Kerry Fraser
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kerry Fraser (born May 30, 1952, in Sarnia, Ontario) has been a National Hockey League referee since September 1, 1973.
He is the NHL's most senior official, having called more than 1,550 regular season games and 250 Stanley Cup playoff games since joining the league in 1979. Fraser also officiated the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, which was the first Olympic tournament to feature NHL participation.
He was also one of the last three NHL officials covered by the grandfather clause that allowed him to go without a helmet, thus allowing his signature bouffant hairstyle. He wears uniform number 2. (He said this is "Because my wife is number 1."[1]) However, upon the ratification of the new NHL-NHL Officials Association collective bargaining agreement on March 21, 2006, all officials, including Fraser, will be required to wear a helmet beginning with the 2006-07 NHL season. [2] Because he is so recognizable and unpopular with some fans [3] Fraser is a popular target for fan chants and jeers in rinks across the NHL landscape. [4]
Fraser missed the beginning of the 2006-07 season while recovering from an incident in September of 2006 in which he was helping his daughter move where he reportedly dropped a television on his big toe, shattering it.[5] Before returning to refereeing NHL games, Fraser is scheduled to referee AHL games alongside his son, Ryan Fraser.[6] In November 2006, TSN's James Duthie, along with Kerry Fraser created a short mock interview/documentary claiming that Fraser missed the start of the season because he was afraid that wearing a helmet would mess up his hair[7]. Fraser's first game back with the NHL was Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins, on November 30, 2006.
[edit] Awards
Fraser was voted the "most consistent" referee in a December 2005 poll[8] of NHL players. [9] However, it is unclear whether this should be interpreted as a compliment or not. As an anonymous Toronto Maple Leafs player said "He's consistent all right. He hoses us all the time." Fraser won the voting with 33% (10 players) voting for him.
[edit] Famous controversial calls
- 1993: Game 6, Campbell Conference Finals: decision not to call a penalty against Los Angeles Kings' Wayne Gretzky
- 2002: Game 4, Eastern Conference Semifinals: assessing an additional 2 minute minor for abuse of official against Montreal Canadiens coach Michel Therrien
- 2004 Game 6, Stanley Cup Finals: decision not to review a possible goal by Calgary Flames' Martin Gelinas
[edit] References
- ^ Off The Record. TSN. 3 November 2006.
- ^ http://www.hockeyrefs.com/intheheadlines/04052006,2.htm
- ^ http://www.petitiononline.com/nofraser/petition.html
- ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23656-2004Jun7.html
- ^ http://www.tsn.ca
- ^ http://www.hockeyrefs.com/intheheadlines/2006/11/20.php
- ^ http://www.tsn.ca/tsn_talent/columnists/james_duthie/?ID=186431
- ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?page=playerpoll051221
- ^ http://www.hockeyrefs.com/intheheadlines/12252005.htm
