By GARY LOEWEN, SUN MEDIA
1993 STANLEY CUP. LA vs LEAFS. GRETZKY vs GILMOUR
Referee Kerry Fraser admits to human error regarding a blown call on Wayne Gretzky — a missed penalty that, 16 years later, still rankles some Maple Leafs fans.
But, evidently, Doug Gilmour shares the blame for Gretzky not getting a five-minute major for high-sticking the Leafs star.
“Any official absolutely has nightmares when they have an effect on the game — and a negative effect,” Fraser said yesterday on Leafs Lunch on AM640, reflecting on the incident in Game 6 of the 1993 conference final between Toronto and the Los Angeles Kings.
“When it crosses over into what occurred that night, the human error, the element that we miss ... I think about it often.”
Gretzky drew blood when he clipped Gilmour on the chin, but Fraser had an obstructed view and the linesmen missed it as well.
Fraser said he asked Gilmour for his side of the story, and the Leaf said he was hit on the follow-through of Gretzky’s shot.
Replays showed otherwise. The Kings centre should have been penalized for a high stick.
Gretzky went on to score the winning goal when he should have been serving a major, and the Kings wrapped up the series in Game 7.
Fraser faced the wrath of a handful of callers with long memories — one suffered from sleepless nights, and an e-mailer said it was “the game that broke my heart.” But the referee handled them with aplomb.
While agreeing with one gent that he blew the call, Fraser said: “I hope you got it all out — you should not carry this anger and resentment.”
After 16 years, yeah, time to give it a rest.
1993 STANLEY CUP. LA vs LEAFS. GRETZKY vs GILMOUR
Referee Kerry Fraser admits to human error regarding a blown call on Wayne Gretzky — a missed penalty that, 16 years later, still rankles some Maple Leafs fans.
But, evidently, Doug Gilmour shares the blame for Gretzky not getting a five-minute major for high-sticking the Leafs star.
“Any official absolutely has nightmares when they have an effect on the game — and a negative effect,” Fraser said yesterday on Leafs Lunch on AM640, reflecting on the incident in Game 6 of the 1993 conference final between Toronto and the Los Angeles Kings.
“When it crosses over into what occurred that night, the human error, the element that we miss ... I think about it often.”
Gretzky drew blood when he clipped Gilmour on the chin, but Fraser had an obstructed view and the linesmen missed it as well.
Fraser said he asked Gilmour for his side of the story, and the Leaf said he was hit on the follow-through of Gretzky’s shot.
Replays showed otherwise. The Kings centre should have been penalized for a high stick.
Gretzky went on to score the winning goal when he should have been serving a major, and the Kings wrapped up the series in Game 7.
Fraser faced the wrath of a handful of callers with long memories — one suffered from sleepless nights, and an e-mailer said it was “the game that broke my heart.” But the referee handled them with aplomb.
While agreeing with one gent that he blew the call, Fraser said: “I hope you got it all out — you should not carry this anger and resentment.”
After 16 years, yeah, time to give it a rest.
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Better late than never! This bastard had our season ruined...even 16 years ago I remember it like yesterday!
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