This week’s Ref Recap looks an NHL linesman who won’t be back this season, a Swedish player who won’t see the ice for two years, and a WCHA referee who’s hoping for a comeback of his own after a frightening injury:
- Linesman Don Henderson has been shut down for the season, as he’s still battling concussion symptoms after the hit from Dennis Wideman. (Oh, and Wideman’s done for the year, too. Karma?) [Calgary Sun/ESPN]
- While Henderson won’t return to the ice this season, it’s nice to see his his fellow zebras representing his number on the ice. [@quickstat/Twitter]
- WCHA referee Butch Mousseaux was seriously injured in a fall during warmups. Please consider making a donation to his family. [Scouting the Refs]
- Bruins coach Claude Julien was frustrated by the officiating after a loss to the Ducks: “After a TV timeout, I brought [the referee] over and said, ‘Do you want my guys to start dropping and diving and embellishing? Because obviously we’re not getting the calls.’ I said, ‘You guys should have enough respect for our team right now that when you see those things happen, to call them.’ It’s been disappointing.” [Causeway Crowd]
- AHL linesman Landon Bathe is following his father’s footsteps to the NHL… only he’s an official and his dad was one of the Broad Street Bullies. [Scouting the Refs]
- The Boston Globe’s Kevin Paul Dupont has had enough of the Coach’s Challenge: “Adding more camera technology, and turning blue line calls into what amounts to a Mass. Pike E-ZPass tollbooth, is not my idea of making hockey great again.” [Boston Globe]
- Sweden’s Viktor Thomasson received a two-year ban for slashing an opponent. “He has a certain style of play,” said his coach, “and it happens sometimes that it crosses the line.” [NYDN]
- Referee Paul Stewart talks about identifying officiating talent. [Hockey Buzz]
- A recent study claims French Canadian officials are biased toward French Canadian players [STR via CBC.ca]
