Why two NHL players had to ref their own game | Weird Rules

Two refs got stuck in a snowstorm that prevented them from making it to the game on time in 1983 when the Hartford Whalers and New Jersey Devils faced off. Two players had to ref their own game, it was awesome.
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[@SecretBaseSBN]

Thanks for checking out episode 1, and keep those ideas coming for future episodes of Weird Rules. We will send you all the views it gets so you can exchange them for goods and services - Will Buikema

[@hockeyguy2005]

SB Nation here's a weird but VERY legitimate rule, its the DIBS RULE. And in scanning the comments section below, no one has claimed DIBS on Charlotte, so im claiming Dibs on Charlotte. By rule, she must respect the law of DIBS, and im claiming her as mine, for at least a dinner date lol. 😎😉

[@OnlyGoodSHHH]

The NBA's "Illegal Offense", invented by Isiah Thomas & Bill Laimbeer. Later, utilized by MJ & The Bulls before being deemed against the rules.

[@Tommuniqo123]

ITS CALLED THE HARTFORD COURANT YA IDIOT

[@clashwithnicktm6654]

What about the time when a head coach (I cannot remember him name) ticked off the referees so much they DIDN'T want to ref the game by will. I think the coach yelled something like "have another donut" to that ref and it ticked off ALL the referees. If you want to look into this, check it out, it should be on TSN under "Weirdest Moments in hockey". Comment back with your opinions!

[@herlawman]

SB Nation if this happened in British football they ask the crowd to see if there is anyone in the ground who’s qualified to referee at any level, and since there is so many levels to football, there is often a referee qualified to ref amateur games. This has happened when there was no fourth official

[@m.m.5448]

I love the use of Misadventure in this rule. It make me think that the refs on are on some Indian Jones style artifact hunt

[@roguishpaladin]

If there is a sport where "misadventures" can apply most easily, it's ice hockey. Look up the history of the Stanley Cup if you ever want examples of misadventure. (Spoiler: At one point, the arguably 4th most important sports trophy in the world was left on a frozen river overnight, and that's just one misadventure)

[@amicloud_yt]

lmao Indian Jones

[@emceesmith6665]

Indian Jones versus his arch-nemesis British Jones

[@DampfGecko]

The golden puck of Ca'l-gar-ee

[@hunterlehman3056]

Not quite as bad as January 22, 1987. Devils hosting the Flames. A blizzard so crazy, only 334 fans showed up to the arena, out of the 11,247 tickets sold. The lowest attended game in modern NHL history, and that's including the current hurricanes (got em). The 334 club A player couldn't drive the 2 miles to the game because of stuck and abandoned vehicles, so he went on the other side of the road and drove in reverse. A linesman got to the arena 1.5 hours late, to find the flames were there but the home team wasn't.

[@brandonpatel3121]

Hunter Lehman how do u know this?

[@hunterlehman3056]

11 16 look up the 334 club

[@eyeseeyou913]

as a charlotte native, I'm still not quite sure how or why we have a hockey team lol. If you walked down the street here, I would guess that maybe 99/100 people couldn't even tell you the basic rules of hockey. still, somehow, we beat everybody else one year lol

[@The73MPL4R]

At least it's been less then 50 years since the Canes won a cup *cough*Maple Leafs*cough*

[@GooseGumlizzard]

sounds like a typical Devils home game tbh

[@kiran_3986]

The Golden Goal rule from the 1994 Caribbean Cup qualifiers where a golden goal in extra time gave 2 points instead of one. In a qualifying match between Grenada and Barbados, Barbados needed to win by 2 to move on in the tournament. The score late in the second half was 2 - 1 Grenada so instead of attempting to score 3 goals in 7 minutes, Barbados simply scored an own goal and hoped to score the double golden goal in extra time. This resulted in 3 minutes of chaos where Grenada simply had to score, either a normal goal, or an own goal, and Barbados had to defend both goals at once. Barbados successfully defended and ended up scoring the golden goal.

[@liams923]

Can we please get a video on this

[@purplegill10]

liams923 tom scott actually did kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWK6eHWeidp_prM

[@borRIING]

You mean 2-1 Barbados? It didn't make any sense otherwise.

[@kiran_3986]

borRIING Oh yeah, my bad it was 2-1 Barbados

[@hill0048]

I don't get it, how would they benefit from an OWN goal? Wouldn't the other team get the two points? I'm lost on that part.

[@lolerskates876]

if you sit in emergency exit row at hockey stadium, you may have to become a ref

[@evryhndlestakn]

🤣🤣🤣👍

[@jpthomas9491]

Hockey: It'll Happen!

[@TheKardiacKid]

This happens more often than you'd think in soccer here in England. They literally get a 'fan from the stands'. Tannoy announcement, the whole bit. (Albeit someone with a refereeing qualification) I've been to two or three Premier League games where this has happened.

[@oldfrend]

uh... why does it happen so often? i've watched literally thousands of north american sports games and i've never seen a ref not show up.

[@BigDave15]

@@oldfrend When I've seen it happen one of the refereeing team got injured. The 4th official takes over from the ref. or linesman and the crowd official becomes 4th official.

[@Patfettx]

Then again, anybody can ref a football (soccer) game. Whistle to start the game. Anytime someone goes down, you flip a coin, tail = no card, heads = card. Then you take your shaving cream bottle, make a line on the ground and whistle. Check your watch after 45 minutes and randomly blow again. Repeat for second half. Thank you have a good night.

[@stevet5379]

You're trying to compare officiating at a soccer match to officiating at an NHL hockey game? LMAO... there is no comparison.

[@roguishpaladin]

@@stevet5379 As, to be fair, there's some reasonably complex rules in soccer. Their offsides is a bit tricky, and while people make jokes about soccer dives there are legit fouls from contact which occur. Yes, it's a more straightforward sport, but it's not without its idiosyncrasies.

[@the13thminute42]

I don't even really like sports but this is a great series. Truth is always stranger than fiction. I like the casual two person dynamic thing in purgatory you got going.

[@JoeGerber1970]

Baseball has a similar rule whereby a non-playing member of a visiting team can serve as an Umpire. This has actually occurred multiple times, usually so the game would be a regulation game (and thus funnel more of the gate money to the home team).

[@colestevens2224]

I've heard this story before but this was a fun presentation of it! And Charlotte is the best so glad to see her.

[@MandRproductions]

I liked this! Keep doing these!

[@oherroneous]

if you say so!

[@ghostc5535]

Your a hockey fan

[@angusmacfarlane1381]

MandRproductions .

[@jcwong05]

MandRproductions Uhhhhh it’s you!

[@MandRproductions]

I watch KZbin videos! WOAH!

[@rainhymas277]

I've been apart of something similar at a charity football (soccer) match. The referee for the game got injured and the lines men were just substitutes from each time (basically 2 Sunday league teams playing a charity game to raise money for a local cancer charity, so wasn't anything big). My dad was playing for one of the teams which is why i was there, and the opposition team wasn't too happy but agreed as I had convicted them that I'd be impartial. I ended up showing my dad a red card and everyone commented (including opposition team members) on how could i send my dad off. It was a second yellow card offence.

[@orlock20]

Also in the NHL, a team can have emergency undressed players that are basically fans and often from a minor league. A 36 year old accountant by the name of Scott Foster was told to suit up to play goalie and he had 6 saves that night and played for 14 1/2 minutes of play. The home team has to provide such players that can be used by either team. The team he was on won.

[@rjflesher]

Yes, the Chicago Blackhawks. Scott Foster was named the game's first star that night

[@armadillolover99]

And who can forget the glorious night we were treated to in 2020 when the Toronto Maple Leafs lost a game to David Ayres, a former beer league goalie who was also their AHL team’s building manager. Or in the words of Steve Dangle “they lost to a Zamboni driver…WHO WORKS FOR THEM!!!!”

[@timcoakley]

My dad brought me to this game, driving down I-91 through blizzard-like conditions. The bonus was we had our choice of seats! Sidenote: Gary Howatt played for the Whalers the previous season.

[@evryhndlestakn]

Lol,😁🏒👍🥅. How cool. Cheers!

[@Vorael]

3:08 "Hockey: it'll happen." incredible

[@matthewkerner6164]

I have never seen a channel that creates so many new shows that are all great!

[@wanderingcartographer2479]

It hurts to not have an NHL team in Milwaukee i love the admirals but even pekka rinne says that Milwaukee feels like a hockey town and should have an NHL team.

[@MfAnt333]

Jack Guenther at least we having something close to a NHL team,aye but at least we got the bucks with the best record in the league

[@SuperNuclearUnicorn]

We're a basketball town now boy. Or a baseball town if the MLB comes back and the Brewers are still good Or a football town when that's on Maybe a soccer town if that's going well?

[@geoffa87]

We're stuck in the same boat here in Cleveland, we have the arena and the fanbase but we're stuck between the Pens and Wings franchises. About the only hope we have is that Dan Gilbert buys the Blue Jackets and moves them to Cleveland.

[@yianniassimakis2285]

As a Canadian it shocks even us. But also all we know about Milwaukee is that you guys are all italian and surf.

[@foxycritter]

Please keep doing more NHL videos! A lot of sports channels seem to ignore hockey.

[@marcel4002]

You realize you have making of a feel-good Disney movie... plug in a pre teen kid for Gary and let hilarity insue.

[@oz_jones]

Or a dog. "Aint no rule that says a dog cant ref!"

[@adamrose5690]

damn, that was my last quarterback.. (coach looks into the stands and points at a man) hey! you there! (man looks shocked) Who me? Yes you! Take your hand off my wife's leg!

[@bruceneu8588]

LOL

[@nawdrawg8436]

Loving this Weird Rules series 😆💯, looking forward to finding more, thanks for posting these

[@anttisuomela5871]

Not only does the story involve a Garry, but it also involves three Rons. Curiously, the three officials originally meant to referee the game were referee Ron Fournier and linesmen Ron Asselstine and Ron Foyt (Asselstine and Fournier were the ones stuck in the storm).

[@craigmassey2973]

I don't watch sports, I have no interest in sports, I don't know how to play any of these games. And yet I find your videos about game rules really entertaining.

[@SisterOfDeathInAK]

This is a fantastic concept! I can't wait for more!

[@NMarxx]

Great series, keep going!

[@GenesiisDavid]

😂😂 "you in the third row, drop the nachos"

[@jboutiet]

They'd have more interest if they just let them bring the nachos on the ice. Maybe provide a black and white striped saddlebag or knapsack to hold them. A knachsack, perhaps.

[@taakotuesdays]

this feels very unraveled-esque, uncovering the weird lore of sports

[@rogerszmodis]

I got pulled into being a a ref for a game of 12 year olds once. My team just finished a practice and I was waiting for my ride but I was the only one around who knew the rules, had skates and could keep up with the kids when the ref ate a puck and had to leave for an emergency dentist. One of the coaches screamed at me because I ejected their best player for spearing another kid in the nuts. He did stop though when I said one more word and you’re gone. I was fully expecting to throw him out too.

[@BenjaminKassel]

Hey, Milwaukee has an AHL team! The Admirals have been around since 1970 and have been the Nashville Predators’ top affiliate since the Preds’ first season in 1998.

[@joshualieberman7558]

This series=life

[@Ichigoeki]

I played football when I was a kid, mostly middle defence man or goalie. This one time the opposing team only had enough players for the field, so I was asked if I wanted to be their goalie so that we could actually have a game. I was supposed to be our backup goalie that day, so I didn't really mind, but my new defence was verbally sceptical whether I would try my best there. My own team won eventually, but even though more players of the opposing team arrived before the second half they still wanted to keep me in their goal. I suppose they thought that I was still a better choice than anyone else who they had present there. ^^' My own team won eventually, since they new quite well where to put the ball to get past me, despite my best efforts to guide the defence.

[@gregtjr.7871]

This was awesome, keep it up!

The three referees scheduled for that game were named Ron: referee Ron Fournier and linesmen Ron Asselstine and Ron Foyt.

[@MrTandtrollet]

Oh, wow, this was the first ever episode? Cool! I don't even enjoy watching sports but these videos are great! Who are all these different guests though?

[@hurtigheinz3790]

In German soccer you can get officialy licensed as ref for certain leagues up to 1. Bundesliga. So if ref doesn't show up for a game they make an announcement asking for licensed refs in the crowd and the one with the highest qualification calls the game.

[@julianrdz]

Working at SB nation seems like an awesome job

[@GoatPopsicle]

I love this series

[@RaRaResourcesSFX]

MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS

[@teddygallagher1668]

RaRa Resources we aren't nhl tho just ahl

[@RaRaResourcesSFX]

that's a damn good point and you're right, but i think of the ahl as minor professional hockey

[@RrrrralphBrad]

because it is minor pro hockey lol

[@sethkibble6279]

Let's go Ads!

[@sethkibble6279]

I wish we could get a NHL team here

[@OneTeeGlory]

The goalies who remove their mask on 2 on 0s so that they only have to face a single attacker during a penalty shot.

[@lassenlongshore217]

Or deliberately dislodge the net

[@ericwertz9448]

Carter Collins thanks David Leggio...

[@arinerm1331]

There was another great example of a rarely used rule in the March 14, 2018, game between the Penguins and Rangers at MSG. The Rangers goaltender was called for a delay of game penalty with less than 1:00 remaining in the third period. The Penguins exercised their option to take a penalty shot in lieu of a power play, since there was not enough time remaining in regulation for the Rangers to serve the full penalty.

[@USCGdolphin]

Here are two weird rules. I am a referee for The US Fencing Association. So the first weird rule is t.86 #3. A fencer may not dress or undress in public. Doing either will result in a card. Why did this rule need to be written. Second weird rule or actually lack of rule is that there is no rule in fencing (a COMBAT sport) that requires a fencer to wear shoes. In other words a fencer could fence in bare feet without being penalized!! Hopefully you can do a episode on these

[@j.ramsey8863]

That girls laying it on so thick i need a loaf of bread to get it down.

[@nicholasmacejak1156]

J. Ramsey huh

[@herbsw]

What happened to the Card Show?

[@TheDavidCarfagno]

Yes the Card Show was amazing

[@floydfanTN]

I feel like that was actually an ARG for 17776 that we all missed.

[@codyssmith73]

This is a interesting story...... sadly, Miss Charlotte..... Milwaukee does not have a NHL team.

[@calzoneyyy]

They have an AHL team, though.

[@anthonycutt8854]

Similar to Coventry City football club in the 1980s. A linesman got injured so the Coventry City chairman put on a tracksuit and filled in.

[@HeyitsJustChance]

Wow this was the first episode? It’s still cool today

[@evryhndlestakn]

Well Charlotte nailed it all anyway, even if the rulebook was snowbound as well, right down to the "Gary".👍🤣🤣🤣. Well done!

[@mattvandyke9123]

I'm not blind or deaf.... I can't be a ref 😕

[@stevet5379]

I'm gonna guess that you've never tried either.

[@filipsahlberg1928]

Bet you are ugly tho

[@SavageGreywolf]

but are you easily bribed??

[@ZarkowsWorld]

I used to be a referee, back in the day. One day we had a training in the early evening, and as we step off I and another team-mate are approached; 'hey, we got told that you are referees - we are from [the hometeam] and we have a match in 20 minutes on this rink, would you be willing to referee it?' (the referees that was supposed to show up hadn't and didn't). It was a lower division game, BUT it was seniors. At this point in time I was still playing in the juniors, and was 15-16 - and was barely reaching the senior players shoulders. But me and my team-mate did it and it went off without a hitch. We even broke up an on-field fight, which apparently they thought looked very funny due to us (esp. me) being so much shorter than the players...

[@kevinschram7667]

As someone from Milwaukee I enjoyed the hypothetical scenario taking place here.

[@spencerhiginbotham7538]

I love that someone actually kicked out their own teammate. I wonder if they teammate just assumed they could get away with it because the reff was his teammate.

[@nickblas]

Is there a video of that 1st period? I'd love to watch that.

[@jabbers081769]

love these, so cool

[@SuperNuclearUnicorn]

I want a girl to look at me the way she looked at the NHL rulebook...

[@spencerhiginbotham7538]

I imagine reffs have to show up way early to games. How then was the snowstorm so bad that it made two reffs miss the entire first period but not bad enough to stop thousands of fans from showing up on time?

[@justinhhp87]

i always liked that old Whalers logo

[@lyzzidc]

I've had this happen in a representative basketball game, in Australia, kind of the equivalent of College level, one of the refs hadn't shown up to an early morning game in a small town so both teams had to agree to another ref, a qualified ref was dating a woman on the other team and wasn't on to ref that game, for obvious reasons, but he was our only option because the town we were in was 3-4 hours from Sydney and at least 2 hours from the closest qualified referee.

[@AlsonamedDennis]

Like it. Keep doing this.

[@oherroneous]

you're the boss

[@noseraph]

Why was Charlotte on only one episode? She's hilarious and gorgeous.

[@B3Band]

For soccer in the United States, the rule is the same, except that if the referee does show up, you are NOT required to give up your spot, and are authorized to finish the match and collect the match fee. I've done it multiple times - reffed my match (or arrived super early), and the match about to start has a no-show, so they ask me to cover. I call my assignor, get the OK, and ref the match. If the actual ref shows up, too bad. I'm already here, and I'm getting your match fee!

[@AndyBruinewoud]

Well technically (and it's a show about rules, so let's get technical!) the players were linesmen, not referees.

[@howardbaxter2514]

It's still an interesting story and shows the trust the NHL has in both players and fans (EBUGs). Gotta love some of these hockey rules.

[@asd36f]

Back in the day, NHL teams would travel to away games with one goalie, and no backup. If the teams goalie was injured during the game, then the home game would allow one of their back-up goalies to fill-in for the rest of the game. The NHL brought in a rule in the mid-1960's that made teams travel for away games with two goaltenders, to stop this situation happening again.

[@MoniBolis]

I enjoyed this very much

[@celticsfann4969]

The book looked like it was a white xbox at first

[@goingballisticmotion5455]

Check the Stanley Cup Playoffs I think in 1988. Devils vs Islanders maybe? Bobby Schmatz was a coach and had an ongoing feud with a ref. He made some comment about the refs weight saying 'why doesn't he have some more donuts', while passing him in the gangway after the previous game. The ref lost his balance and claimed Schmatz assaulted him. The next game all the refs refused to ref if Schmatz was on the bench. Meanwhile the leagues Commissioner was nowhere to be found (Gary Bettman, yes another Gary in the story), because he was trying to rescue his daughter from an overseas cult. So, the league asked if anyone in the crowd would like to fill in. They found some fans with College referee experience, went to the fan shop to buy them skates and equipment, et voila, they reffed a Stanley Cup Playoff game. It was on Hockey Night in Canada and Don Cherry was a commentator at the time. He had plenty of choice words about the situation, making the game an even more entertaining experience. The new refs were quite good and I think may have been offered tryouts to become NHL refs afterwards.

[@gammelhund]

"Hockey. It'll... happen."

[@aarond23]

So I'm not even a big hockey guy but is there ANY video or even pictures of these guys in their ref jerseys?

[@ncg195]

How about Jean Segura stealing first? That was a fun story, and a game that, as a Brewers fan, I actually saw live.

[@doeyjiaz4798]

Shoutout to all the Gary's watching this. You are appreciated

[@catpaco]

Milwaukee has the Admirals. It might not be a NHL team, but it’s a team.

[@BeNards33]

and a professional team at that

[@quentin9287]

I wish Milwaukee had a nhl team, I love going to admirals games but I can’t stand going to the old Milwaukee arena, wish they would have demolished that and kept the Bradley center because that was a fun place to watch hockey at

[@Sam-vv4zd]

They now have an entire set of backup referees for each game, so its unlikely that this rule ever comes up again

[@superdupergrover9857]

0:52 That car is not from 1983. It is clearly >2010.

[@ART1E057]

It's Garry Howatt, with two R's

[@michaelhollingworth1757]

In the UK for football (Soccer), if referees don't show up or there is an injury to the referee, they try to find if there are any qualified referees in the stands to come down and fill in.

[@lancemilliken9078]

Please do more hockey videos. Thanks

[@geekmoto1363]

this rule is still in the books

[@jabbers081769]

do you make any more seasons in this?

[@thebasketballhistorian3291]

MLB: It's drizzling slightly... let's cancel the game. NHL: There's a freaking blizzard that has prevented thousands from coming including 2 of the refs... so, anyone want to be ref?

[@oboecoe]

Can you do one about the Chicago Blackhawks back up back up goalie from a couple years ago?

[@HaroldP]

I think the NHL needs to change their slogan to "Hockey. It'll happen."

[@RobKandell]

This rule actually goes back to amateur days where such things were more common. Such things happen in North American rugby significantly often because of its amateur status.

[@Ea-Nasir_Copper_Co]

To be fair, you could step out of Bell MTS Place and of the first ten people you stopped on the street, one would almost certainly be capable of reffing an NHL game.

[@CarsOfPennsylvania]

this ACTUALLY happened at my highschool basketball game so a parent from each team refereed the game lmao

[@quitin4496]

Him thinking in his mind again I love my mom!!!! Lmao!!!!!

[@uruiamnot]

You've got to do some weird golf rules and officiating. Those guys are nuts.

[@ericrounds1424]

This might be my new KZbin obsession

[@pacificostudios]

So in theory, an NHL game could have 2 players, 3 refs, and one fan.

[@NobleArch]

3:37 - 3:42 what they were saying? i understand the message but didnt grasped the exact words. ad.... av.....

[@LugnutsK]

Abdicate (1 year later lmao)

[@juniorfibroso]

Best playlist about sports on youtube. Congratulations an please ask for Charlotte to e-mail me, I still want to marry her.

[@abstract_cosplay]

Can you guys review the John Scott rule?

[@kman418911]

1:03 when she starts to drip

[@davidrobinson17]

Dude that is so gross

[@indianheadlogan]

There is an ahl Milwaukee team, but no nhl milwaukee hockey team

[@JonatasAdoM]

I goes without saying that whoever does the animation is stealing the show.

[@realjohnald]

3:06 as they say in hockey, let's do that hockey

[@northstarracing18d-4d]

Milwaukee does have the Predators AHL team....its called the admirals. Still a pro team 0:18

[@mikestettenbenz8743]

I had to referee my own teams game once. The scheduler forgot to schedule refs. I happen to have my gear in my car. The other team agreed. I did give myself an assist.

[@mastod0n1]

I once had to umpire my 8 year old sister's softball game. I was home for the summer after my first year in college and my dad, who was the coach, made me do it because he didn't feel like finding an ump or something. It was kids pitch, which 8 and 9 year olds are not good at at all, and it was hell. I also had the other team's coach and someone's parent argue with me because their daughter was the catcher and there was a play at the plate. The throw beat the runner by 25 feet but the catcher waited patiently until they slid between their legs to drop down on top of them and place the tag so they were safe. My dad never asked me to do that again.

[@tretimes9883]

I once umpired a playoff game for my own teams adult softball league...we won.

[@MadMagDomi]

golly! i like this section. is there some football related rule story too? i would like to see one

[@schouvler25]

B&H Never happened in the nfl, most league have this rule in place though atleast hockey, lacrosse, and football

[@MadMagDomi]

schouvler15 oh, ok. Well yeah, they fly in couple days prior to the match so i guess they prevent this from happening

[@edyflak]

It happened in Norwich. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZzWYp6fjZKkbLs

[@jabbers081769]

what was the actual date this happened?