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. Good morning Mr. F, First, thank you for helping to educate us fans about the rules of the game, and for sharing your stories. Second, my questions: What is the NHL policy on media and officials? Can they be on Twitter? Can they be interviewed by TSN? Can they publish a book? We rarely, if ever, see an active official make a comment off the ice. Is this because they dont have much to say, or because of restrictions? I could see referee interviews causing uproars among fans. Thanks!Kent Hi Kent: The policy the NHL has in place for their officials speaking to the media is clear and direct: NO COMMENT! All media access to the officials (interviews) must be cleared and granted through the office of Gary Meagher, Sr. Vice President Public Relations & Media Services. Gary is assisted by Julie Young, Manager of Public Relations. Once the content and nature of an interview is cleared, Julie is typically responsible for contacting the official and facilitating the interview. Both individuals are extremely professional and very good at their job. It was a treat to work with Julie Young because through her efforts things always went smoothly during the many times that I was requested for interviews. Social media is off-limits for all the officials! They are not allowed to have a Facebook or Twitter account as information could easily be misconstrued or deemed to be inappropriate. It is just another undesirable location that the officials could become accessible. After NBA referee Tim Donaghy was convicted on criminal charges and served time in federal prison for betting on games he officiated, NHL officials are "strongly discouraged" from entering casinos while travelling on NHL business. You can forget about reading a book written by any NHL officials until after they retire; unless perhaps it is a childrens coloring book! Other than the number on the back of their sweater (no names since 94) the league is most content when their officials are seen and not heard from. During the playoffs a supervisor (Officiating Manager) is assigned to each series. In the event that an explanation might be required for any reason, it is conveyed to the media through the series supervisor after he consults with the officiating crew. If a major controversy were to occur in game, Gary Meagher will typically craft a press release and/or instruct the supervisor as to the information that should be shared with the media. Personally, I preferred the day when a pool reporter was allowed into the refs room after a game to get the answer directly from the official who made the decision on the ice. I would rather explain the reason behind my decision than to have it communicated through a third party or worse yet not explained at all. On occasion, pertinent aspects of my explanation became lost in the transfer and delivery of information. There are even times when the only answer is that an honest mistake was made but I doubt youll hear about it! Some officials are media savvy while others are not. I know many officials that would get torn to shreds by the media if they became accessible following a game. The only time the press would be interested to hear what an official had to say would be following some sort of controversy. It is at times such as this when damage control is utilized. Most often however, there is a reasonable explanation for a refs decision that should become public. Players and coaches can provide post-game comments from an emotional and often biased perspective. Those are the sound bites and quotes that fans are left with even though the NHL can (and has) impose fines to players and team management when they impugn the officials publicly. To prevent embarrassment or limit the need for damage control by the NHL, it is most obvious that a broad policy has to apply which restricts all referees or linesmen from making public comments. I am under no such gag order so the best place to get a straight answer as we move into the 2013-14 Stanley Cup playoffs is right here at Cmon Ref! Fair, honest and opinionated - the spin truly does stop here Kent! Enjoy the final weekend of the regular season and the race for the playoffs. Vapormax Plus Scontate . -- Top-seed Shahar Peer and Canadian Eugenie Bouchard advanced to the second round of the inaugural WTA Citi Open. Vapormax Plus Blu . Chris Heisey connected for his first grand slam and Devin Mesoraco homered and drove in a career high-tying four runs as Cincinnati took advantage of Tampa Bays depleted pitching staff for a 12-4 victory on Sunday. http://www.scarpevapormaxscontate.it/vap...nche-saldi.html. Andrews, Scotland - Oliver Wilson fired a final- round, 2-under 70 on Sunday and he held on to win the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship by one shot. Vapormax Scontate .com) - Patrick Reed poured in a 19-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole Monday to defeat Jimmy Walker and win the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. Vapormax Flyknit 3 Scontate . Hes still nowhere close to throwing yet. The four-time MVP was in good spirits when he made his first public appearance on the field since having neck surgery Sept.The first major trade domino has fallen. Ryan Miller and Steve Ott have been traded to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Jaroslav Halak, Chris Stewart, William Carrier, a first-round draft pick in 2015 and a conditional third-round draft pick in 2016. The Sabres scratched both Miller and team captain Ott ahead of Friday nights home game against the San Jose Sharks. Neither player was on the ice for the teams warm-up at the First Niagara Center. "The thought of getting the grit and determination of a player like Steve Ott and obviously Ryan Millers resume speaks for itself, we think this gives us a better opportunity for success this year," said Blues general manager Doug Armstrong. The Sabres currently sit last in the NHL with a 17-34-8 record and are believed to be poised to move several veteran pieces in an effort to add future assets. The conditional third-round pick in 2016 would become a first-round pick in the 2014 NHL Draft if Miller re-signs with the Blues or St. Louis makes it to the 2014 Western Conference Final. However, should that pick become a first-rounder, the Blues would then acquire the Minnesota Wilds second-round pick (which Buffalo acquired as part of the return for Jason Pominville) as well as the Sabres own 2014 third-rounder. If the Blues dont reach the Western Conference Final but sign Miller after the 2014 NHL Draft has taken place, then Buffalo would receive a 2016 second-round pick. Buffalo also retained a portion of Millers salary in the trade, according to a report on the teams official web site. Both Miller and Ott will join the Blues in Phoenix and are expected to be available for Sundays game against the Coyotes. The 33-year-old Miller has posted a 15-22-3 record with the Sabres this season, with a 2.72 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage. Originally selected in the fifth round (138th overall) by the Sabres at the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, Miller has spent his entire 11-year NHL career in Buffalo, posting a 284-186-1-56-28 record with a 2.60 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage. Miller is in the final year of a five-year deal worth an average annual value of $6.25 million that he signed with the Sabres prior to the 2009-10 season. "I got to know some of the (Blues) with (USA Hockey)," Miller said during a news conference in Buffalo after the deal was announced. "They have a very strong competitive spirit, so I look forward to joining that group." Ott, 31, has appeared in 59 games with the Sabres this season, scoring nine goals and 11 assists. He is in the final year of a four-year, $11.8 million contract and is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Ott was selected in the first round (25th overall) of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft by the Dallas Stars and played nine seasons in Dallas before being traded to Buffalo in 2012. In 673 career games with the Sabres and Stars, Ott has scorred 103 goals and 161 assists while racking up 1,318 penalty minutes.dddddddddddd "Im really excited to have this opportunity with St. Louis," said Ott. "My dream and my biggest goal is to have a chance at a Stanley Cup." Halak, 28, has appeared in 40 games with the Blues this season recording a 24-9-4 record, with a 2.23 goals against average and a .917 save percentage. He is currently in the final year of a four-year, $15 million contract he signed prior to the 2010-11 season and is slated to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Halak was selected in the ninth round (271st overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens. He has appeared in 260 career games with the Blues and Canadiens, posting a 139-81-26-29 record with a 2.38 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage. The Slovakian has represented his country on numerous occasions including the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, where he backstopped his team to a quarter-final upset over Sweden en route to a fourth-place finish. He played again at the recent Sochi Games where his team finished 11th. Speaking to Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Halak said. "(The trade) is still fresh. Youre getting a good goalie. Good luck in the playoffs." In 58 games with the Blues this season, Stewart has scored 15 goals and 11 assists. Currently in the first of a two-year deal he signed prior to this season, Stewarts contract carries an average annual value of $4.15 million. Originally drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the first round (18th overall) of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, Stewart has appeared in 377 career games with the Blues and Avalanche, scoring 115 goals and 113 assists. He was acquired by the Blues along with Kevin Shattenkirk and a second-round draft pick in the blockbuster deal that sent Erik Johnson, Jay McClement and a first round pick to Colorado in February, 2011. Carrier, a 19-year-old prospect, was selected in the second round (57th overall) by the Blues at the 2013 NHL Draft. The left winger has scored 17 goals and 39 assists in 59 combined games with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles and Drummondville Voltigeurs so far this season in the QMJHL. The Sabres now possess 10 combined picks in the first two rounds of the 2014 and 2015 Drafts. In addition to their own first- and second-round picks in 2014 they possess the Blues first-rounder, the Los Angeles Kings second-round pick (acquired in excahnge for Robyn Regehr) and the aforementioned Minnesota second-rounder. In addition to their own 2015 picks they also own the Kings second round pick (also obtained in the Regehr trade) and the New York Islanders second-rounder (acquired in the trade that sent Thomas Venk to Long Island). They also possess a conditional first from the New York Islanders - in either 2014 or 2015, to be determined by the Islanders - as part of the return for Vanek. ' ' '