LAS VEGAS - Some of my columns run a bit long so this piece is going to be short and to the point.

It’s about keeping the stick on the ice.

I bring this up because of numerous instances of assessed infractions for slashing and hooking that were immediately contested by the penalized players. In a Canadian Hockey tournament.

Okay, most of us officials here in the unemployment – er – entertainment capital of the world are used to these hosers coming down here for hockey tournaments as excuses to get wasted on the Strip, but at least save your mental energies for the card tables and not debate with OS.

Basically, every defensive play over the weekend involved slashing the puck handler between the shoulders and ankles in an attempt to cause a loss of possession. Now, I’m not necessarily referring to hard, injury potential activity. More like slaps or midnight lumberjack tryout displays. 

But when the stick is high, and it causes the puck handler to lose possession or miss a step, the call is going to be made. That’s because under USA Hockey rules, which are still in force here in the desert, the stick is supposed to be used to play the puck.

OS agrees with the rulebook. It’s clear that continuous swatting at players and sticks flying waist-high cause a danger to players and most importantly, could be injurious to us officials.

And the last thing us veteran refs want to hear is the guy with the high stick beefing about being assessed a slashing penalty because “the player took a dive.”

Look, there’s no rules about embellishment in the USA Hockey book. Nevertheless, OS continued to instruct these penalized players that “if your stick wasn’t at his shoulders, there wouldn’t have been a penalty.” 

Translation – even if the guy did make it look worse than it was, that’s called head’s-up hockey. Which means the penalty was assessed because your stick was where it shouldn’t have been. 

So here’s OS’s simple advice for tournaments.

Defenders, keep your lumber on the ice, and you’ll avoid 90 percent of hooking and slashing calls.

Remember, mom and dad didn’t pay for you to be sitting in the box. 

Questions and comments can be sent to editor@letsplayhockey.com, via Twitter @OSpeaking or through the Let’s Play Hockey Facebook page.