Authors: Kerry Fraser
The Final Call
PRAISE FOR
KERRY FRASER:
“Kerry brought tremendous enthusiasm and energy every time he officiated. I was a younger player at the end of Kerry’s officiating career but it was very clear to see his passion for what he did and for wanting to be the best he could be every time he took the ice. He always took the time to explain things when it was needed and remained professional at some of the most intense moments. He was fair and accountable, which is all you could ask for from any official, and of course he never had a hair out of place.”
—Sidney Crosby
“I always felt Kerry understood the psychology of hockey, and was always aware of the intimidation factor that was being presented by the teams or certain players. Kerry had the ability to maintain complete control of the game. I really believe he wanted the players themselves to play the game the way it was meant to be played: with courage, honour, and respect.”
–Mark Messier
“I always felt comfortable when Kerry Fraser was refereeing a game. He was in control of the situation and very communicative to the coaches. He made a very difficult job look easy because of his control and style.”
—Scotty Bowman
“A good referee makes the game better. Kerry Fraser was a great referee. He allowed the game to be played without prejudice. He retires with many admirers in the game, which is testimony to the high standard he held himself to!”
—Bobby Clarke
“Referees have one of the toughest jobs in hockey. That is why I never criticized them or complained at the league level as general manager. During his long career, Kerry acted as a professional in every game he officiated. Twenty-three years ago he disallowed a goal by Alain Côté of the Nordiques. Fans still blame Kerry for that. Even today, I have to say it was the right call!”
—Serge Savard
“I can’t think of anyone who, while making his living inside the game of hockey, did it with better intelligence and perspective. Every time Kerry stepped on the ice to do his job, one of the hardest in sports, his analytical approach, his feel for the game, and his compassion for the players, set him apart. He was notoriously well-groomed, of course, but even more well-respected.”
—Glen Sather
Copyright © 2010 by Kerry Fraser
Originally published by Fenn Publishing Company in hardcover in 2010.
Fenn/McClelland & Stewart edition published 2011.
All rights reserved. The use of any part of this publication reproduced, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, or stored in a retrieval system, without the prior written consent of the publisher – or, in case of photocopying or other reprographic copying, a licence from the Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency – is an infringement of the copyright law.
We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Book Publishing Industry Development Program and that of the Government of Ontario through the Ontario Media Development Corporation’s Ontario Book Initiative. We further acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council for our publishing program.
LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA CATALOGUING IN PUBLICATION
Fraser, Kerry, 1952–
The final call: hockey stories from a legend in stripes / Kerry Fraser
eISBN: 978-0-7710-4799-2
1. Fraser, Kerry, 1952–. 2. Hockey referees–Biography. 3. National Hockey League–Biography. I. Title.
GV848.5.F73A3 2011 796.962092 C2011-905587-2
Published simultaneously in the United States of America by McClelland & Stewart Ltd., P.O. Box 1030, Plattsburgh, New York 12901
Library of Congress Control Number: 2011935587
Excerpt taken from
Playing with Fire
. Copyright © 2009 by Theoren Fleury and Kirstie McLellan Day. Reprinted with permission of HarperCollins
Publishers Ltd
.
All rights reserved.
Fenn/McClelland & Stewart Ltd.
75 Sherbourne Street
Toronto, Ontario
M5A 2P9
www.mcclelland.com
Cover photograph: Dave Sandford / Getty Images
Cover design: Adapted from original by Martin Gould
v3.1
To the most important people in my life, who at various times were the only ones I could count on:
My beloved wife, Kathy: soulmate, number-one fan, and best mother and grandmother a child could ever hope for …
Bursting with a father’s pride for each of my exceptional children: Marcie, Ryan, Jessica, Matthew, Ian, Jaime, and Kara.
And finally for the little angels that they have blessed us with so far: Harrison, Brady, Madyn, Daryn, and Kiera.
FOREWORDby Wayne Gretzky
E
very participant in a hockey game brings a unique perspective to the game. The players on the ice, the coaches behind the bench, and the fans in the arena all view the game differently and with different emotions. But there is another element in each game that is of great importance. The officials are actively involved in every minute of a hockey game. They are part of the action, and, like the players, they affect the outcome of the game. Kerry Fraser’s new book gives us the insights of an NHL referee who worked 30 seasons and officiated in more games than any other ref. Kerry loves the game as much as anyone, but he has participated in a way that few of us have experienced. His book gives us a fascinating look at what professional hockey is like for an NHL referee.
Kerry began his career in the NHL one year after I did, so I spent nearly my entire career with him as a regular ref in our games. As any player does, I had a few run-ins with Kerry over those years. In fact, it was probably more than a few. I don’t think he was always right, but I know I wasn’t either. Players and refs often don’t see things the same way in the middle of a game. But one thing Kerry always had from every player was respect. You would disagree with him, yell at him, maybe even say a few things
under your breath that you wouldn’t want him to hear, but in the end you always knew Kerry was being as fair as he could possibly be. In a 2005 poll of NHL players Kerry was voted “most consistent referee” by a wide margin. That shows you how highly the players regarded his officiating.
Hockey was Kerry’s career and his passion, but he always kept things in perspective. His book makes clear that his family and faith were, and are, the most important and enduring things in his life. Sometimes a referee doesn’t get much respect from anyone. The fans, the players, the coaches—all of us can be pretty hard on them. But everyone knows we need them. And we can all agree that they have an extremely tough job to do. I’m grateful for Kerry’s enjoyable and fascinating look at his career and life. Since 1994 Kerry has worn number 2 on his jersey, but for myself and thousands of hockey fans around the world, Kerry will always be number 1!
HOLDING ON:THE FINAL GAME
T
he relatively short walk along the rubber mat from the officials’ dressing room to the ice at the Wachovia Center, home of the Philadelphia Flyers, seems longer today. The kind word and pat on the back I always receive from Louie, our dressing-room-door attendant, is softer than usual. It has the feel of an affectionate gesture, the kind extended when old friends part company, not knowing when (or if) they’ll see each other again.
This is the final day of another regular season, my 30th in the National Hockey League and 34th as a contracted NHL referee. But it’s not just another season; this will be my last!
Just two and a half hours from now, the 2009–10 season, and I will be swept out of the building along with the popcorn boxes, empty beer cups, and other refuse the patrons will have discarded. It is difficult for me to comprehend that time has passed so quickly. With each stride, I recall the tremendous excitement of my very first NHL game as a referee.
Thoughts of that night—October 17, 1980, in Denver, as the Colorado Rockies hosted the Minnesota North Stars—fuse with the bittersweet emotion I now feel. My mind spins out of control as I try to connect the dots of all the games between my first and
last. I’m overwhelmed for a moment, then reality takes hold and the analytical part of my brain tells me to check these thoughts along with the rising wave of emotion.
The shrill whistle from the lips of John Malandra, the NHL’s security representative, clears the way past the Zamboni, where the ice crew and ushers have formed a sort of receiving line or honour guard. Stepping onto the polished floor of my office for the 1,904th time (an NHL record), I feel the buzz of the capacity crowd of 19,536. They are at the ready, poised to erupt in unison when their heroes take to the ice from either dressing room. Competition between the rival groups of partisans had already begun in the pre-game warm-up, the chants of “Let’s go, Rangers” being drowned out by the sheer numbers of vocal cords countering with “Let’s go, Flyers.” So far, it appears that no fights have taken place in the stands. This afternoon’s game has assumed the magnitude of a Game Seven, as the winners will capture the final Eastern Conference playoff spot while the losers will break out their golf clubs earlier than expected.