NHL Referees Need to Be Held Responsible and Fans Demand This Way

Do you remember the excitement in the crowd leading up to the match between the San Jose Sharks and the Chicago Blackhawks? What’s the reason behind that? It was shaping up to be an exciting matchup featuring the Hawks’ Connor Bedard and the Sharks’ Macklin Celebrini, both 2023 NHL draft picks facing each other. Nonetheless, the game faced challenges not just from broadcasting problems, but also from a controversial penalty that sparked extensive discussion on social media.

What transpired at the SAP Center? In the third period of the game, with the Sharks holding a lead over the Hawks thanks to Tyler Toffoli’s early open net goal, Bedard was given a 10-minute penalty at 9:10, forcing him to sit out for the remainder of the match. It’s no surprise that this sparked a rally among fans targeting the NHL referees.

On X, senior NHL writer Mark Lazerus reported on this incident on the rink, stating, “Tonight’s a good example of why referees should be made available to reporters. We should be able to get Chris Rooney’s explanation for why Bedard got the 10-minute misconduct. But this being the NHL, we never will.” It’s likely that this issue has surfaced before.

Recall the statement made by NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly regarding this rule, where he remarked, “I don’t think there’s any appetite to change our current policies with respect to our officials and their talking to the media.” The NHL maintains a rigorous approach to the enforcement of its rules regarding referees. With the absence of any post-game commentary from referees, Bedard’s 10-minute penalty will inevitably spark further discussion and debate within the community.

Chris Rooney was accountable for that penalty, and he is certainly not a newcomer in the NHL. He officiated his inaugural NHL regular-season game in 2000 and ascended to a full-time NHL referee role in 2002. Additionally, throughout his career, he was in charge of several Stanley Cup Finals, notably in the years 2012, 2013, 2018, 2019, and 2022.

Tonight's a good example of why referees should be made available to reporters. We should be able to get Chris Rooney's explanation for why Bedard got the 10-minute misconduct. But this being the NHL, we never will.

— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) March 14, 2025

This year, Rooney achieved a significant milestone, becoming the first American-born referee in the NHL to officiate 1,500 games. Additionally, many followers on social media were shocked by a punishment from someone with so much expertise.

NHL fans were left confused and angered

For Connor Bedard, this marks the first occasion in his NHL career where he faces a substantial 10-minute penalty. What was the audience’s response? “Literally never seen a call like that before. Gets tripped, keeps playing, skates to the bench- doesn’t look like he says anything. Ref goes over and gives him 10? Not to mention how absurd it is to give a penalty that big in a one goal game with only 10 minutes left,” remarked a fan. Highlighting a significant distinction, this enthusiast remarked, “It’s a sport where punching somebody is a 5 minute penalty. Naughty words being 10 minutes is ridiculous.”

One more supporter remarked, “Pathetic. Rooney blowing that whistle like a child. He should be accountable. But not on Gary’s watch.” What has Connor Bedard commented on regarding this matter? “I don’t think it was too crazy, but he’s the ref, so he gets to make that call. You don’t really expect that, but it happens,” remarked the young hockey player. Moreover, his coach, Anders Sorensen, stepped in to support him, asserting, “I’ve heard worse.”

This penalty will undoubtedly spark extensive debate within the community for some time, as the rationale behind its imposition on Bedard remains unclear. A fan expressed, “I think players should get to fight a ref once a year. Let murphy beat the brakes off of rooney and call it even.” A fan echoes the sentiments of the senior NHL writer, remarking, “Never thought I would ever agree with @MarkLazerus but Chris Rooney can do crazy things.”

As of now, the NHL has yet to release any statement concerning the 10-minute penalty. Ultimately, it remains to be seen whether any members of the NHL’s core will address the fans’ concerns.

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