the officials job to count the number of skaters and goaltenders before the start of the game to ensure that only 18 skaters and not more than 2 goaltenders are dressed for the game. If 3 goaltenders are dressed, coaches will be subject to supplemental discipline. For questions, contact the CHA RIC at 201-546-0182. -- Mike Welton, CHA RIC EJHL Rulebook added to the site (Posted: 10 Sep 2009) The 2009-2010 EJHL Rules have been added to the Rules Page. This is for the Junior B Pens, which will be scheduled by WPHOA. Please download the file & start looking it over if you will be working these games as either a linesman or referee. Useful Info Added to Site (USA Hockey Rules, Assault pamphlets, etc) (Posted: 1 Sept 2009) The 2009-2011 USA Hockey Rulebook (and Casebook) have been added to the Rules Page so that you can download the PDF version. There is also a rule change summary so you can quickly go over what has changed. In addition, WPHOA has developed a pamphlet regarding "Assaults on Officials." This is available on the Documents Page in the Members Area (or can be accessed directly by clicking here . This pamphlet can be printed (double-sided) & folded into thirds for easy carrying. We recommend that you review thisinformation and keep several copies of this in your referee bag so that you have it when you need it. This is something that we all need to take seriously. There is no place in the game for this type of behavior, and action should be taken EVERY time this occurs so that people learn that this is completely unacceptable. Please be sure to report incidents to the authorities. This pamphlet cites the laws in PA; we are working toward having others developed for WV and OH. Tim Morgret (Posted: 19 Aug 2009) In honor of Tim Morgret's 50th birthday (August 19), the "Friends of the ECHL" has provided some film footage from their archives: 1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrlvbNSRiPU 2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOu5wNs7l9M These videos can be a great learning tool and should be mandatory for all WPHOA officials to watch. WPHOA loses a friend (Posted: 17 Aug 2009) WPHOA mourns the loss of a good friend and a great coach. Jimmy Damp passed away this weekend. Jimmy's positive outlook and incredible spirit influenced countless lives in his work as a hockey coach for many years, most recently as the Fox Chapel Varsity coach. The world was a better place for Jimmy having been here, and the entire community will miss him. More details can be found at the Pittsburgh Trib (a very nice article) or on the Post-Gazette. Time Change for Seminar at Ice Castle (Posted: 10 Aug 2009) The time for the seminar at Castle Shannon on Aug 30 has changed. It will now start at 10 am. The seminar will not be shorter; we will just go onto the ice later in the day. Seminar Registration (Posted: 31 Jul 2009) There is a new procedure to register for seminars. You must register through USA Hockey site now, & must do it as you renew your registration. See the WPHOA seminar page for dates/locations. October 3 is the LAST seminar. Plan accordingly! To Register on USA Hockey... When you see the "REGISTRATION CONFIRMATION" page, click on the "CONTINUE" button at the bottom of the page. Click on the link for "Seminar Information" on the next page. On the right o the next page, there is a list of states that allow seminar registration through USA Hockey; Click on the "Click here to get started" link. Follow the prompts from there to create a profile & register. Once your profile is created, click on the "click here to go back to your previously visited page" link, which will take you back to the first seminar page. Now click on the "Click here to find a seminar in these areas" link. Then enter in the level of the seminar you would like to attend, the District (Mid-American), and the State (PA); the site will then show you a list of seminars you can attend. Click on the seminar to register. WPHOA General Assembly Meeting Schedule (Posted: 31 Jul 2009) The General Assembly Meeting schedule for 2009-2010 is set. The dates are Oct 21 (Mt. Lebanon Rec. Center), Nov 18 (Harmarville TBD), Jan 20 (Mt. Lebanon Rec. Center), Feb 17 (Harmarville TBD), & Apr 21 (South Park Clubhouse). The locations are tentative (based on availability). All meetings will begin at 6:45. Please arrive on time! Swearing - Call it! (Posted: 31 Jul 2009) The PIHL is making a push for officials to call all swearing that is heard, even if it is not directed at officials. They want this out of the game. This is very important! ECAC Officiating Tryout (Posted: 22 Jul 2009) For the fourth consecutive year the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) will be holding an open tryout at the ESL Sports Centre in Rochester, N.Y. for individuals interested in officiating intercollegiate men’s and women’s ice hockey. The tryout will take place from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 15. Candidates will go through an on-ice skating session and will complete the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Ice Hockey Rules Exam. Individuals interested in attending the tryout must register at www.ecac.org. Questions regarding the tryout can be sent to Michael Letzeisen, ECAC Director of Sport Administration (mletzeisen@ecac.org, 508-771-5060 ext. 236). The ECAC assigns officials for the ECAC Men’s East Ice Hockey League, ECAC Men’s West Ice Hockey League, ECAC Northeast Ice Hockey League, ECAC Women’s East Ice Hockey League, ECAC Women’s West Ice Hockey League, Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC), New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC), Niagara University, Robert Morris College, the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) and Syracuse University. Click here for the Registration Form. 2009-10 Seminar Info (Posted: 8 Jul 2009) The list of USA Hockey Seminars has been posted on the seminar page. Registration for seminars is now through the USA Hockey site; you must do this as you register for the season. Check Your Info (Email, Phone, Address) (Posted: 8 Jul 2009) Check your personal information in the Member's Area. In order to receive email updates from the Secretary, your email address must be correct. Also, other members may not be able to contact you about games if your info is not correct. Click on the "Member List" icon on the menu on the left. Send updates to the Webmaster. WPHOA Golf Outing #2 (Posted: 29 Apr 2009) There will be another WPHOA Golf Outing on Saturday, June 6, 2009, starting at 11:00 AM at Stonecrest Golf Course. Four Man Scramble Teams determined by your handicap $60 Must have 24 players or no outing! If interested, mail check and handicap to: Chet Steen 714 Irwin Run Road West Mifflin, PA 15122 The deadline to register is May 18. April Meeting Minutes posted (Posted: 16 Apr 2009) The minutes from the April WPHOA General Assembly Meeting are now available online in the Member's Section. Officials needed for Monopoly Tournament (Re-Posted: 16 Apr 2009) Mark your calendars: The 24th annual Corporate Monopoly Tournament will be held on April 30, 2009 in the upper lobby of the US Steel Tower in downtown Pittsburgh. This tournament benefits the Naitonal Kidney Foundation of the Alleghenies, and WWPHOA has provided 'referees' for this event every year since it's inception 24 years ago. Our participation is primarily ceremonial, but we do make some 'calls' and have a lot of fun for a great cause. They ask us back every year and everyone treats us much better than our usual crowds: they love us. All that is required is your referee sweater to wear during the event. They provide free drinks and dinner in a dine-around setup starting at 5:30pm. The Monopoly Tournament competition begins at 6:30pm and wraps up around 8:00pm. Please make every effort to attend and help out, there is plenty of room for everyone. For further information and to confirm your 'assignment' please email Jim Weaver. WPHOA Game & Zebra Cup (Posted: 16 Apr 2009) Mark your calendars! The annual WPHOA game is scheduled for 3-5 on Sunday, April 26 at the Ice Castle. Refreshments will be served from 5-7 in the back room. The fee is $10. Email Beth ASAP if you would like to participate. Also, the Zebra Cup is tentativly scheduled for the weekend of May 15-17 at the Ice Castle. We are trying to build it up 8-10 teams this year. As usual, Jack Hays will provide the picnic feast. The fee will be between $50-$75. Email Beth ASAP if you would like to participate. WPHOA END OF SEASON MEETING (Posted: 8 Apr 2009) There will be a WPHOA meeting on Thursday, April 16, at the South Park Clubhhouse. The meeting starts at 7pm, and will begin in the Clubhouse's party/banquet room. Food and soda pop will be provided. If you have the intention of participating in the WPHOA game (4/26 from 3-5) and/or the Zebra Cup (mid-May), bring your checkbook/wallet. The address for the South Park Clubhouse is 2200 Brownsville Road, South Park, PA 15129. It's near the South Park fairgrounds; basic directions are Route 51 South to Route 88 South to entrance of the park, Corrigan Drive, right on Brownsville Road. WPHOA Golf Outing (Posted: 29 Mar 2009) The fifth annual Virginia Gentlemen's shootout will be held on Saturday April 18 at Montebell’s Twin Lakes in Kittaning, PA. Contact Larry Montebell at 724-763-9125 or 724-543-2609 for details or to register. The outing is limited to 18 groups! Larry needs a deposit to hold each team's place. - Shotgun start at 9 AM sharp - $30 per person - Two man scramble - 18 holes - Rain or shine - Prizes - Lunch at the turn - Dinner at the end - Refreshments throughout the day. Larry Montebell - Congratulations (Posted: 18 Mar 2009) Congratulations to WPHOA member Larry Montebell, who will be inducted into the Armstrong County Sports Hall of Fame on April 5, 2009. Larry has been officiating games for over 40 years, in addition to playing & coaching as well. There is an article in the Tribune Review detailing Larry's accomplishments. Congratulations Larry! February Meeting Canceled (Posted: 9 Feb 2009) Members from the WPHOA Executive Board have to attend the PIHL Board Meeting on Wednesday night (Feb 11), so the General Assembly meeting is canceled. January Meeting Minutes posted (Posted: 1 Feb 2009) The minutes from the January WPHOA General Assembly Meeting are now available online in the Member's Section. Nominations for VP & Treasurer (Posted: 15 Jan 2009) Elections will be held this year for Vice President and Treasurer. Nominations for these offices should be sent to the Nominating Committee (Jim Weaver [chairman], Wes Payne & A.J. Maloney) Special Olympics Floor Hockey Tournament (Posted: 14 Jan 2009) On February 14, 2009, a Special Olympics Floor Hockey Tournament will be held at Pine Richland High School. WPHOA is asking for volunteers to work as officials for this tournament. Eight games will be played on two floors starting at approximately 9 am and ending in the afternoon (schedule TBA). Teams will play a round-robin tournament with one medal game in each division (handicapped & non-handicapped). It appears that there will be 8 games, and we're hopeful to find at least 8 officials to help out (2 refs per game and refs working 2 games each). If you would like to volunteer, please contact Michael Safko at mssafko@yahoo.com. Please consider donating your time to this worthy cause and hopefully bring a lot of joy to some fellow hockey folks. College Hockey Mid America Raises $3700 for Mario Lemieux Foundation (Posted: 29 Dec 2008) Andy Mecs, Commissioner of College Hockey Mid-America is pleased to report that we raised $3,700 in the Pittsburgh college hockey community to support the Mario Lemieux Foundation during our 1st semester fundraising campaign. The majority of the proceeds were raised at Pitt's home opener vs. Youngstown State in honor of Lauren Ruud, a Pitt staff member who passed away after a courageous battle with lymphoma. In addition, Duquesne University and California University of Pennsylvania committed to very serious fundraising campaigns that generated substantial funding. St. Vincent Ice Hockey and the Western Pennsylvania Hockey Officials Association (WPHOA) also made very generous contributions. The Mario Lemieux Foundation greatly appreciates these efforts. Thank you to these organizations and to all of the fans who contributed to the fundraising campaign. We could not have done it without you. WPHOA Meetings (Posted: 10 Dec 2008) There will be WPHOA meetings on the following dates. Plan accordingly! Locations will be announced ASAP. Wednesday Jan 7 @ Mt. Lebanon Wednesday Feb 11 @ TBD Wednesday Apr 8 @ TBD Wednesday May ? (depends on Pens playoff schedule) @ TBD Evaluators Needed (Posted: 10 Dec 2008) WPHOA is looking for folks interested in becoming evaluators. If you are interested, please email our Evaluation Coordinator, Steve Uhall, at suhall@verizon.net . WPHOA Game & Zebra Cup (Posted: 10 Dec 2008) Mark your calendars! The annual WPHOA game is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, April 19. The Zebra Cup is tentativly scheduled for the weekend of May 16-18. Both events will be held at the Ice Castle. More details will be published when available. BEWARE (Posted: 9 Dec 2008) Beware! Tim Morgret has been cleared to return to the ice. Congratulations Tim! ONE MORE AREA HOCKEY SEMINAR (Posted: 28 Oct 2008) There will be a Level 1 and 2 seminar in Morgantown on Saturday, November 8, for anyone who still needs to attend a seminar for this season. Registration info is at www.midamref.org. Rule differences between USA Hockey - NFHS - NCAA (Posted: 26 Oct 2008) The following document (Adobe Acrobat) lists the rule differences between USA Hockey (HS and below), NFHS, & NCAA. It is good to have for reference (as well as a good refresher when read before games). Click here to access the document. STOP Patches (Posted: 13 Oct 2008) Several organizations have not received their orders of STOP patches for their new players' jerseys. We do not want to have teams forfeiting because there are not enough STOP patches to go around, so the STOP patch rule shall be temporarily suspended. Teams have until Nov 1 to get the STOP patches on their jerseys. After Nov 1, players should not be permitted to play unless the STOP patch is present. NCAA Rulebook Corrections (Posted: 9 Oct 2008) If you will be working games that use NCAA rules, please check the NIHOA website for Rules Interpretations and a link to the NCAA Rules Interpretation video. Pitt Ice Hockey - Opener for Mario Lemieux Foundation (Posted: 30 Sept 2008) The Pitt Men's Ice Hockey program will be donating all proceeds from their home opener vs. Youngstown State University to the Mario Lemieux Foundation in the memory of former staff member Lauren Ruud. The game will be played on Friday, October 10, 2008 at the BladeRunners facility in Harmarville at 8:50 PM. Lauren was a dedicated game staff member during the 2007-2008 season prior to losing a courageous battle with lymphoma. This game will be played in her honor. In addition, Pitt players will be wearing green ribbon stickers in memory of Lauren on their helmets this season. The Mario Lemieux Foundation will be providing autographed items to be included in a raffle. All proceeds from this event will be donated to the Mario Lemieux Foundation. Tickets will be available for purchase at the door at a cost of $5 for adults and $2 for students and seniors. Additional donations are appreciated. Older posts are available in the archive.     General Information WPHOA was founded in 1971, & has been providing ice hockey officials for well over 30 years.

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