Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn. James Ennis III Jersey .ca. Always enjoyed watching games you officiated, and also really enjoy your columns and interpretation of the game. I have a question regarding Sundays game - Colorado at Winnipeg. Zach Bogosian high-sticked Matt Duchene late in the first period. Duchene was immediately assessed by the ref and Bogosian was given a double minor for high-sticking, so obviously drew blood. That call was perfectly fine in my opinion, and the proper call. What I question is that Duchene was allowed to remain on the ice for the power play and Colorado scored almost immediately on this man advantage. If a player is in fact bleeding/injured as a result of the penalty, how can he be allowed to stay on the ice? Is there not a rule against this, or is there other reasons that Bogosian gets four other than drawing blood? Thanks for your time, and looking forward to your response. Gary Smart Miami, Manitoba -- Gary: Thank you for the kudos and being a regular follower of Cmon Ref. When a high-sticking infraction has been committed, the referee must determine if the presence of an injury exists before he assesses a double-minor penalty. Blood from a cut provides the most obvious evidence of injury. The quantity of blood needed to determine whether an injury has been suffered is not spelled out in Rule 60.3; simply stated that the referee shall assess a double-minor penalty for all contact that causes an injury, whether accidental or careless, in the opinion of the referee. Typically, referees do not look deep into a players mouth to find the presence of blood but broken teeth or chicklets being spit out are clear evidence of injury. Matt Duchene took a pretty solid whack in the mouth when Zach Bogosian accidentally clipped him with the raised shaft of his stick. Referee Tom Kowal obviously saw the presence of blood on the lower lip of Duchene and determined that a double-minor was warranted. What the replay doesnt show is if Duchene went to his bench to receive some quick medical attention or at the very least to wipe away the evidence of blood before assuming his position at right wing on the end zone face-off. To answer your question, the NHL does have a blood rule (8.3): A player who is bleeding or who has visible blood on his equipment or body shall be ruled off the ice at the next stoppage of play. Such player shall not be permitted to return to play until the bleeding has been stopped and the cut or abrasion covered (if necessary). It is required that any affected equipment and/or uniform be properly decontaminated or exchanged. I would suggest that Matt Duchene likely suffered an abrasion. I would have insisted that Duchene have any evidence of blood removed from his mouth prior to participating on the power-play; which referee Kowal might very likely have done. Duchene would therefore be eligible to take his position without any delay caused by medical treatment at his players bench. Play was stopped due to Winnipeg gaining puck possession on the delayed penalty call to Bogosian and not due to an injury suffered by Duchene. Had Duchene lain on the ice and play was stopped as a result of an apparent injury, he would have to be substituted for and could not remain on the ice until play had resumed (Rule 8.3). At that point he could re-enter the game on the fly through a legal line change or at the next stoppage. Each referee will exercise his opinion or judgment, if you will, as to the legitimacy of any suspected injury. I have had players appeal for a double-minor to be assessed when all they had was a slightly swollen lip or a minor abrasion. I didnt bite on a lack of evidence such as this and have told some players I suffered a worse cut shaving than the one they were attempting to sell me. Speaking of biting, I shared a story on Twitter the other night from a game I worked in the old Spectrum in Philadelphia when Murray Craven was attacking the net with a defender giving chase. I saw Murray chomp down on his lip at least three times after the defenders stick slapped him on the pants. When play stopped, Craven had a little trickle of blood on his lip along with evidence of teeth marks. Needless to say Muzz didnt draw the call; only his own blood. When I told him that I saw him inflicting his own wounds his response to me was, You cant blame a guy for trying. It doesnt take a medical degree to determine the presence of injury before assessing a double-minor penalty; just some common sense and on occasion a little investigative work. Custom Philadelphia 76ers Jerseys . Early in the first period, Stuart pinched in from the blue line, hit Nash and was assessed a minor penalty for elbowing. Nash remained in the game for the rest of the first period, but did not return for the second. Fake 76ers Jerseys . The Montreal Alouettes announced Tuesday that they have acquired the return specialist from Calgary, as well as the Stampeders fifth-round draft pick in the 2014 CFL Canadian Draft. https://www.cheap76ers.com/676e-robert-covington-jersey-76ers.html . The Gatineau Olympiques head coach will lead Canada in its quest to end its gold medal drought at the 2015 world junior hockey championship held in Montreal and Toronto at the end of this year.SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Kobe Bryant will make his long-awaited return from a torn left Achilles tendon when the Los Angeles Lakers host the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night. In a dramatic video posted on his Facebook page before the Lakers played at Sacramento on Friday night, Bryant set his much-anticipated comeback date. The video, which was also uploaded to the teams Facebook page, was titled: "Seasons of Legend. Lakers announce Kobes return." The video shows Bryants No. 24 jersey flapping in the wind. There is rain, sleet, snow and lightning for nearly 2 minutes. At one point, his jersey tears. Sunshine breaks through the clouds, and the video fades to black. Finally, words flash across the screen that read, "The Legend Continues...December 8." "Thats something special right there," Lakers teammate Nick Young quipped when a reporter showed him the video on his smartphone in the locker room. How effective Bryant will be against top-tier competition is the last lingering question in his return. Lakers coach Mike DAntoni said Bryant will likely be eased back into the lineup, though he declined to discuss how many minutes he will play in his first game. Asked what his expectations are for Bryant this season, DAntoni said, "That hell be a dominant player." "He can play any way," DAntoni said. "He can play below the rim, above the rim, the side of the rim. The guy can play any way. Hell figure out how hell be effective and hell come at you with everything hes got." Bryant did not travel with the team to Sacramento. The 15-time All-Star hasnt played since he was injured April 12 in a home win over the Goldden State Warriors. Spencer Hawes Jersey. . He had surgery the following morning and was projected to take six to nine months to recover. Bryants return has seemed imminent since he began practicing last month. The 35-year-old guard has said that he could adjust his game and contribute something to the Lakers even if hes not fully healthy when he finally steps on the court for his 18th NBA season. His teammates expect the same. "Hes the biggest competitor that there is. Happy to have him back," guard Jodie Meeks said. "Hes looked great. Obviously he has to get his timing back and his legs, but I know hes probably been training pretty hard. I dont think it will take him long at all." Los Angeles signed the fourth-leading scoring in NBA history to a two-year contract extension last week. Bryants new deal is reportedly worth $48.5 million and takes him into his 20th season with the Lakers. Bryant hasnt given up hope of adding a sixth championship ring to his trophy case, even while the Lakers struggle to keep up with the NBAs best teams. Los Angeles entered Friday nights game with a 9-9 record. Thats still slightly better than most Lakers fans expected this season after the departures of Dwight Howard and Metta World Peace coupled with the injuries to Bryant and 39-year-old point guard Steve Nash, who could return next week from the nerve root irritation in his back. "Weve developed some guys that are really going to contribute a lot, and it might not have happened if (Bryant) was here," DAntoni said. "You have to look at the bright side of it. Now we just have to get him back to the level that hes capable of playing." ' ' '