Quote:
Originally Posted by 3rd line Grinder
you guys need to remember that the officials first priority is not the saftey of the players (which is a very close second), but rather the safety of themselves. There is a reason they dont try and break up fights in full swing but rather when they have died down and only in a coordinated manner. If the one ref in the video had attempted to get emery off of holtby, he would be putting himself in a dangerous and vulnerable position. The best thing for him to have done is to step back, keep track of everything that is unfolding, and wait for his partner to come in order to break it up. The question for me is where was the other man?
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Finally, a voice of reason. As someone who officiated minor hockey for 10+ years (including a lot of Midget and Junior where fighting is rampant) I find it hilarious that people think that
one referee (not even a linesman, who would be much more experienced in breaking up fights) should have stepped in to try and break up an NHL fight himself, let alone a fight where one of the two combatants is a former golden gloves boxer. Why should that referee have to put himself in a position where he could incur serious physical harm? Is keeping Brayden Holtby "safe" more important then keeping himself safe?
As for Emery, garbage move by garbage player, nothing more to be said about that.