Kerry Fraser
Encyclopedia
Kerry Fraser is a hockey analyst and former senior referee
in the National Hockey League
, having joined the National Hockey League Officials Association on September 1, 1973, and officiating his first game in the 1980–81 season. Fraser's father, Hilton "Hilt" Fraser, had him skating at 15 months old, chasing pucks at 11, and refereeing by age 15. At just 5 in 7 in (1.7 m) tall, Fraser says that his height contributed to his longevity in the league by forcing him to "develop techniques to ... avoid being hit"
He has called over 1,900 regular season games and over 260 Stanley Cup playoff
games since joining the league in 1980. Fraser also officiated the 1998 Winter Olympics
in Nagano, Japan
, which was the first Olympic tournament to feature NHL participation.
He was also one of the last three NHL officials covered by the grandfather clause
that allowed him to go without a helmet
, thus allowing his signature bouffant
hairstyle. However, with the ratification
of the new NHL Officials Association collective bargaining agreement on March 21, 2006, all officials, including Fraser, were required to wear a helmet.
Fraser missed the beginning of the 2006–07 season while recovering from an incident in September 2006. He was helping his daughter move and was carrying a television down the steps when he lost his footing; his big toe was shattered. Before returning to referee NHL games, Fraser officiated some AHL
games alongside his son, Ryan Fraser. In November 2006, TSN
's James Duthie
, along with Kerry Fraser, created a short mock interview/documentary claiming that Fraser missed the start of the season because he was afraid that wearing a helmet would mess up his hair. Fraser's first game back with the NHL was Tampa Bay Lightning
at Boston Bruins
on November 30, 2006.
Fraser retired from officiating after the NHL 2009–10 season working his last game on April 11, 2010 in Philadelphia as the Philadelphia Flyers
hosted the New York Rangers
at the Wachovia Center
, which is the closest NHL arena to his residence in New Jersey
. Also during the season he worked a number of important games as the league's most senior referee including the Winter Classic.
In 2009, Fraser was named to the Ontario Minor Hockey Association's All-Time team as a referee. A banner was raised at the home arena of the Ontario Hockey League's Sarnia Sting in his hometown to mark the honour.
's hockey highlight show, That's Hockey 2Nite
.
Official (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, an official is a person who has some responsibility in enforcing the rules and maintaining the order of the game. There are two categories of officials, on-ice officials, who are the referees and linesmen that enforce the rules during game play, and off-ice officials, who have an...
in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
, having joined the National Hockey League Officials Association on September 1, 1973, and officiating his first game in the 1980–81 season. Fraser's father, Hilton "Hilt" Fraser, had him skating at 15 months old, chasing pucks at 11, and refereeing by age 15. At just 5 in 7 in (1.7 m) tall, Fraser says that his height contributed to his longevity in the league by forcing him to "develop techniques to ... avoid being hit"
He has called over 1,900 regular season games and over 260 Stanley Cup playoff
Stanley Cup playoffs
The Stanley Cup playoffs is an elimination tournament in the National Hockey League consisting of four rounds of best-of-seven series. Eight teams from each of the league's two conferences qualify for the playoffs based on regular season records...
games since joining the league in 1980. Fraser also officiated the 1998 Winter Olympics
1998 Winter Olympics
The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 7 to 22 February 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Seventy-two nations and 2,176 participans contested in seven sports and 72 events at 15 venues. The games saw the introduction of Women's ice...
in Nagano, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, which was the first Olympic tournament to feature NHL participation.
He was also one of the last three NHL officials covered by the grandfather clause
Grandfather clause
Grandfather clause is a legal term used to describe a situation in which an old rule continues to apply to some existing situations, while a new rule will apply to all future situations. It is often used as a verb: to grandfather means to grant such an exemption...
that allowed him to go without a helmet
Hockey helmet
A hockey helmet is worn by players of ice hockey and inline hockey to help protect the head from potential injury when hit by the puck, sticks, skates, boards, other players, or the ice.-Construction:...
, thus allowing his signature bouffant
Bouffant
A bouffant is a type of hairstyle characterized by hair piled high on the head and hanging down on the sides.-History:The bouffant was a mainstream hairstyle in the mid-to-late 18th century in western Europe. It was thought to be created for Marie Antoinette, as she had relatively thin hair and...
hairstyle. However, with the ratification
Ratification
Ratification is a principal's approval of an act of its agent where the agent lacked authority to legally bind the principal. The term applies to private contract law, international treaties, and constitutionals in federations such as the United States and Canada.- Private law :In contract law, the...
of the new NHL Officials Association collective bargaining agreement on March 21, 2006, all officials, including Fraser, were required to wear a helmet.
Fraser missed the beginning of the 2006–07 season while recovering from an incident in September 2006. He was helping his daughter move and was carrying a television down the steps when he lost his footing; his big toe was shattered. Before returning to referee NHL games, Fraser officiated some AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
games alongside his son, Ryan Fraser. In November 2006, TSN
The Sports Network
The Sports Network, commonly abbreviated as TSN, is a Canadian English language Category C specialty channel and is Canada's leading English language sports TV channel. TSN premiered in 1984, in the first group of Canadian specialty cable channels...
's James Duthie
James Duthie (sportscaster)
James "Boom Boom" Duthie is an Ottawa-born Canadian sportscaster for TSN. He is currently the host of The NHL on TSN. In the past, he has hosted CFL Live, NBA in the Paint and SportsCentre. He also writes a column for TSN.ca called The Good the Bad the Duthie...
, along with Kerry Fraser, created a short mock interview/documentary claiming that Fraser missed the start of the season because he was afraid that wearing a helmet would mess up his hair. Fraser's first game back with the NHL was Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
at Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
on November 30, 2006.
Fraser retired from officiating after the NHL 2009–10 season working his last game on April 11, 2010 in Philadelphia as the Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
hosted the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
at the Wachovia Center
Wachovia Center
The Wells Fargo Center is an indoor arena located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
, which is the closest NHL arena to his residence in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. Also during the season he worked a number of important games as the league's most senior referee including the Winter Classic.
Awards
Fraser was voted the "most consistent" referee in a December 2005 poll of NHL players by The Hockey News.In 2009, Fraser was named to the Ontario Minor Hockey Association's All-Time team as a referee. A banner was raised at the home arena of the Ontario Hockey League's Sarnia Sting in his hometown to mark the honour.
Broadcasting
Fraser serves as analyst on TSNThe Sports Network
The Sports Network, commonly abbreviated as TSN, is a Canadian English language Category C specialty channel and is Canada's leading English language sports TV channel. TSN premiered in 1984, in the first group of Canadian specialty cable channels...
's hockey highlight show, That's Hockey 2Nite
That's Hockey
That's Hockey is a Canadian television series on TSN which presents the latest news in hockey as well as panelists and interviews with hockey personalities. The current host is Gino Reda.-History:...
.