11/21/24
December 21, 2005
The NHL's Most Consistent Referee: From the mouths of the players themselves: a Hockey News player poll. Most players seem to think very highly of Kerry Fraser, with the possible exception of an anonymous Toronto Maple Leaf.
posted by DrJohnEvans to hockey at 03:15 PM - 9 comments
I remember Kerry Fraser from my days with the Oilers, and he was reasonable in most respects. He had a habit of being fair unless you were a constant glove-dropper, in which he was watching you more or less from anywhere. Fans tend to exaggerate the frequency with which the players they like are spied upon. This is where most criticism arrives, and Fraser is least culpable in that respect. I myself have no argument here, and screw Toronto fans. They remember ANY official that ever calls ANYTHING against a Maple Leaf player.
posted by mrhockey at 04:49 PM on December 21, 2005
I always thought Fraser was the best when I was a kid, though if your only metric is consistency, Paul Stewart was your man: no more than 1 penalty a side per period, allow a couple of fights. "Don't worry folks, he fell on his hair"-- Don Cherry on a Kerry Fraser blooper
posted by yerfatma at 04:57 PM on December 21, 2005
mrhockey, Leaf fans' continuing hatred of Fraser is exactly as rational as your hatred of Leaf fans.
posted by chicobangs at 11:57 PM on December 21, 2005
Since everyone who is not a Leaf is out to get the Leafs, it is reasonable that all the non-Maple Leafs' players' favourite referee is Fraser, since he is so clearly anti-Leaf, right? See, it's all coming together.
posted by fabulon7 at 08:10 AM on December 22, 2005
Urge to kill.... Rising..... RISING...
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 08:35 AM on December 22, 2005
Urge to kill.... Rising..... RISING... Easy, big fellah...smoke this, you'll feel better
posted by The_Black_Hand at 04:46 PM on December 22, 2005
yerfatma said "no more than 1 penalty a side per period, allow a couple of fights." doesnt sound to consistent,1 penalty each period during an old school Flyers-Devils game?? Mebbe in wimpy Toronto....just kidding about that last one yo.
posted by GoBirds at 09:22 PM on December 22, 2005
"grandma with joint". Nice. That also casts a new light on Weedy McSmokey's name. Was Johnny Potsmoker or Smokey McPot already taken?
posted by hincandenza at 10:26 PM on December 22, 2005
Anonymous Toronto Maple Leaf, yes. Plus thousands of not-so-anonymous Maple Leaf fans. I think there are plenty of Calgary Flames fans that don't agree either. Ahh, memories of Game 6 of the finals...