Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn.ca. Hi Kerry, I follow CMon Ref faithfully and I couldnt help but notice the classic example in your last two columns where a large number of fans are quick to recite the rule book when a call goes in their teams favour - and equally as quick to pass off the written rule as nitpicky when a potential call would go against their team. My question has to do with the rules - when theyre applied, bent, or even ignored by officials. During Thursdays Pens-Flyers game, Simon Despres laid a questionable hit on Sean Couturier and was penalized. Phillys R.J. Umberger then challenged Despres resulting in a tussle. So we end up with five and two to Despres, and five to Umberger with Philly going to the power play. Obviously, Despres knew he was going to have to answer since players are expected to fight even after clean hits, but why would Umberger not be given an instigator minor based on the written rule (obvious retribution for a previous incident in the game)? Not that Im a fan of this rule, and I do like a good scrap, but if the league is trying to get the fighting out, and thats basically the purpose of the rule, why would they not use it? Thanks, Art Goddard - Edmonton --- Art, Thank you very much for your loyal following of Cmon Ref. I read most of the blogger comments and have to agree that fans often interpret or apply the rules to their teams advantage. The referees are directed by the Officiating and Hockey Operations Departments to apply an expected standard of enforcement for each rule. The literal interpretation of the written word can sometimes vary from what is expected. The instigator rule is one that is usually applied with a very loose standard. To be perfectly honest, it is very seldom applied unless blatantly obvious. R.J. Umberger engaged Simon Despres from close proximity following the hit on Sean Couturier and as result of Despres awareness and quick response with his gloves off, Umberger avoided being assessed an instigator penalty. You hit the nail on the head, Art when you stated that Despres knew he was going to have to answer the bell. Umberger did not have to travel an extended distance to engage Despres; nor did he throw the first punch or drop his gloves first. Instead a two-handed push by R.J. with his gloves into Despres chest sounded the bell. Despres immediately dropped his gloves, grabbed onto Umbergers jersey and the fight was on. Even though the fight was initiated in retribution for the hit on Coutouier, the events as I described here did not cross the line for the refs to apply the instigator penalty. It needs to be much more obvious than this event. given the standard that is seldom applied. Green Air Max 90 China .com) - NFL owners have unanimously approved the sale of the Buffalo Bills. Black Air Max 90 China . - The Oakland Athletics say they are stopping negotiations to extend their lease at the Coliseum. http://www.cheapairmax90china.com/ . Price also posted the longest shutout sequence since 1960 at 164:19 minutes. He stopped a combined 55 shots in Canadas final two games and 70 of 71 shots in Canadas three elimination games, allowing only a breakaway goal to Lauris Darzins of Latvia. For his efforts, Price was named best goalkeeper by the tournament directorate. Prices outstanding play is marred only by the extremely strong defensive play of Canadas top six defencemen; Shea Weber, Duncan Keith, Drew Doughty, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Alex Pietrangelo and Jay Bouwmeester. Air Max 90 China .Mateo Kovacic and Andrea Ranocchia scored for Inter, which had goalkeeper Samir Handanovic to thank for several crucial saves.Its an important victory against a Chievo side which plays well, Mancini said. Cheap Air Max 90 China . At this rate, the Flyers captain is set to be remembered more for a fantastic finish.XALAPA, Mexico -- Shona Thorburn scored 15 points to lead Canadas womens basketball team to its second straight lopsided victory at the FIBA Americas Championship, a 93-51 rout of Chile on Monday. The easy back-to-back wins, said Thorburn, have provided the perfect opportunity for the team to gel before the games get tough. "Its the first time these 12 players have played together this summer, so these few easy games have been very beneficial for us," said Thorburn, who was sidelined for most of the summer with a foot injury. "Weve taken them as a learning experience, getting to know each other, the last two games weve been able to work on zone offence because they played zone on us, so I think its helped us. "I think the plan is to be peaking in that final game." Kim Gaucher (formerly Kim Smith) finished with 11 points, and a team-high six rebounds and three steals, while Justine Colley also had 11 points. The Canadians, who cruised by Jamaica 75-37 in their opener on Sunday, are tied with Cuba atop Group A. They had their way with Chile, racing out to a 28-10 lead after one quarter and taking a 49-19 advantage into the dressing room at halftime. Canada led 66-41 with a quarter left to play. Coach Lisa Thomaidis said there is a danger in opening the tournament with easy wins. "Theres always that fear when you havent been tested yet," Thomaidis said. "But its really about us right now, and really challenging ourselves to keep raising the level of our play. Certainly as long as we keep holding ourselves to those high standards, I think regardless of the opponent were still going to be on track. "The way the tournament is set up, I think teams are going to be progressively tougher for us to face, so its very good lead-in for us to play thoose tougher opponents having these few games under our belt.dddddddddddd" As Canadas veterans, Thorburn said she and Gaucher -- who had originally planned on retiring after the 2012 London Olympics but had a change of heart -- said their job has been to keep everyone focused through these two easy games. "This is the Americas, people are coming out to get you," Thorburn said. "We play aggressive basketball down here compared to anywhere else in the world. Every team does, thats just how it is down there. "So its just keeping people focused for 40 minutes. Usually in the past, were good at playing 35 minutes, but the game is 40 minutes long and its kind of keeping people focused that long. I think Kim and I bring that, we bring a competitive edge, and every practice, every shootaround, every game, we go hard. "We want to get better and I think we have brought that to this team and they understand thats the way its going to be." The lopsided games have given Thomaidis the chance to rest some key players and get everyone involved. "Were playing six games in seven days, and four games in a row without a break," Thomaidis said. "Thats taxing. Its a very physical game, the international game, and its really important that we keep people fresh and were not playing them long minutes in the first few games because were going to need them down the road here." The Canadians face Venezuela on Tuesday, then wrap up round-robin play versus Cuba on Wednesday. Chile, with previous losses to Venezuela and Cuba, dropped to 0-3 on the tournament. Canada needs to finish in the top three in order to qualify for the 2014 FIBA world championship. The Canadian women have appeared in the previous two world tournaments, in 2006 and 2010. ' ' '