NHL creates referee controversy for game seven between Oilers-Canucks

The NHL has chosen referee Chris Rooney to officiate game seven between the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks, a choice that could be seen as controversial.

The league made the official announcement for the on-ice official crew this afternoon, ahead of game seven. Rooney will be joined by Jean Hebert as the other referee and linesmen Devin Berg and Jonny Murray.

What makes this choice stand out to fans is the fact that the Canucks seem to win just about every time Chris Rooney is one of the referees. They won their only other game involving Rooney these playoffs and are 10-0-1 over the past three seasons when the veteran referee is working their games.

The officiating has been a major talking point in this series, much more so than it has been in the rest of the playoffs so far. As such, one would think that the league would be doing everything they can to make sure the crew is the least controversial as possible. However, they made another strange choice with the other referee Jean Hebert. Hebert worked game six of the series. That in itself is not too odd, but one would think the the NHL would want their freshest refs to work such a critical game. There are plenty of other referees that could be working this game on several days rest instead of just one.

Hopefully, the officials will not play a big role in tonight's game. One thing all hockey fans can agree on is that we want to see a fairly called game and one where the teams decide who will move on, not the refs.

Source: HockeyFeedControversy in Game 7 before the puck even drops

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