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.

[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

[m.m.]

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

[hunterlehman]

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.

[kiran_]

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.

[lolerskates]

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

[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.

[JoeGerber]

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).

[colestevens]

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

[thethminute]

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.

[orlock]

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.

[rainhymas]

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.

[wanderingcartographer]

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.

[Vorael]

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

incredible

[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.

[matthewkerner]

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

[foxycritter]

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

[nawdrawg]

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

[SisterOfDeathInAK]

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

[anttisuomela]

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).

[taakotuesdays]

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