Leafs fans outraged over chosen referee for game 6 against the Bruins
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Samer Dagher
May 2, 2024 (6:17 PM)
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Photo credit: ESPN
Toronto Maple Leafs fans are outraged after the NHL appointed Boston native referee Chris Rooney to officiate Game 6 against the Bruins, with the Leafs facing elimination.
The announcement, made by the scoutingtherefs Twitter account, sparked concerns about bias, as Rooney's hometown affiliation could potentially influence his calls.
South Boston's own Chris Rooney will be working tonight's Game 6 between the Bruins and Maple Leafs with referee Dan O'Rourke. Ryan Daisy and Devin Berg will work the lines:
Fans took to social media to express their discontent, arguing that referees shouldn't officiate games involving their hometown teams. They pointed out the likelihood of Rooney's allegiance to the Bruins due to his Boston roots. His partner for the game, Dan O'Rourke, hails from Calgary, Alberta.
Am I the only one who thinks that someone from Boston should not be allowed to ref a playoff game that has the Bruins in it??? And that goes for any team, any location, any ref.
While there are referees from the greater Toronto area in the NHL, none were chosen for this game. Fans speculate that this could work against the Leafs, as referees may avoid appearing biased towards their hometown team. Nonetheless, fans hope that officiating won't overshadow the game as the Leafs aim to force a Game 7.
As seen on hockeypatrol
Maple Leafs fans furious after controversial referee chosen for game 6
Maple Leafs fans furious after controversial referee chosen for game 6
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