Near the end of the second period of the Oilers-

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! Dear Mr. Fraser: Love the column! The amount of hockey rules I have learned from Cmon Ref! is unreal, keep it up! Now heres my question. Near the end of the second period of the Oilers-Jets season-opening game, a fight broke out between Luke Gazdic and Chris Thorburn. I noticed that while gaining positional advantage in the fight, it appeared that Gazdic knocked off his own helmet. My understanding is that if you take off your own helmet (recently exploited by a couple of quick-witted tough guys) you will get a two-minute minor on top of the five-minute fighting major. In my opinion, the helmet was already falling off and Gazdic was having issues with his vision. Seeing as this is a new rule and its gotten some criticism, could you maybe shed some light on how it works and why these loopholes seem to be appearing? Thanks,Jordan BarrassEdmonton, AB Jordan: Thank you for being a regular student in the Cmon Ref classroom where the learning never stops for all of us! The overriding spirit and intent of rule 46.6 is to provide an element of safety to players that engage in fisticuffs. In "staged" fights or where a challenge is issued and combat is mutually agreed upon by heavyweights the removal of helmets (and elbow pads) can even provide bad optics in the marketing of the game beyond just the obvious safety issues. Taking an additional two minute penalty (removing helmet) or the potential for breaking a hand by punching a helmet and visor might (and I stress "might") act as some form of deterrent to fighting in general for some. The black and white of rule 46.6 reads: "No player may remove his helmet prior to engaging in a fight. If he should do so, he shall be assessed a two minute minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. Helmets that come off in the course of and resulting form the altercation will not result in a penalty to either player." The language of the rule is very clear that the minor penalty applies when a player removes his helmet prior to engaging in a fight! Luke Gazdic and Chris Thorburn were fully engaged in close quarters when Gazdic was bent over by Thornburn and placed in a vulnerable position. Perhaps Gazdic felt his helmet was restricting him in some way or was falling off as you suggest Jordan. For whatever reason, Gazdic quickly flipped off his helmet in one quick motion in the course of and resulting from the altercation as the exemption in the rule states. This, like all new rules, will be closely monitored by the Hockey Operations, Officiating Department and Player Safety personnel. If players do things deliberately to circumvent the spirit of the rule, adjustments will be made and the Officials standard enforcement will be altered. "Loopholes" are already being closed. Direction has been given for the Officials to assess minor penalties where opposing players grab onto chin straps and remove each others helmet in an obvious ploy to circumvent the rule. There will be growing pains in this rule and others that will be addressed as this young season progresses. It is also important for you to note that as a result of this new helmet removal rule the additional minor penalty for instigating a penalty while wearing a visor is no longer in effect. Welcome back everyone for what promises to be a terrific NHL hockey season. Brandon Fusco Jersey . The 25-year-old Brazilian player has only made four Premier League appearances for United this season and underwent a medical test in Italy on Friday. Isaiah Oliver Jersey .com) - Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant combined for 51 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder took down the struggling Bucks 114-101 on Tuesday. http://www.falconsrookiestore.com/Falcons-Justin-Bethel-Jersey/ . Bjoerndalen, who had failed to win any major race for two years before Sochi, writes in a Facebook entry that he is "full of energy and inspiration" after winning the 10-kilometre sprint and mixed relay at last months Olympics. Justin Bethel Jersey . -- With the Memphis Grizzlies struggling to find their offensive rhythm, O. Ito Smith Jersey . -- Mississippis Andrew Ritter said his game-winning, 41-yard field goal felt good off his foot. TORONTO -- Striker Jermain Defoe says he is back to 100 per cent and ready to play for Toronto FC -- and England. "Its been really frustrating because when you get off to a good start, you just want it to continue as long as possible," said Defoe, who scored three goals in his first two games in Major League Soccer before being sidelined with a hamstring strain in late March. "But it happens. Its football, you get little niggles. Luckily enough it wasnt something that was too serious. It was just a case of resting and doing your rehab stuff. But yeah it feels fine now. I feel 100 per cent. Ive worked really hard. So maybe Ill come back stronger than I was before, which is important for the team." Saturdays game against the visiting New England Revolution (3-3-2) will mark five weeks since Defoe walked off the field favouring his hamstring in the 61st minute of a 3-0 loss to Real Salt Lake. Thanks to a bye, he only missed three games with Toronto (3-3-0) going 1-2-0 in his absence. Defoe, speaking to reporters after practice Tuesday, rubbished the suggestion that the injury layoff may affect his chances at making Englands World Cup squad. England manager Roy Hodgson plans to name his 23-man roster on May 13. "I missed three games. It happens in football, players get injured," said the 31-year-old Defoe, who has won 55 caps for England. "But if you miss three games and that changes the fact that you could, I dont know, go to a tournament, thats crazy." Manager Ryan Nelsen says he has not heard from the English camp. "Not yet," he said. Defoe, for one, does think much talk is needed. "I dont feel like I need to sell myself to anyone because Ill just let my football do the talking. Ive done that since I made my professional debut at 17 ... Im sure the manager knows what I can do." Defoe said not only is he 100 per cent physically, he feels stronger than he did before. Toronto FC officials have said privately they had to put the brakes on Defoe, who has acknowledges he is not known for his patience during injury layoffs. Defoes final days at Tottenham were marred by another hamstring injury. "Its a case of just getting it (the hamstring) strong again. Maybe I didnt do that before," he said. "I think now Ive reallly given it time to heal," he added.dddddddddddd Defoe said his style of plays lends itself to hamstring issues -- "sometimes I go from a standing still position to get up to full speed." Toronto has had a spate of hamstring injuries this season with midfielders Jonathan Osorio, Alvaro Rey and Dwayne De Rosario all missing action. The club has said having to train longer than usual on artificial turf because of the harsh winter has not helped matters. Ironically it would have liked to have been able to practise under the bubble on turf Tuesday because of a downpour. But with the bubble about to come down, the lighting system had been dismantled and so they endured the rain outside. The good news is that the walking wounded are returning after the bye week. Osorio is already back in action while Nelsen says Rey, De Rosario and centre back Doneil Henry (knee) are "very close" to returning. Nelsen says the only player definitely out for this weekends game is midfielder Jeremy Hall (Achilles). Striker Bright Dike (Achilles) is also a long-term injury absence. Star U.S. midfielder Michael Bradley, who has been nursing a variety of ailments, is also doing well. Injuries have hampered Nelsen in blending his squad, which features three new designated players in Defoe, Bradley and Brazilian striker Gilberto and as many as five other new starters since last season. Two weeks ago against Colorado, he was unable to assemble a fully healthy bench. While Toronto has given up seven goals in six games, it has scored just six with Defoe accounting for three of them Toronto is getting healthy at the right time. After three games in April, Toronto has six in May including a home-and-away series with the Vancouver Whitecaps in the Amway Canadian Championship. Three of the four league games are at home so May represents a chance to harvest points. With Bradley, Brazilian goalie Julio Cesar and possibly Defoe joining their national teams at the end of May ahead of the World Cup, points may be harder to come by later. While Defoe has not yet heard from Hodgson, Cesar says he reached out to Luiz Felipe Scolari to invite him to Toronto after reading that the Brazil coach had visited players in Europe. "I was a little bit jealous," Cesar said with a smile. 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