Officials Forget to Show Up to Rangers-Devils Game

"Drink among friends" leads referees, linesmen to forget key duties of work


Above: Three of the game's officials at Madison Square Garden, 2 hours after the game had ended

By Jeremy Strauss

NEW YORK -- National Hockey League referees Wes McCauley, Tim Peel, and linesmen Michel Cormier and Jean Morin may have some explaining to do.

The NHL is currently investigating what led the quartet of officials to fully miss Thursday night's game at Madison Square Garden between the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils.

"We were just having a drink, and one thing led to another," said McCauley on a conference call to the media this morning. "What can I say -- it's New York, stupid things happen."

"It was only supposed to be one drink before the game to relax us a little," added Morin. "At one point I looked at my watch and thought, oh crap, the game!"

Following the extended happy hour, the officials rushed to the arena and suited up, hoping to catch the end of the third period. The game, however, had ended hours earlier in a 4-2 Devils victory.

"We're waiting and waiting and waiting and thinking, when are these guys gonna come already?" said Rangers coach John Tortorella after the game. "Finally, we thought, let's just start the thing, and hopefully they'll show up eventually. We'll call our own offsides, and we can agree on penalties if they're really blatant."

No penalties were called during the game.

"I remember once, when I played peewee, the league forgot to schedule refs so our coaches skated out there and made the calls," said Devils forward Zach Parise. "This was kind of like that."


Parise slashes the Rangers Vinny Prospal. As the coaches could not agree, no penalty was called on the play.

While the game obviously can't be replayed, the disgraced officials have plans to make up for the damage caused.

"We could do extra games," said referee Tim Peel. "Seriously, we feel really bad about this. I wouldn't have a problem doing extra games."

Commissioner Gary Bettman has yet to issue an official statement on how the situation will be deal with. However, he did offer some harsh words in a brief press conference today.

"These referees and linesmen won't be invited back to MSG anytime soon," he said. "While it's too early to say anything, I personally think we should have another lockout, just because of this."