lthough I would never claim to be old, I have been around hockey for the better part of three decades. In those years I've been to more than a couple thousand games, as a player, coach, spectator, journalist, and, of course, official.

Having observed that many games at that many levels, I've seen lots of different things done by coaches to get through to referees. Things have been thrown, like sticks, water bottles, benches, towels, and hats. There have been various and sundry wild-eyed stunts: holding towels up a'la Roger Neilson; stripping and throwing clothes (before Graham James, by the way); standing at the gate and refusing to start play. There's also been plenty of screaming and lots of words that can't be printed on a family website like this one. And then there are the just plain stupid: running on the ice right up to the referee and waving both extended middle fingers in his face. Hello, meet Mr. Gross Misconduct!

Continued...