The Final Call (45 page)

This cutting edge approach to hockey programming analysis by TSN, Canada’s sports leader, was so well-received by the viewing audience (as tweets and blogs verified) that I was summoned to Toronto by Steve Dryden for the first three rounds of the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
C’mon Ref
appeared on-air almost nightly with James Duthie on NHL Hockey for the first month of the Stanley Cup Playoffs as we provided expert analysis on the officiating that quite often became a focal point, given the intensity of playoff hockey. As always, the perspective I attempted to bring was honest and opinionated, but fair. When the officials got it right, I complimented them; when they were wrong, I didn’t back off stating it with an eye to explaining how the call might have been missed. In the early playoff rounds, with multiple games taking place at the same time, I sat in front of a bank of monitors, and if a controversy developed I was able to quickly provide my assessment of the play to James Duthie and the other on-air talent at the intermission desk, which often included Craig MacTavish, Aaron Ward, Jamie “Noodles” McLennan, Bob McKenzie, and Darren Dregger. In effect, we established our own “war room” in Studio 9 at TSN to provide a large measure of accuracy and expert opinion in reporting on the officiating. I was also able to provide instant information to our TSN talent broadcasting the game relative to this specialized element of the game. When I was on the ice as an active referee, it used to annoy me when I heard commentators give the wrong explanation on a rule or officiating in general. They didn’t do it with malice; it’s just that officiating is a particular aspect of the game that former players or broadcasters didn’t understand from the inside. When inaccurate comments were
made concerning the officiating, millions of viewers became misinformed. TSN, and Kerry Fraser utilizing the
C’Mon Ref
segment, set about attempting to educate the viewer and fan with accurate reporting and to provide some measure of understanding with regard to officiating in general.

It was while I was in studio during this first month of the playoffs that I spoke to Steve Dryden about connecting with the hockey fan in a meaningful way through a truly interactive question and answer column on the TSN website. Mark Milliere, senior vice president of production, gave the project his blessing and Kelvin Chow was assigned to set up the mail bag, sort, provide fan questions to me, and post my answers. The response to this question of the day column was overwhelmingly positive, and it quickly took on a life of its own. As bloggers continued to post their comments at the end of each daily column, I noticed that their attitudes toward NHL officiating was changing for the better. By tackling key issues within the game, providing answers to current playoff game situations through accurate information, and telling entertaining background stories in the column, an educational process was taking place for hockey fans. It just didn’t stop there, as I received calls from more than one NHL coach, several members of the media, and agents that represent some of the top players within the game who appreciated the candid perspective that I offered through the TSN column. A better understanding of this complex and often misunderstood element of the game was being gained. Admittedly far from perfect, whether you love ’em, hate ’em, or are just indifferent towards them, the officials are a necessary part of the game.

As I continue to navigate uncharted waters, I’m not sure “retirement,” at least in its classic form, is in the cards anytime soon. While my final call as an NHL referee may have been made on Sunday, April 11, 2010 in Philadelphia, the future for me appears to be anything but final—in fact, it’s wide open. The game
of hockey is still the greatest on earth and one of fastest-growing professional sports in North America.
Hockey Night in Canada
, TSN, Sportsnet, Comcast, and NBC and their affiliated networks, provides you, the fan, the most exciting and extensive coverage of this sport we all love. I’m proud to be a part of that and to help clarify (and occasionally vindicate) the role of the referee. While I’m still unsure about what my future holds, I can only hope it will continue to involve the sport I’ve dedicated my life to. The whistle and jersey may have gone away, but my love of the game remains. Hope to see you at ice level!

KERRY FRASER
was born in 1952 in Sarnia, He joined the National Hockey League Officials Association in 1973, and refereed his first game in the 1980–81 season. He retired after the 2009–10 season as the most senior referee in the NHL, having officiated more than two thousand games. Fraser now lives in New Jersey with his wife, Kathy, and their seven children.