Читать книгу Hope and Heartbreak in Toronto. Life as a Maple Leafs Fan онлайн

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Kerry Fraser was one of the NHL’s most respected officials, and he now dabbles in media commentary. Leafs fans will never forget his gaffe in Game 5 of the 1993 Campbell Conference Final, however. The perfectly manicured hair only added to the angst.

Courtesy of Graig Abel.

Playing in Los Angeles, the Leafs’ Wendel Clark had completed a hat trick, scoring late to tie the game 4–4 and forcing overtime. With the Leafs’ Glenn Anderson having drawn a penalty late in regulation, they took to the ice knowing they had to kill off the Kings power play to prevent the series returning to Toronto for a Game 7.

Wayne Gretzky, largely an inert presence to that point in the game, was starting to find his mojo. Both Gretzky and the Leafs captain, Doug Gilmour, were on the ice when Gretzky attempted to shoot the puck toward the Toronto goal. The shot was blocked before it reached goaltender Felix Potvin, and Gretzky and Gilmour reacted instinctively, heading toward the deflected puck.

Gretzky missed the puck and clipped Gilmour on the chin. Gilmour went down in a heap, bleeding, and play was whistled dead. No one doubted the hit was unintentional but it was equally beyond doubt that Gilmour was fouled, perhaps grievously so given the blood pouring from his chin.