News Article: If Kerry Fraser had one do-over, he'd catch Gretzky's high stick on Gilmour

[TMLifer]

A piece written by Kerry Fraser on The Players' Tribune saying if he had one do-over, it would be to get that call right.

Full read: http://www.theplayerstribune.com/2016-6-7-kerry-fraser-nhl-referee-stories/

Gretzky gets the puck. He shoots it, and my eyes go to the net. But Jamie Macoun blocks it. The puck rebounds between Gretzky and Doug Gilmour. When my eyes go back to Gretzky, I see a motion. Gilmour goes down. Did Gretzky’s stick follow through and catch him? Gilmour’s bent over now. He’s got blood on his chin.

And I have no idea what happened. That’s a helpless, helpless feeling. Under the 1993 rules, if Gretzky high-sticks Gilmour and it draws blood, it’s a five-minute major. He’s gone. It was a huge call to make - a worse one to miss.

Guys from both teams were skating up to me. It didn’t smell right. I should have known when I saw Gretzky skating away. Whenever there was a dispute, Gretz was always at the forefront arguing his side of it. But this time, he kind of slinked away. That was uncharacteristic. That should have tipped me off. But to be honest, I was attempting to roll back the play in my mind, over and over, looking for some measure of recall that would provide the evidence I needed.

After the game, the NHL’s director of officiating Brian Lewis came into the referee’s room and said, "Good job tonight, guys." We really thought we got it right. There weren’t all the slow-motion cameras like they have today. It wasn’t until the next day that I saw another angle of the play on television. You could clearly see Gretzky high-sticking Gilmour.

It was missed. Period.

It was agony for Leafs fans. I understand the passion, the emotion and the frustration that Leafs fans have endured. They felt it was their time. When people come up to me and ask about it now, I just try to have a conversation with them. If I had one opportunity to turn back the hands of time for a "do over" it would be to catch that high-stick. I’m sure I’m not alone in that department.

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[Craig Button]

So in other words.

It's been 23 years and Fraser's ego has finally let him somewhat acknowledge his incompetence.

 

[Swervin81]

He's admitted to missing it several times the past few years. Seriously, guys, move on already. We still had a chance to kill off the penalty and go win game 6 in OT anyways, and we still had a chance to win game 7, while just having a 5 min PP wouldn't have guaranteed jack, especially since we still had part of a penalty that ate into that time.

People gotta stop saying that blown call was the reason we lost. It wasn't.

 

[BigBlu]

nice hair though

 

[Swervin81]

Also, holy **** at that nickel beer night story. Good lord.

 

[TMLifer]

People gotta stop saying that blown call was the reason we lost. It wasn't.

Hmmm so you're saying 5 minutes on a PP which would've also kept the greatest player ever off the ice that entire time wouldn't have helped? Yeah I can't agree with that.

 

[Gallagbi]

He says this every year or so.

 

[indigobuffalo]

It's clear as day he missed the call. Sucks for us Leaf fans but not for Kings and ultimately Habs fans.

Oh well.

 

[Jeypic]

Hmmm so you're saying 5 minutes on a PP which would've also kept the greatest player ever off the ice that entire time wouldn't have helped? Yeah I can't agree with that.

lol penalties don't mean guaranteed goals. Get over it.

 

[93LEAFS]

Refs make mistakes, it sucks it happened to us at such a pivotal moment. But this is too painful to talk about in depth.

 

[BigBlu]

lol penalties don't mean guaranteed goals. Get over it.

no, but Gretz wouldn't have been on the ice to score game winner - guaranteed.

 

[AllDay28]

ya ya sure sure. there is 0% chance they call a penalty on Gretz, for anything less than murder, based on the situation in game. I hate when people write this stuff. You messed up, move on.

 

[Xscout*]

yea this is ridiculous. this helps nothing.
all it does is get him back in the limelight for a short period. even if it is as a freakin goon.

just add it to the laundry + grocery list of BS gone against the leafs.

edit:
ALSO he admits he was puck watching... a REFEREEEEE PUCK WATCHING!!! pay attention to the game ya goons!

 

[slozo]

ya ya sure sure. there is 0% chance they call a penalty on Gretz, for anything less than murder, based on the situation in game. I hate when people write this stuff. You messed up, move on.

I'm of this mind too.

I look at Kerry's apologies at al about the "missed call" as a poor excuse for a call he was never going to make. I watched enough hockey then to know that Gretz was never going to get a 5 minute major at that point in the game . . . just wouldn't have happened unless it was some kind of over the top move.

Frankly, I am sick of hearing about it, just brings back bad memories.

 

[timlap]

I think Kerry Fraser's a class act. I like his column on TSN a lot. He's got a good sense of humour about himself and has no problem admitting to mistakes. His philosophy on reffing is bang on, imo.

 

[Whale Mingo]

Kerry Farzier is a less than likable human being who thought he was part of the attraction of coming to an NHL game.

The only reason he repeats this story is so he can somehow grab some attention, which is all he ever cared about. Do not fool yourself into thinking he is sorry he got it wrong, he could not care less about getting that or any call wrong.

If he had it to do over again he would make the exact same decision, otherwise he couldn't continue to talk about it.

 

[MJ65]

Gretzky got that call because he is / was the great one - simple as that and the price was paid by the Leafs

 

[Xscout*]

Kerry Farzier is a less than likable human being who thought he was part of the attraction of coming to an NHL game.

The only reason he repeats this story is so he can somehow grab some attention, which is all he ever cared about. Do not fool yourself into thinking he is sorry he got it wrong, he could not care less about getting that or any call wrong.

If he had it to do over again he would make the exact same decision, otherwise he couldn't continue to talk about it.

 

[MakeTheGoalsLarger]

Gretzky got that call because he is / was the great one - simple as that and the price was paid by the Leafs

that's why I think skill wise, Gretzky wasn't all that much better than Lemieux. Gretzky had the refs on his side all his career.

 

[Swervin81]

no, but Gretz wouldn't have been on the ice to score game winner - guaranteed.

Yeah, so? There's 11 other forwards and 6 d-men that played for the Kings too. One of them could've gotten it.

 

[timlap]

Hard to believe people are still so bitter. Missed calls happen. Bad teams and sour fans blame the refs for their losses, but at the end of the day the Leafs just didn't get it done. Fraser has the grace to own his mistake. I expect Gilmour and company could do the same.

 

[WTFMAN99]

He's admitted to missing it several times the past few years. Seriously, guys, move on already. We still had a chance to kill off the penalty and go win game 6 in OT anyways, and we still had a chance to win game 7, while just having a 5 min PP wouldn't have guaranteed jack, especially since we still had part of a penalty that ate into that time.

People gotta stop saying that blown call was the reason we lost. It wasn't.

Pretty much summed it all up. I'd have loved to have a cup in 93 but it didn't happen. We're on the way up now in the present day and here is hoping that our boys can bring it home in the next few years

 

[Leafsdude7]

Yeah, so? There's 11 other forwards and 6 d-men that played for the Kings too. One of them could've gotten it.

The point in the end should be that, sure, anything else could have happened and the Leafs very well could still have lost even if the call was made, but the fact is that non-call directly resulted in the game winner moments later, because Gretzky wouldn't have been on the ice and the Kings would have been shorthanded.

As well, one thing people always forget about this play was that Gilmour was on the bench watching because of the cut when Gretzky scored the winner.

 

[Joey Hoser]

So in other words.

It's been 23 years and Fraser's ego has finally let him somewhat acknowledge his incompetence.

He's acknowledged it was a blown call for aslong as I can remember.

 

[MJ65]

that's why I think skill wise, Gretzky wasn't all that much better than Lemieux. Gretzky had the refs on his side all his career.

I am not sure about that but like Gretzky, he was very dominant (but statistically Gretzty is definitely better)