The announcement, made by the scoutingtherefs Twitter account, sparked concerns about bias, as Rooney's hometown affiliation could potentially influence his calls.
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.
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.
