e careful what you wish for, my mother always said. You just might get your wish.

I couldn't help but think about that after lining a midget game this weekend. Before the game, the referee and I were talking with another official about the new "checking-to-the-head" rule. He hadn't planned on calling much of that, he said. High hits? Weren't kids wearing full cages? Sticks up? No blood, no foul! "Besides," says he, "I like it when games get a little rough."

Rough is what he wanted — and rough is what he got!

Continued...