Kerry Fraser
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Kerry Fraser (born May 30, 1952, in Sarnia, Ontario) has been a National Hockey League referee since September 1, 1973.[1] At just 5 ft 7 in (1.702 m) tall,[2] Fraser says that his height contributed to his longevity in the league, by forcing him to "develop techniques to ... avoid being hit"[3]
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. However, with the ratification of the new NHL Officials Association collective bargaining agreement on March 21, 2006, all officials, including Fraser, are now required to wear a helmet.[4]
Fraser wears uniform number 2, a number he said he chose "Because my wife is number 1."[5]) Because he is so recognizable and unpopular with some fans,[6] Fraser is a popular target for fan chants and jeers in rinks across the NHL landscape.[7]
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 was carrying a television down the steps and lost his footing; his big toe was shattered.[8] Before returning to refereeing NHL games, Fraser officiated some AHL games alongside his son, Ryan Fraser.[9] 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.[10] Fraser's first game back with the NHL was Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins, on November 30, 2006.
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Family
Fraser's family is heavily tied into the refereeing community. His son, Ryan Fraser, referees AHL games. Former referee Harry Dumas is married to his daughter, Marcie. He has five other kids: Matthew, a firefighter in Canada; Jessica, an aspiring sportscaster; Ian, an iron worker and hockey player; Jaime, seen in the TSN video and future lawyer; and Kara, the youngest. Fraser also has two grandchildren by Marcie and Harry.
Awards
Fraser was voted the "most consistent" referee in a December 2005 poll[11] of NHL players.[12] 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.
Famous controversial calls
- 1993: Game 6, Campbell Conference Finals: Decision not to call a penalty against Los Angeles Kings' Wayne Gretzky for high-sticking Toronto Maple Leafs forward Doug Gilmour in overtime.[citation needed]
- 2002: Game 4, Eastern Conference Semifinals: Assessing an additional 2 minute minor for abuse of official against Montreal Canadiens coach Michel Therrien.[citation needed]
- 2004: Game 4, Stanley Cup Finals: Decision to call penalties on Chris Clark and Mike Commodore leading to a 5-on-3 advantage for the Tampa Bay Lightning. It is speculated that the fan outrage at this game led to Fraser's being removed from the Game 6 officiating schedule.[13]
- 2007: Regular season game between the Toronto Maple Leafs vs. New York Islanders: Waving off Toronto Captain Mats Sundin's goal several seconds after the puck entered the net, ruling that there was incidental interference by the Leafs' Alexei Ponikarovsky with Islanders goaltender Rick DiPietro. The goal would have given the Leafs a 3-1 lead in the third period. No video review of the play was allowed, and no penalty was called afterwards. Replays would later show that DiPietro grabbed Ponikarovsky's stick a few seconds before the goal. The Islanders would eventually win the game, 3-2 in a shootout, in which both teams were battling for the eighth and final playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.[14][15]
References
- ^ http://www.nhlofficials.com/previous_fo.asp?member_id=2069
- ^ http://www.canoe.ca/Slam030402/col_kernaghan-sun.html
- ^ http://www.nhlofficials.com/display_news.asp?articleID=48
- ^ http://www.hockeyrefs.com/intheheadlines/04052006,2.htm
- ^ Off The Record. TSN. 3 November 2006.
- ^ 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
- ^ http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=86205&hubname=
- ^ http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/185004
- ^ http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070223.wspt-leafs-main-23/GSStory/GlobeSportsHockey/?page=rss&id=RTGAM.20070223.wspt-leafs-main-23
