Do you remember the excitement in the crowd leading up to the match between the San Jose Sharks and the Chicago Blackhawks? What’s the reason behind that? It was shaping up to be an exciting matchup featuring the Hawks’ Connor Bedard and the Sharks’ Macklin Celebrini; the battle of the two No. 1 NHL Draft picks. Nonetheless, the game faced challenges not just from broadcasting problems, but also from a controversial penalty that sparked extensive discussion on social media.

What transpired at the SAP Center? In the third period of the game, with the Sharks holding a lead over the Hawks thanks to Tyler Toffoli’s early open net goal, Bedard was given a 10-minute penalty with 9:10 left on the clock for “abuse of officials,” forcing him to sit out for the remainder of the match. Chirping is an everyday component of hockey, and even the referees find themselves in the midst of intense discussions with players on the ice.

However, the most frustrating aspect of this situation? Nobody really knows why Bedard was given this harsh penalty during the last 10 minutes of the game, when the Blackhawks were attempting to find a way to tie the score. To add insult to injury, the Hawks went on to lose the game 4-2. And it’s no surprise that this sparked a fresh rally among fans targeting the NHL referees.

On X, senior NHL writer Mark Lazerus reported on this incident on the rink, agreeing with fan sentiment. “Tonight’s a good example of why referees should be made available to reporters. We should be able to get Chris Rooney’s explanation for why Bedard got the 10-minute misconduct. But this being the NHL, we never will.” It’s likely that this issue has surfaced before.

Recall the statement made by NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly regarding this rule, where he remarked, “I don’t think there’s any appetite to change our current policies with respect to our officials and their talking to the media.” The NHL maintains a rigorous approach to the enforcement of its rules regarding referees and with the absence of any post-game explanations, any controversial penalty inevitably sparks a flurry of discussion and debate within the community.

Now Chris Rooney’s decision has also come as a surprise because of his seniority. He officiated his inaugural NHL regular-season game in 2000 and ascended to a full-time NHL referee role in 2002. This year, Rooney achieved a significant milestone, becoming the first American-born referee in the NHL to officiate 1,500 games. Throughout his career, he’s been in charge of several Stanley Cup Finals, notably in the years 2012, 2013, 2018, 2019, and 2022. But perhaps this experience is the very reason Rooney didn’t take too kindly to the 19-year-old Bedard’s chirps.

Speaking of, what has Connor Bedard said regarding the matter? “I don’t think it was too crazy, but he’s the ref, so he gets to make that call. You don’t really expect that, but it happens,” remarked the young hockey player. Moreover, his coach, Anders Sorensen, stepped in to support him, asserting, “I’ve heard worse.” And it wasn’t just the coach and player; many fans on social media were also shocked by the level of punishment for an incident that didn’t seem to warrant it.

NHL fans were left confused and angered

For Connor Bedard, this marks the first occasion in his NHL career where he faced such a hefty penalty. And if Bedard and Sorenson were surprised by the decision, the fans were even more so. “Literally never seen a call like that before. Gets tripped, keeps playing, skates to the bench- doesn’t look like he says anything. Ref goes over and gives him 10? Not to mention how absurd it is to give a penalty that big in a one goal game with only 10 minutes left,” remarked a fan. It’s true that the referees glossed over what looked like a clear tripping penalty in the 3rd period, making this penalty extra frustrating.

Highlighting a significant distinction, this fan remarked, “It’s a sport where punching somebody is a 5 minute penalty. Naughty words being 10 minutes is ridiculous.” The fan raises a good point. When you think about it, it does seem a little ridiculous that words are more heavily penalized over fists.

Another comment read, “Pathetic. Rooney blowing that whistle like a child. He should be accountable. But not on Gary’s watch.” Nothing new to report here, as fans have never hesitated to make their dislike of NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman known. And they perceive this as yet another incident Bettman will let slide. But the NHL has already begun looking for replacements as Bettman nears retirement age. So it will be interesting to note what fans will have to say once he vacates his post.

Another fan proposed a hilarious yet outrageous solution. They wrote, “I think players should get to fight a ref once a year. Let murphy beat the brakes off of rooney and call it even,” volunteering Hawks d-man Connor Murphy, known for his aggressive style, for referee fighting duties.

And lastly, a commenter marveled at being in agreement with Mark Lazerus, remarking, “Never thought I would ever agree with @MarkLazerus but Chris Rooney can do crazy things.” Well, sometimes you find yourselves in the trenches fighting with the unlikeliest of allies. And clearly Chris Rooney proved villainous enough to spark such an alliance.

As of now, the NHL has yet to release any statement concerning the 10-minute penalty. Ultimately, it remains to be seen whether any members of the NHL will address the fans’ concerns, as they continue to be vocal on the internet.