“Canucks forward Alexandre Burrows did not hold back about what he felt were unjust penalty calls, ripping into NHL referee Stephane Auger after Vancouver’s 3-2 loss to the Nashville Predators on Monday night.
Burrows, who was called for diving in the second period and interference in the third, also received a 10-minute misconduct with seconds left in the game, and he was not shy his post-game interview.” (Source:TSN)
What an interesting situation last night in Vancouver. The referee in the spot light is Stephane Auger (his last name is pronounced o-j). According to Burrows, Auger came to him before the Anthem to let him know he would be getting retribution against Burrows for an incident earlier in the year, a hit Burrows received in a game against the Predators in Nashville.
Quoting Burrows..
“It was personal. It started in warmup, before the anthem,” Burrows said of Auger’s penalty calling. “(Auger) came over to me and he said I made him look bad in Nashville on the (Jerred) Smithson hit and he said he was going to get me back tonight.”
Burrows was referring to an incident back in December when the Preds’ Smithson hit Burrows and was given a major penalty for charging and a game misconduct. On Monday night, Burrows said Auger was getting back at him.
“When Smithson hit me from sideways and he (Auger) said, ‘I saw the replay, you had your head up, you weren’t really hurt and you made me look bad so I’m going to get you back tonight,’ and he did, and he cost us two points.
These are some pretty serious allegations, ones that could call the integrity of the whole league itself into question. How is this any different than the NBA referee who was fixing games for betting purposes?
You can bet the NHL spin team will be working overtime to figure out a way to quiet this down, but I can’t help but sit here and think back to all the bad calls I’ve witnessed over the years and wonder…
As a fan of hockey, ignorance was bliss. You could get upset over the poor calls, swear at the TV, but in the back of your mind you always believed that the refereeing was legit. If you can’t have impartial judgement from the refs, than what do you have?
From this point forward there will always be that question nagging at you as you watch what you perceive (fairly or unfairly) to be a blown call; Was there some ulterior motive to this call? Do we need to look at video from the last 10 games this guy refereed for this team to see if there was a slight to his honour by a certain player? This is the slippery slope that could cripple the NHL if it loses credibility with the public. A very slippery slope indeed.
Now lets not be naive, we all know that at the professional level of any sport the refereeing is always in question, (by the fans and media) and a player who exaggerates the seriousness of a hit to create a powerplay for his team must know that the ref will see the replay at some point after the game.
This player should than also know that the ref in question won’t appreciate being made to look the fool, but one would also assume that the ref would understand that the idea of the player was to get the advantage for his team, not to embarrass the referee.
There seems to be an issue with Auger’s ego. What hockey fan pays that much attention to who the referee is? Maybe during the game you notice, or perhaps as the game starts you say “oh no, not So And So tonight” or whatever, but do you really think there’s a bunch of guy’s in some basement, wearing referee stripes and whistles, cheering because Stephane Auger won against Alexander Burrows?
Oh yeah, by the way, wasn’t Burrows named NHL player of the week last week?
#1 by Charles at January 12th, 2010
I was at the 4-0 game against Phoenix, where there were many questionable calls/ non-calls, my question was how can the ref’s be impartial when their employer owns one of the teams on the ice and then we see the turn around of Phoenix and wonder.
#2 by Nick at January 12th, 2010
If you watch how Phoenix has turned things around since being purchased by the league you have to wonder if the ref’s were not told to give them the benefit of the doubt on the calls. After all if Phoenix makes it to the playoffs the league will make more money off their investment.
#3 by Derek at January 12th, 2010
Great points Charles and Nick. That’s the kind of thought pattern that this situation is going to evoke. There is little doubt that the league will benefit directly from success in Phoenix.
#4 by Mark at January 12th, 2010
If Auger said something to Burrows during the warm up, why didn’t he lose it, or go say something to his coach right away as it’s a pretty good threat to you and your team?
#5 by TJ at January 12th, 2010
Mark… I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if Burrows spoke with some of his teammates “right away” (eg Luongo was visual upset — at the end of the game)… and maybe Burrows thought that the score had been evened after the first penalty that he was given (which was weak). Unfortunately I can’t lip-read in french, but there must be some good footage that will reveal exactly what Auger said…
#6 by johnny at January 12th, 2010
Unfortunately, the make up penalty for a missed call, or cheap one called earlier in the game is something that we have pretty much accepted as fans. How many times have you said, ” well the ref owed ‘em one there”. I hope that the refs don’t have an agenda given by the NHL. Remember a certain high stick no call in ’93? Think gary wanted a Leafs/Habs final? I always thought that at the end of a game, if you didn’t know who was the ref, he did a good job.
#7 by Mark at January 14th, 2010
TJ …. but wouldn’t you think a teammate would back up his story? I’m sure the reporters went around and asked the other players about it. Or maybe they didn’t think it was appropriate to come out with that type of allegation. I’m sure the other refs will not be impressed with him saying these things.
#8 by Baljit at January 21st, 2010
I can’t believe Burrows got fined and Auger didn’t! That’s so stupid! Burrows is an awesome player who doesn’t deserve that fine. Auger practically threatened him and he doesn’t get a fine while Burrows gets one for talking back to the ref? WTF! I’m pissed off.
#9 by Allan Nielsen at January 23rd, 2010
The game before, also called the best game this year in the NHL, between Calgary and Canucks were worse.
The ref’s were the same that judged the night before in Calgary were there was a very controversial call against Calgary, and they made up for it in Vancouver. At one point it was 6-1 in penalties against Vancouver…
Fraser is not a very good ref, always helps Calgary when Vancouver play them.
When I bet on NHL games I always check who is going to be ref!!!
#10 by badgerhawk at January 28th, 2010
Burrows is a jagoff who needs a thorough ass-kicking. Enough said.
#11 by James at May 10th, 2010
Kind of on/off-topic, but I agree we have to watch out for the refereeing. If you look at the footage for the pittsburg montreal games and even the washington/montreal games, there are utterly ridiculous cases of weak calls being made, or worse of real calls not being made. In Game 5 Mtl vs Pitsburg a penguin player literally clotheslined a montreal player on a breakaway and NOTHING was called .. I have seen countless lack of calls which have resulted in scoring plays which should not have happened. It seems the refs or the NHL does not want montreal taking two of the best teams in the NHL which draw in viewership and endorsements.. Does the corruption stop at the refs or does it go higher up in the organization ??
Hmmm .. I wonder.
#12 by Victoria at December 30th, 2011
Well personaly, i think Augers calls against Alexandre Burrows are and were total bogus. Every game, every point, is important. It baisiclly decides the fate of the team for that season, and when the game depends on the calls of the ref, Auger was definetly bias, unjust, and obliviously not fit to be a referee. Burrows is a great player, yeah i can agree he can be a little lippy and defensive at times, but there is a fine line between a player talking back, and a player who was treated unfairly. I think these calls against burrows showed that burrows was just upset that he was treated wrong, he was not talking back. Burrows should have not got finned. Auger should have got suspended or something. This just rattles me because i love Alexandre Burrows as a player. His determination and skill are an inspirtation to not only me, but other aspiring hockey players and fans. Regardless of alligations and/or fines, I will always be an Alexandre Burrows fan.