In last night’s game between the Nashville Predators and Detroit Red Wings, referee Tim Peel was caught on a hot mic suggesting that he had made a make-up call, despite there being little evidence of a penalty. After the clip spread, the league investigated and has now announced Peel will no longer be working NHL games “now or in the future.”
Executive vice president of hockey operations Colin Campbell released a statement:
Nothing is more important than ensuring the integrity of our game. Tim Peel’s conduct is in direct contradiction to the adherence to that cornerstone principle that we demand of our officials and that our fans, players, coaches and all those associated with our game expect and deserve. There is no justification for his comments, no matter the context or his intention, and the National Hockey League will take any and all steps necessary to protect the integrity our game.
Peel was expected to retire at the end of the season. This is not the first time he has been embroiled in controversy. Six years ago, when working at Yahoo Sports, Greg Wyshynski (now of ESPN) released a piece in which Peel suggested that the NHL instructs their officials to “manage the game a certain way,” including on calls that would not usually be a penalty. Obviously, that controversy died out at some point, but this new one was too much even for the veteran referee to withstand.
The NHL so rarely comments on officiating at all that his removal—the release carefully does not indicate he has been fired or released—still comes as a bit of a surprise, despite the evidence.
They all do it, but you can’t talk about it! What a shame.
Hey Remember 1993 Kerry Fraser, Doug Gilmour and Wayne Gretzky enough said.
Talk about a fall guy. Dude made a mistake and then league chucks the book at him. Everyone knows this happens. Don’t make it a puppet show. Let the guy retire accordingly at the end of the season.
They didn’t chuck the book at him. They just told him to retire now instead of end of season
Unpopular opinion but make up calls are fine in the game. Obviously the initial call should never be in question whether it’s a penalty or not if the ref is doing their job, but I have no problem if they’re making a similarly weak call to even it out.
Only difference between him & every other ref is he got caught by a mic. Wanna ensure the integrity of the game? Get Buffalo some new owners.
This is a great comment. LOL!
And move the Coyotes to Quebec City.
Quebec failed. It has showed it can’t support a team. Arizona is a better option. The Coyotes’ problem is horrible management and ownership. A good team will profit in Arizona.
Hope he writes a tell-all book. But he’ll probably have to sign a no disclosure doc to keep his pension.
Thank god fir Peel being removed now.
As a Bruin fan he is terrible especially when calling Boston games. He has an obvious dislike of the team, or maybe just Marchand?
Marchand maybe has done or said something to him 10 yrs ago. But Peel will get Brad in every game. And let opposition get away with more.
In last 5 yrs I think every game Peel did with Bos the opponent will have 3-4 more PP’s.
Now rest of year – don’t have to watch that circus!!
It’s not like Marchand didn’t give him any reason to.
Just slaty Marchand didn’t want to like him
When a CIA agent gets caught, they pretend he never existed. So I get what they are doing, but who are they fooling?
Pens vs Preds – Game 6 of the 2017 Final
The quick whistle erases a 1-0 Nashville lead early in the second period. AND THEN the Pens spend the rest of the game fighting off make up call after make up call after make up call.
I don’t mind a make up call after a bad call.
What I do mind is “both sidesism” when the refs engineer an equal number of penalties per side no matter what.
Agreed, it’s ridiculous when you see fans complaining because the penalties ended up being like 5-2 in the other teams favour. I don’t think that’s a huge issue though, but it probably does happen with a couple refs.
cAnCeL cUlTuRe
You’re an idiot.
you are making connections where they don’t exist. Idiotic.
great move by Bettman and the league..about time and yes he is the goat…
The league’s action was expected, after all, the band’s name is “Gerry” and the Hypocrites. How many of us think this might have to do with the bet-mongers trying to put the heat on the league to reign in referee incompetence, not to mention being more forthright with injury reporting? Games that even come close to looking like a fix-job won’t sit well with those rackets. They don’t want to “refund”, only take in…
This is ridiculous. Make up calls happen in every sport. This is related to his pension and previous issues. League doesn’t want to pay him forever.
How shocking that refs (not just Peel) have an agenda in games, and don’t simply enforce the rules as they are written. And how disingenuous the HOFer Bettman (note irony, please) blathers about the “integrity” of the game in this circumstance. Officiating is a joke across the board, with flagrant violations left uncalled, certain players (and types of players…by size, nationality, and yes, team) held to tighter or much, much looser (Chara, Weber, Pietrangelo, etc.) standards. It’s killing hockey. Just enforce the rules, call ALL the cross-checking, penalize ANYTHING after the whistle, and eject players for fighting. Maybe then the sport could get a contract that isn’t a pittance compared to the other major sports. Or even be considered a major sport here in the US.
I agree with pretty much everything you said except ejecting players for fighting. The 5 minute major is enough unless it’s egregious. Then 10 minute misconduct or game misconduct is warranted. Just how I see it.
Agree and agree. I like players keeping each other in line. The Refs seem not up to the task at all times.
It’s a bad look to show that refs control the game not the players as the league is trying to usher in a new age of gambling on games
1993 Doug Gilmour, Wayne Gretzky, Kerry Fraser enough said!
Sadly business has made Referees into on-ice management.
If they’d only call offenses as the job is intended, then nobody would be crying foul.