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. Kerry, Great column and Happy New Year to you and your family! Wanted to give kudos to referee Brad Meier, who demonstrated great knowledge of the rules when a rare situation occurred in a game between the Kings and Bruins on Thursday night (and the second time Ive seen it at Staples Center). Bostons Dougie Hamilton was exiting the penalty box shortly after the start of the second period and played the puck while his skates were still in the box. Meier immediately blew the play dead and assessed the minor for interference. This was a much better outcome than a couple seasons ago when a player stopped a potential breakaway by playing the puck from the bench in a late-season game. Kerry, youve made thousands of calls over your career, whats the rarest/oddest youve had to make? Keep up the great work! Derek May Hey Derek:Kudos to you as well for crediting referee Brad Meier for his quick and accurate response when Dougie Hamilton committed a violation of rule 56.2 by playing the puck while his skate(s) remained firmly planted inside the penalty box. (56.2—A minor penalty shall be imposed on any identifiable player on the players or penalty bench who, by means of his stick or his body, interferes with the movements of the puck or any opponent on the ice during the progress of the play. In addition, should a player about to come onto the ice, play the puck while one or both skates are still on the players or penalty bench, a minor penalty for interference shall be assessed.) Quite interestingly I had the occasion to assess a similar penalty when a player stepped out of the penalty box in Calgary to grab a clearing shot with full intention to sprint away on a breakaway. He never got any farther than touching the puck before I blew the whistle since his back skate was still in contact with the threshold of the penalty box door! At the time all the players were confused by the call since they had no idea about the rule. The most bizarre interference penalty of this nature was one I called on Jaromir Jagr in a game at the Igloo in Pittsburgh. Jagr was waiting patiently to replace his teammate on the fly who was still a good fifteen feet from the Penguins bench. Jaromir wanted to get a head start so he sat on top of the bench dasher boards with his skates hanging down and dangling above the ice. Jagrs teammate made it to the bench in time for a legal change just as the puck came near the bench. Rather than jump off the dasher onto the ice Jaromir remained seated, stopped the puck and began to stickhandle it with his skates still hanging off the ice. Jagr was quite surprised when I blew the whistle and gave him an interference penalty. He didnt know that what he did was illegal either! Another time the same player (Jagr) decided to leave the ice while play was in progress. The problem was he didnt go to his players bench to make a legal substitution but instead stopped in front of the end zone door that leads to the Penguins dressing room. Jags knocked on the glass, the young kid that attended to the dressing room opened the door (who was he to argue with Jaromir Jagr?) and the Penguin superstar stepped off the ice as play continued! The Pens were subsequently playing a man short with Jagr heading to the dressing room so a replacement player jumped over the boards from the bench. Once the Penguins gained possession of the puck I stopped play and assessed a bench minor penalty for illegal substitution. Jaromir Jagr is an amazing player and an automatic selection to the Hockey Hall of Fame awaits him whenever he finally retires. It was a thrill to watch him perform from close range for so many years. I was also happy that I was able to teach Jagr some of the playing rules along the way. Mark Duper Youth Jersey . Paul, MN (SportsNetwork. Mark Clayton Dolphins Jersey . - Defensive end-linebacker Mike Neal apparently is returning to the Packers. http://www.dolphinsrookiestore.com/Dolphins-Minkah-Fitzpatrick-Jersey/ . So true. It is one thing to create a winning football team, and another to keep it winning. Each and every week it changes. The NFL creates a unique interest of not who is "the best", but much more who is "the best this week". Dan Marino Womens Jersey . "I wasnt waving the pom-poms to be involved with it to start with," Carlyle said after a 5-2 win over Carolina on Sunday night. "Its been a trying time. "Specifically we havent played as well as wed like to hang our hat on. Larry Csonka Youth Jersey . -- Each time the Utah Jazz threatened Memphis lead, the Grizzlies responded with defensive stops.(Sports Network) - The New York Yankees really need Hiroki Kuroda to be the pitcher he was in the first half if they have any intention on reaching the postseason. The Japanese right-hander goes after his first win in seven starts on Thursday when the Yankees play the rubber match of their three-game set with the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Kuroda was one of the best pitchers in baseball through the first four months of the season, as he went 10-6 with a 2.38 ERA at the start of August. However, he is just 1-5 since then and has pitched to a 6.69 ERA over his last six starts (0-4). He gave up five runs over six innings in a loss on Friday at Boston, although he settled in after a four-run first. "As a starter, I think my responsibility is to go at least six or seven innings," Kuroda said afterward through an interpreter. "Thats what Im telling myself to do." One of Kurodas bad outings came in Toronto back on Aug. 28, when he allowed seven runs (5 earned) in five innings. He is 4-2, though, in his career against the Jays with a 3.71 ERA. New York kept its fleeting postseason hopes alive on Wednesday, as Vernon Wells two-run double in the top of the eighth inning capped a late rally that propelled the Yankees to a much-needed 4-3 win. The Yankees averted a fifth straight loss by putting up four runs in the eighth, with Robinson Cano and Alfonso Soriano each coming through with RBI hits in front of Wells go-ahead double. The victory also closed New York within 2 1/2 games of Texas for thee ALs second wild card spot.dddddddddddd David Huff (3-1) contributed to the comeback by tossing 3 2/3 innings of one- run ball in relief of starter Phil Hughes, while Mariano Rivera shut the door with a four-out save in which he worked out of a mild jam in the ninth. Toronto received a two-run homer from Colby Rasmus, his fourth in as many games, and a solo shot from Ryan Goins, but had just six other hits and fell to 2-6 on its current nine-game homestand. J.A. Happ threw seven-plus strong innings for the Blue Jays in a no-decision, permitting just one run on four hits while striking out a season-high seven. Steve Delabar (5-5) was tagged with the loss after surrendering two runs on three hits and registering only one out in the eighth. "Ive just happened to hit a rough bump lately, but its not going to change my mindset from day to day," said Delbar. "Im going to come back tomorrow and get right back at it." Heading to the hill for the Jays on Thursday will be righty Todd Redmond, who is 3-2 with a 4.10 ERA. Redmond did not get a decision Friday against Baltimore, despite a solid outing that saw him allow just a run and three hits in 6 1/3 innings of a 5-3 loss. Redmond was on the other end of the Kuroda loss back on Aug. 28 and held the Yanks to two runs in 5 2/3 innings of that one. New York has won 14 of its 18 meetings with the Jays this season. In fact, since 2001, Toronto has won the head-to-head matchup with New York just one time, going 10-8 against the Yanks in 10. ' ' ' victory against Peter Wright - Snakebite was unable to live with the Dutchmans power and another average in excess of 100 was enough to wrap up a 7-2 victory.Van Gerwen followed that up in the final match of the night with a win against Adrian Lewis - neither man was at their best as they felt the effects of a second game of the evening but the Green Machine came out on top following a topsy-turvy tussle.Jackpot, reeling from a 7-4 defeat to Raymond van Barneveld earlier in the night, missed four darts at a double to claim the opening leg but he was punished by Van Gerwen who roared into 4-1 lead. Premier League Night 12 - Results Michael van Gerwen 7-2 Peter Wright Raymond van Barneveld 7-4 Adrian Lewis Gary Anderson 6-6 James Wade Phil Taylor 7-2 Robert Thornton Adrian Lewis 5-7 Michael van Gerwen Lewis managed to find form midway through the match with a couple of big finishes to level at 4-4.dddddddddddd. MVG surged once again but when he missed four darts for the match it looked like Lewis could pinch a precious point.It was not to be for Jackpot as Van Gerwen, averaging in the mid 90s, wrapped up a 7-5 win that puts him two points behind Taylor and only an unlikely sequence of results can stop him returning to Finals Night. MIchael Van Gerwen won twice in Bournemouth to close on a semi-final place (Picture by Lawrence Lustig) Lewis first match of the night ended in a defeat to Barney, a win for the Dutchman somehow keeping his faint hopes of a play-off place alive.Barney won seven of his last eight games last year to make the O2 but he will require even more of a miracle run this year despite an impressive showing against Jackpot who was well below his best.In the nights other match, Gary Anderson picked up what could be a crucial point ahead of his double week in Birmingham next Thursday. The defending champion came up against a typically stubborn James Wade and a 6-6 draw keeps alive both mens hopes of joining Taylor in London on May 19. Premier League Night 13 - Fixtures Peter Wright v Phil Taylor Raymond van Barneveld v Gary Anderson Adrian Lewis v Robert Thornton James Wade v Michael van Gerwen Peter Wright v Gary Anderson Also See: Fixtures/Results Prem Table PL Darts Night 12 - as it hapened How to hit a nine-dart finish ' ' '