Kerry Fraser

Infobox Person
name = Kerry Fraser

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image_size = 200px
caption =
birth_date = birth date and age|1952|5|30
birth_place = Sarnia, Ontario
death_date =
death_place =
education =
occupation = NHL official (1973–"Present")
spouse =
parents =
children =
nationality = CAN

Kerry Fraser (born May 30, 1952, in Sarnia, Ontario) is the most senior referee in the National Hockey League, having joined the National Hockey League Officials Association on September 1, 1973, and officiating his first game in the 1980–81 season.cite web | url = http://www.nhlofficials.com/previous_fo.asp?member_id=2069 | title = Featured officials: Kerry Fraser | publisher = NHL Officials Association | accessdate = 2007-10-26] His father, Hilton "Hilt" Fraser, had him skating at 15 months old [cite news | url=http://www.nhlofficials.com/display_news.asp?articleID=12 | title = Fraser sets Officiating Record | publisher = NHL Officials Association | date = 2003-03-27 | accessdate = 2008-02-13] , chasing pucks at 11, and refereeing by age 15. [cite news | url = http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/1998/weekly/981109/nhl1109/#3 | title = Referees Have Fathers Too | publisher = Sports Illustrated | date = 1998-11-03 | accessdate = 2008-02-13] At just ft in to m|5|7 tall, Fraser says that his height contributed to his longevity in the league by forcing him to "develop techniques to ... avoid being hit" [cite news | url = http://www.nhlofficials.com/display_news.asp?articleID=48 | title = Kerry works milestone | publisher = NHL Officials Association | date = 2003-12-03 | accessdate = 2007-10-26]

He has called 1,700 regular season games and over 250 Stanley Cup playoff games since joining the league in 1980. Fraser also officiated the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, which was the first Olympic tournament to feature NHL participation.

He was also one of the last three NHL officials covered by the grandfather clause that allowed him to go without a helmet, thus allowing his signature bouffant hairstyle. However, with the ratification of the new NHL Officials Association collective bargaining agreement on March 21, 2006, all officials, including Fraser, are now required to wear a helmet. [ [http://www.hockeyrefs.com/intheheadlines/04052006,2.htm HockeyRefs.com - Error 404 ] ]

Since the 1994-95 NHL season, Fraser wears uniform number 2, a number he said he chose "Because my wife is number 1." [Off The Record. TSN. 3 November, 2006.]

In game 4 of the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals, Fraser called penalties on Chris Clark and Mike Commodore, leading to a 5-on-3 advantage for the Tampa Bay Lightning. It is speculated that the fan outrage at this game led to Fraser's being removed from the Game 6 officiating schedule. [ [http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=86205&hubname= TSN : NHL - Canada's Sports Leader ] ]

Fraser missed the beginning of the 2006-07 season while recovering from an incident in September 2006. He was helping his daughter move and was carrying a television down the steps when he lost his footing; his big toe was shattered. [ [http://www.tsn.ca TSN - Canada's Sports Leader ] ] Before returning to referee NHL games, Fraser officiated some AHL games alongside his son, Ryan Fraser. [ [http://www.hockeyrefs.com/intheheadlines/2006/11/20.php HockeyRefs.com - Error 404 ] ] In November 2006, TSN's James Duthie, along with Kerry Fraser, created a short mock interview/documentary claiming that Fraser missed the start of the season because he was afraid that wearing a helmet would mess up his hair. [ [http://www.tsn.ca/tsn_talent/columnists/james_duthie/?ID=186431 TSN : TSN TALENT - Canada's Sports Leader ] ] Fraser's first game back with the NHL was Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins on November 30 2006.

Fraser may be best remembered as the referee who assessed the penalty on Los Angeles Kings defenseman Marty McSorley during Game 2 of the the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals for having an illegal stick. With the Kings leading the Montreal Canadiens by a score of 2–1, Canadiens coach Jacques Demers called for a measurement of McSorley's stick curve. The stick was deemed illegal and McSorley was given a two-minute minor for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Awards

Fraser was voted the "most consistent" referee in a December 2005 poll [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?page=playerpoll051221 ESPN - Player Poll: - NHL ] ] of NHL players. [ [http://www.hockeyrefs.com/intheheadlines/12252005.htm HockeyRefs.com - Error 404 ] ]

References