Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your em

Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn. Tracy Mcgrady Jersey .ca. Hi Kerry, Love reading your column and loved watching your analysis on the TSN broadcasts!And were now in Round 2! Bruins! Canadiens! We know all about the great games of the past from the players, the broadcasters and the writers. How many games have you officiated between these two teams and what memories do you have from them?Kenneth Wilder,Montreal Kenneth: I worked far too many games between these two great Original Six Adams Division rivals during my 30 year NHL career to even count. What I will never forget is the intense energy that was created both on the ice and in the stands whenever these two teams met. The Bruin teams that general manager Harry Sinden assembled always had some scary dudes in the lineup to deal with over the years. The Big Bad Bruins were best known for playing a tough, intimidating, yet hard-working style that often made it a challenge for any referee to keep things under control. Players such as Wayne Cashman, Terry OReilly, Stan Jonathan or Jay Miller, just to mention a few, could usually be counted upon to make my life interesting. Star players like Raymond Bourque, Rick Nifty Middleton, and power forwards Al Secord and Cam Neely balanced the Bruins attack. I saw Jean Ratelle at the end of his career as a Boston Bruin and recall that Mr. Ratelle was one of the finest gentlemen I ever dealt with on the ice. Montreal tended to prefer a speed and finesse game led by the grace and skill of Guy Lafleur but they had their share of top notch muckers, grinders and checkers as well. Bob Gainey, Guy Carbonneau, Brian Skrudland, Mike Keane, Ryan Walter, Kirk Muller were all examples of Hab players that played a 200 foot game that was instilled by a long list of Hab coaches. Some of the best fights I witnessed involved John Kordic of the Habs. Mario Tremblay was a guy that played the game the right way and could really fight as well. I would be remiss if I didnt mention my new bestie Chris Nilan who I always had to keep a sharp eye on when he played for both the Canadiens and the Bruins! One of the most bizarre lines of defense I ever heard from a player in a league hearing came from Nuckles after I assessed the Canadiens tough guy a match penalty for knocking Nifty Middletons teeth out with a butt-end (Nucks still insists it was his glove). The incident took place in a game in the Bruins end zone, well away from the play and as the puck was moving up ice. Fortunately I snapped my head back toward Nilan in the perfect moment to catch the strike on Middleton. At the subsequent hearing held in the NHL boardroom in Montreal I got the cold icy stare from Nuckles when he arrived with team general manager Serge Savard. League disciplinarian, V.P. Brian ONeill, read my game report and the asked Chris if he had anything to say on his behalf. In a thick Boston accent Nucks said, "Yah, I got something to say for myself; Kerry Fraser picks on me and gives me more penalties than any other referee in the league. Whenever Im on the ice hes always watching me. Just to prove my point, if he had of been watching what he should have been (the puck and play going up ice) he wouldnt have seen me butt-end Middleton in the mouth!" Serge Savard practically spit his coffee all over the board room table following Nilans unusual line of defense. Brian ONeill suspended Chris for eight games, which at the time was substantial (Catch Nuckles on his terrific show on TSN Radio Montreal. Chris picks on me now as a frequent guest on his radio show). As we approach Game 1 tonight of the 34th such playoff series between the Bruins and the Canadiens, I will share two personal experiences. The first involves the classy superstar and HHOF member Raymond Bourque. After the national anthem and prior to the opening puck drop, Bourque approached me quietly and advised me to be sure to move away from the dot at center ice quickly if his center ice man won the faceoff cleanly back to him. If that were to happen, Bourque said he was going to pound the puck at the Montreal net to try and catch Patrick Roy off guard. Sure enough, the puck was drawn back cleanly to Raymond. The Bruin wound up for a slapper with his head up but noticed that I got caught up in the wingers behind me and was unable to clear the spot. Instead of blasting the puck, Bourque froze his pose in the back swing. My life practically passed before my eyes but the deliberate pregnant pause allowed me to back away before Raymond pounded the puck through the very spot that I had been standing a moment earlier. Game on as Roy made the save. The other involves a fan that was either drunk, out of control, or most likely both. In a very tough game I had just assessed a penalty and was standing in the referee crease during a commercial timeout and as the players stood at their respective bench. An empty 26 ounce Seagrams whiskey bottle flew out of the upper level of the Forum and landed at center ice. The bottle hit the ice flat, didnt break and began to spin as it moved in my direction. The bottle then struck the dasher kick plate beside my skate and amazingly still did not break. I picked the empty bottle of 5 Star off the ice and handed it to the penalty timekeeper. Even though these incidents occurred in different games from different playoff seasons, I had two narrow misses; one from a Raymond Bourque slap shot while the other was a flying whiskey bottle. Ray demonstrated the class I always experienced from the Bs superstar. The only positive thing I can say about the classless fan is that at least he drained the contents of the bottle prior to throwing it! I expect an emotional, tough series between these two old Adams Division rivals. Jerian Grant Magic Jersey . TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie tweeted on Monday that Hemsky will be going to market as an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Melvin Frazier Jersey . Johns, N.L., to Thunder Bay, Ont., after a deal was announced to build a new $106-million "event centre" in the Lake Superior community. http://www.magicauthentic.com/kids-penny-hardaway-magic-jersey/ .J. -- After getting permission from his 7-year-old daughter, New York Giants offensive lineman David Diehl has retired after an 11-year career that included two Super Bowl championships.NEW YORK -- Former closer Neftali Feliz was recalled by the slumping Texas Rangers from Triple-A Round Rock, replenishing their taxed bullpen Friday for the opener of an interleague series against the New York Mets. Texas also optioned right-hander Ben Rowen to Round Rock and placed lefty Joe Saunders on waivers for the purpose of giving him his unconditional release. Feliz, an All-Star in 2010 and the AL Rookie of the Year, was the closer on two Rangers teams that went to the World Series. He was one strike from clinching the title for Texas in 2011 before St. Louis rallied in Game 6. The Rangers moved Feliz into the starting rotation two years ago, but he had Tommy John surgery on Aug. 1, 2012. Back in the bullpen, he struggled during spring training this year and was sent to the minors. Texas manager Ron Washington said Feliz will be used in whatever role is necessary, but Joakim Soria "unequivocally" remains the closer. "We needed a fresh arm, and Neffy is capable of giving us multipple innings right now," Washington said. Jonathan Isaac Magic Jersey. Feliz had been at Round Rock all season, going 1-1 with a 3.14 ERA in 24 relief appearances. He was 7 for 9 in save chances, with 31 strikeouts and eight walks in 28 2-3 innings. The right-hander picked it up lately, throwing nine scoreless innings with nine strikeouts and one walk over his last eight outings. Opponents batted .071 against him (2 for 28) during that span. Washington said he had a chat with the 26-year-old Feliz to pump him up Friday. The manager acknowledged that minor league reports have indicated Feliz was inconsistent at Triple-A. "He was the best option we had," Washington said. "At least he can give us multiple innings, and itll give Neffy a chance to stay in the big leagues." Rowen had a 4.15 ERA in eight relief outings after he was called up June 11 for his first stint in the big leagues. Saunders was designated for assignment Tuesday after going 0-5 with a 6.13 ERA in eight starts for Texas this season. ' ' '