Warning: Story and video contain coarse language
Referee Tim Peel will no longer work NHL games now or in the future following his comments during Tuesday's game between the Detroit Red Wings and Nashville Predators, the league announced Wednesday.
Peel could be heard on a hot mic admitting to targeting the Predators for a penalty after whistling forward Viktor Arvidsson for tripping in the second period.
Maybe if you're a mic'd up ref, you shouldn't express how you wanted to call a penalty against a team earlier in the game, changing how you ref the rest of the game.
— Matt Best (@bestofmatt) March 24, 2021
"It wasn't much but I wanted to get a fuckin' penalty against Nashville early in the..."#Preds #LGRW pic.twitter.com/6fZImkdqLr
"Nothing is more important than ensuring the integrity of our game," Vice president of hockey operations Colin Campbell said in a statement. "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 to deserve. There is no justification for his comments, no matter the context or his intention, and the NHL will take any and all steps necessary to protect the integrity of our game."
More to come.
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