| raygunpk | 01-12-2010 07:20 PM |
wall of text, but lots of articles against this guy. Quote:
Should he be fired? Let's look at his history shall we?
1) When he was reffing junior hockey, as an NHL trainee, There was an article about him titled "Rude, snooty ref inexcusable" by Pat Connolly in the Daily News, published in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Oct 25, 1998 pg. 89.
2) He has been ripped publicly by classy guys who are legends in this game including Wayne Gretzky and Steve Yzerman.
3) He is known for making calls to decide games.
4) He was disciplined once by the NHL for a non-call on Mats Sundin.
5) He was part of the awful officiating crew in a game where Shane Doan questioned their fairness...and they accused him of being racist. This lead to a major national incident involving an MP and a lawsuit.
6) He was called a Canucks, Senators game so lopsided, that the penalties ended up 14-4 for one team. At the time, it was the most lopsided NHL game in terms of penalties assessed in 8 years, and remains one of the most in NHL history.
HERE ARE SOME PIECES OF EVIDENCE TO FIRE THIS PIECE OF CRAP. Just look at his history....
"It was a bad night for both the Detroit Red Wings and the officials Wednesday at Joe Louis Arena. The Wings did their part with a generally tepid effort while referees Stephane Auger and Dennis LaRue blew a call that would have given the Wings a 2-2 tie 61/2 minutes into the third period. However, Loui Eriksson got the officials somewhat off the hook with a third-period power-play to give the Dallas Stars a 3-1 victory. The Wings weren't as fortunate for their part in defeat."
-Disallowed goal handcuffs Red Wings against Stars; Zetterberg nets ninth goal of season, Dallas 3 Detroit 1
Dave Waddell. The Windsor Star. Windsor, Ont.: Nov 19, 2009. pg. D.2
"They dominated the Canadiens at even-strength and should have seized the game with their power play, but Halak was excellent, the Canuck power play was awful and the officiating -- especially by Stephane Auger, who cemented his reputation as hockey's worst referee -- got in the way. Winger Alex Burrows was evicted by Auger in the second period with a cross-checking major and game misconduct for bringing his hands and stick up to brace for a collision with Montreal defenceman Patrice Brisebois. "I thought at first he 1/8Brisebois 3/8 was getting the penalty," Burrows said. Auger and partner Kerry Fraser allowed Canadien Saku Koivu to sweep out the feet of Canuck defenceman Kevin Bieksa, who was trying to chase down Tomas Plekanec on a breakaway that put Montreal ahead 1-0. And nobody seemed to notice there were eight Canadiens on the ice for what threatened to become a line brawl early in the game."
-Power failure back east; Montreal beats Vancouver for the first time in almost a decade
Iain MacIntyre. The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, B.C.: Feb 25, 2009. pg. C.1
"The Coyotes were furious with referees Stephane Auger and Dennis LaRue after a late penalty led to Nick Lidstrom's power-play goal with 39 seconds remaining giving the Detroit Red Wings a 5-4 win at Joe Louis Arena on Wednesday.
"It was an absolute joke," said Coyotes defenceman Ed Jovanovski, who had a goal and an assist. "Forty-five seconds left in the game. The guys are battling for the puck.
"There were two penalties missed before that in the corner. He calls that? It's embarrassing.
"We're fighting for our lives here. That's a big point for us."
It was a particularly bitter pill for the Coyotes to swallow after they rallied from a 4-2 deficit with just less than 13 minutes to play.
"It's a tough loss and a tough way to lose," Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky said... I really felt there were three hooks on our guys before that.
"If we're going to let things go in the last two minutes, then let them all go."
-No time for joking around; Red Wings 5 Coyotes 4. Phoenix upset over late penalty call, goal
The Province. Vancouver, B.C.: Feb 5, 2009. p. A.56
Columbus' Hitchcock was so angry after a 5-4 shootout loss in St. Louis on Wednesday that he refused to meet the media after the game. He was afraid he'd get fined for ripping referees Marc Joanette and Stephane Auger. Turns out he made the right financial choice. He got fined $1,000 U.S. by the league for not talking to the media. He would have got a $10,000 U.S. fine for criticizing the referees.
-Trade winds may blow Lalime out of Windy City; [Final Edition]
Allen Panzeri. The Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa, Ont.: Feb 25, 2007. pg. D.2
"It started to the side of the Boston net with the Canadiens on a power play late in the first period. Bruins defenceman Andrew Alberts stuck out a knee in what appeared to be a pretty blatant attempt to take out the knee of Canadiens winger Michael Ryder.
Ryder was flipped to the ice 10 feet from referee Don VanMassenhoven, but neither he nor his partner Stephane Auger made the call.
It was perhaps not as bad as the knee-on-knee hit Darcy Tucker laid on Buffalo's Jochen Hecht Monday night in Toronto. Tucker's vicious hit drew no penalty and no league suspension yesterday despite the rant from Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff after the game. The league even agreed that Tucker had tried to elbow Hecht in the head on the same play and still issued no suspension.
Ryder was not injured and was named the game's first star after scoring his 29th goal and setting up Chris Higgins for another with a pretty pass from behind the net."
-Souray comes to rescue as refs miss boat; [Final Edition]
JACK TODD. The Gazette. Montreal, Que.: Apr 5, 2006. pg. C.1.BRE
"Atlanta 4-3 and the Pittsburgh net empty, Marian Hossa had a breakaway in the offensive zone. He was hooked to the ice by Penguins forward Michel Ouellet, which should have resulted in an automatic goal. Instead, referees Stephane Auger and Dan O'Rourke assessed a minor penalty on Ouellet and called for a faceoff in the Penguins' zone with 1.6 seconds left. The league admitted an error had been made."
-Perreault on fire with Nashville; [Final Edition]
RED FISHER. The Gazette. Montreal, Que.: Jan 14, 2006. pg. C.3
"The New York Islanders don't just suspect they were jobbed by the officials.
They got it right from the zebra's mouth.
Brent Sopel's apparent tying goal with 1.1 seconds left in regulation on Tuesday night was disallowed after a video replay, and the Islanders lost 4-3 to visiting Philadelphia.
According to the irate Isles, referee Stephane Auger admitted he blew the call.
"The puck went in," captain Alexei Yashin told The New York Times. "Even (Auger) admitted it went in. He basically said he blew the whistle right before the puck went in. That's why they disallowed the goal."
Coach Steve Stirling got the same story from Auger after the game.
"I didn't have the heart to say to him why did he waste all that time going up top if he had blown the whistle and made the final decision?" Stirling said."
-Around the Rinks; [Final Edition 1]
Compiled by Todd Kimberley. Calgary Herald. Calgary, Alta.: Dec 1, 2005. pg. F.4
"That was the first of eight straight minors doled out to the visitors in the first period alone.
That's right -- eight to Chicago, none to Calgary.
Penalties arrived at a truly comical rate, not that referees Stephane Auger and Mike Hasenfratz were going out of their way to punish the white-clad guests. It just worked out that way, over and over again -- 4:27, 6:33, 7:28, 8:48, 9:42, 12:03, 17:50, 19:02 . . . and then 1:08 of the second period.
But even with more than three minutes of five-on-three time, the Flames couldn't finish off the visitors.
"Look at the first period -- you can go to that right off the bat," said Ference, who clanked the post on one power-play attack. "You get five-on-threes for half a period . . . that could have been a big boost for us to really take control of the game, to pot the goals, to take full advantage of our opportunities."
-Eight and out: Flames felled in bid for ninth straight win; [Final Edition 1]
Scott Cruickshank. Calgary Herald. Calgary, Alta.: Nov 19, 2005. pg. E.1.Fro
"The Canadiens got lucky late in the middle period when Teemu Selanne missed a chance for a breakaway when he collided with referee Stephane Auger while leaving the penalty box, sending both men sprawling."
-Habs bury Avalanche; Montreal wins for 10th time in last 12 games Red-hot Kiprusoff helps Calgary stop streaking Wings; [ONT Edition]
Toronto Star. Toronto, Ont.: Mar 17, 2004. pg. C.08
FINED BY THE LEAGUE FOR SUCKING AT HIS JOB:
"VanHellemond admits that his officials were confused on the ice immediately after the Sundin stick-throwing incident. Referees Stephane Auger and Craig Spada were unsure of which penalty to call, and veteran linesman Scott Driscoll had yet another idea. In the end, no penalty was assessed, forcing the NHL's chief disciplinarian, Colin Campbell, into the picture. After a telephone conference the next day, Sundin was handed a one-game suspension by Campbell. "Obviously, there was a brain cramp on which penalty to call, so [the officials] had to step up to the pay window," said VanHellemond about internal fines he issued. "I mean, that's the job- description. The referees absolutely must know the rules and how to apply them."
-NHL officials face scrutiny, boss assures:; [Toronto Edition]
Howard Berger. National Post. Don Mills, Ont.: Jan 17, 2004. pg. S.4
"Referees Stephane Auger and Dave Jackson were soundly booed by the Corel Centre crowd when they skated onto the ice for the third period in the wake of a flurry of questionable calls against both teams late in the second. Auger fell as he skated backward early in the third, drawing a big cheer. "
-All Islanders followed by all Senators (AP), USA TODAY 1/16/2004
"All the whistles from Kevin Pollock and Stephane Auger ? five power plays and a penalty shot in the first 22 minutes ?"
-You have to expect first playoff game to be grind, Detroit News - Apr 8, 2004
"Florida had seven power plays in the contest compared with two for Boston and Sullivan clearly wasn't happy with the job done by referees Stephane Auger and Paul Devorski. "I don't know what's a penalty anymore, to be honest with you," said Sullivan. "I don't know what's a penalty and what isn't."
-Box seats costly, By Nancy Marrapese-Burrell, Boston Globe | January 25, 2004
"Neither Dan Marouelli, who made the call, nor partner Stephane Auger saw it correctly. Hitchcock was livid when the scoreboard clearly showed (it was a penalty)."
-Flyers let point slip away as Stars rally to earn tie
Philadelphia Inquirer Mar 12, 2004
"The striped tandem of Stephane Auger and Jay Sharrers had handed the host Blue Jackets a whopping 23:44 of power-play time, which, amazingly, Sutter's boys managed to kill en route to a 2-1 triumph.
But even with the two points safely deposited into the bank, Sutter was not happy. He still cannot believe his peepers -- 13 power plays, including three separate five-on-threes, given to one squad in one night.
The display was nothing he'd ever seen before in his National Hockey League experience.
"In 24 years, never once. Not once. Ever," groused Sutter. "I tried to find some of them between periods. Couldn't. Dean (McAmmond) came in between the first and second period to find his . . . he didn't even know what he did."
-Young zebras rile Sutter; [Final Edition]
Scott Cruickshank. Calgary Herald. Calgary, Alta.: Dec 21, 2003. pg. B.5
"The Senators took full advantage of a whistle-happy display by referees Stephane Auger and Marc Joannette, exploding for a club- record five power-play goals in a 5-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Winger Marian Hossa, returning to the lineup after missing one game because of an injured left foot, led the Senators with two goals and two assists. Radek Bonk, Zdeno Chara and Wade Redden also scored with the man advantage against shell-shocked Blue Jackets goaltender Fred Brathwaite.
The non-stop parade to the penalty box -- the Senators had 12 power-play chances, the Blue Jackets had nine -- was a rare sight in the modern-day National Hockey League, and the Senators didn't let the opportunity slip away.
"We had so many power plays, it seemed like we had a practice," said Hossa, who has a team-leading nine goals."
-Senators turn Jackets inside out:; [Final Edition]
Ken Warren. The Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa, Ont.: Nov 14, 2003. pg. B.1.Fro
"So let's see. The losing coach doesn't like the officiating. The winning GM isn't crazy about it. Is this a case of would you like some cheese with that whine. Or could it be the officiating has been all over the map since the playoffs started, players and fans are in a state of confusion because they don't know what's being called from night to night and the NHL has no concept of what its marquee event should look like.
Yes, upon further review, that's the case. It would also explain why no one seems to be happy with the officiating this playoff season.
"I'm not going to get into it any further," Burke answered when pressed.
He didn't have to. If you've been paying attention, you've seen it, too.
Tuesday, veteran referee Don Koharski and neophyte Stephane Auger confused an already awful game with a series of calls that defied common sense. OK, maybe they were concerned the mayhem at the end of Game 2 would carry over to Game 3. As if. Or maybe, because the game was on ESPN, they wanted to demonstrate to their bosses in New York and Toronto they had things firmly under control.
But the fact the calls were horse poop for both teams is no longer an adequate defence for horse-poop officiating. Too many times in these playoffs, the referees have been the No. 1 topic of the post-game discussion. It's becoming an embarrassment to the league.
This isn't about one team getting jobbed or one team getting an unfair advantage. It's about standards and consistency and a feel for the game. In Game 3, Bertuzzi was penalized for slashing goalie Dwayne Roloson in what amounted to a phantom call. In the third period, the Wild's Matt Johnson was penalized for essentially throwing a body check."
-Canucks, Wild have reason to whine; [Final Edition]
Ed Willes. Calgary Herald. Calgary, Alta.: May 1, 2003. pg. E.4
"ST. LOUIS -- "Do You Bleed Blue?"
That was the Savvis Center scoreboard query Monday in Game 3 of the Western Conference quarterfinal series. There should have been a second question flashed to the Vancouver Canucks bench:
"Are You Seeing Red?"
On a night where the standard of officiating left everyone dazed and confused, it was one of many missed calls by the tandem of veteran Don Koharski and Stephane Auger that led to the deciding goal as the St. Louis Blues hung on for a 3-1 victory to take a 2-1 lead lead in the best-of-seven series.
With Keith Tkachuk setting a perfect power-play pick on Murray Baron to the left of goaltender Dan Cloutier, centre Doug Weight simply walked out of the corner and snapped a low stick-side shot home to give the Blues a two-goal cushion midway through the second period.
And when the television camera panned to Canucks coach Marc Crawford, he dropped an F-bomb.
"That's a ---ing joke," screamed Crawford.
He was right.
The Canucks were no angels either, but both teams learned early and often what kind of night it was going to be. Interpretations of interference, tripping and high-sticking left much to be desired. But when Chris Pronger was allowed to hang all over the back of Todd Bertuzzi late in the opening period -- actually tugging on the winger's sweater in front of the officials -- the frustration level understandably grew.
Eleven minors were assessed in the opening period alone, six to the Canucks and five to the Blues."
-Dazed and confused; [Final Edition]
Ben Kuzma. The Province. Vancouver, B.C.: Apr 15, 2003. pg. A.62
"Another dubious call by junior ref Stephane Auger, holding against Canuck Henrik Sedin at 17:54, essentially ended it."
-Big trouble in river city:; [FINAL C Edition 1]
Iain MacIntyre. The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, B.C.: Apr 15, 2003. pg. E.1.Fro
"Before it was over, [Glen Sather] and Senators coach Jacques Martin were both screaming at referees Stephane Auger and Mark Faucette. At one point, the Rangers received six consecutive penalties. Later, the Senators received five in a row."
-White powers Senators past Rangers: Senators 5, Rangers 3; [EARLY Edition 1]
Ken Warren. The Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa, Ont.: Feb 6, 2003. pg. B.1.Fro
"Eleven power plays (10 actually, with one penalty an off- setting situation) is pretty ridiculous."
Aucoin said: "The P.K. guys get tired and everybody else gets cold. One ref (Terry Gregson) wasn't calling anything and the other guy (Stephane Auger) was calling everything."
-Penalties prove Isles' undoing; [Final Edition]
Wayne Scanlan. The Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa, Ont.: Dec 1, 2002. pg. B.1.Fro
"The Kings were furious that Andy Sutton got zip for his hit that put Jason Allison out two months with a damaged right knee.
"They (refs Ian Walsh and Stephane Auger, not exactly your A- team) said it was a shoulder hit," said an incredulous coach Andy Murray.
The much-injured Adam Deadmarsh is on the shelf in L.A. with a badly sprained right wrist. At first, X-rays showed a break, but it was an old one."
-Jim Matheson's Hockey World; [Final Edition]
Jim Matheson. Edmonton Journal. Edmonton, Alta.: Nov 3, 2002. pg. C.3
"The Devils were annoyed with some penalty calls by referees Stephane Auger and Don Koharski, particularly the goaltender interference call against Valeri Kamensky in the overtime.
"I didn't touch anybody," Kamensky said.
"We deserved more than a point," White said. "You hate to blame it on stuff, but if you are a fan who knows hockey, it's a little outrageous out there."
-Vancouver jumps into tie for playoff spot
Tom Canavan. The Globe and Mail. Mar 18, 2002. pg. S.2
"The Oilers rallied a few minutes after Todd Marchant returned after his face was plowed into the glass on a hit from behind by Bob Eastwood early in the third. No penalty, but Marchant was down for about three minutes and got a nasty cut under his left eye.
Somehow, neither ref Dave Jackson nor Stephane Auger thought it was a boarding call but they also let Pavol Demitra off with a trip on Jason Smith in the second, when he stuck his leg out and could have been tossed."
-Comrie answers desperate call: Oilers centre saves the day once again, but team still in 10th: OILERS 1 BLUES 1; [Early Edition 1]
Jim Matheson, Journal Hockey Writer. Edmonton Journal. Edmonton, Alta.: Mar 3, 2002. pg. C.1.FRO
- WHO STARTED IT? Referees Stephane Auger and Stephen Walkom ducked that question when Gino Odjick and Ottawa's Andre Roy tangled in the second period. One of the linesmen was escorting Sheldon Souray to the penalty box after he was assessed a minor penalty, and Roy came skating across the ice and started throwing punches at Odjick. While the Hidden Game recognizes that the party line in the NHL is that most fights are spontaneous outbreaks brought on by the heat of the action, this appeared to be a clear case of one player being the instigator. But neither referee saw it that way.
Hidden Game; [Final Edition]
PAT HICKEY. The Gazette. Montreal, Que.: Jan 7, 2001. pg. B.5
HE SUCKED IN THE MINORS TOO...WHY WAS HE EVER HIRED?
"One of the NHL's new refs is Stephane Auger, who had a run-in with Florida coach Duane Sutter when Sutter coached Indianapolis in the IHL in the mid '90s. Sutter was so ticked at Auger for allegedly missing calls, he grabbed a broken stick and walked across the ice, using it like a blind man's cane. All of that brings us to the possibility of NHL refs and linesmen hitching rides on team charters after games this year, in light of the terrorist attacks.
"We'll make room for the guys, but not where we have to store them," laughed Florida president Bill Torrey."
-Can we get a ride with you guys?; [Final Edition]
Edmonton Journal. Edmonton, Alta.: Oct 1, 2001. pg. D.3
EVEN LEGENDS HATE HIM:
"Last week, ESPN's cameras captured Detroit Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman directing an expletive-laced tirade towards referee Stephane Auger.
If you listened closely, you were able to distinguish a few of those seven words George Carlin suggested you couldn't say on television.
Apparently, Stevie Y never got that memo."
Stop reading their lips; [Final Edition]
Bob Duff Sports Columnist. The Windsor Star. Windsor, Ont.: Jan 29, 2002. pg. D.1.FRO
"Referees Dan Marouelli and Stephane Auger were generous in giving the Canadiens seven power plays, but Balej's goal represented their only success."
-Habs' Balej impressive: Slovakian is making it hard for team to send him back to juniors; Flames 4 Canadiens 2; [Final Edition]
PAT HICKEY. The Gazette. Montreal, Que.: Sep 15, 2000. pg. D.4.BRE
HE EVEN SUCKED IN JUNIOR
"The contest was influenced by referee Stephane Auger for the first two periods, with both teams having numerous power-play opportunities, but it was Hull which made the most of them."
-Olympiques square series: Hull netminder Bergeron blocks 40 Shawinigan shots; [Final Edition]
Lisa Burke. The Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa, Ont.: Mar 30, 1999. pg. C.3
" taking some undisciplined penalties from a referee, Stephane Auger, they knew from two previous tournament games is quick to make calls."
-Hull bought the title, says Oshawa coach
Star - Phoenix. Saskatoon, Sask.: May 20, 1997. pg. C.1
"A report this week said referees were told by Canadian Hockey League officials to cut down on the number of penalties called in order to speed up games.
Fewer calls should be a boon to both Oshawa and Lethbridge, who like physical hockey, and a disadvantage to Hull, a skating team.
League officials neither confirmed nor denied the edict to the referees, but Lethbridge defenceman Chris Phillips said the change made late in the week has been noticeable.
``The game against Hull and the game against Oshawa, with the same ref (Stephane Auger), were totally different,'' said Phillips. ``There were over 100 penalty minutes in the Hull game and about 20 against Oshawa.
``I think everyone's happier -- the fans too. It's a more open game and you know that you're not going to get called if you just touch someone.''
-Hurricanes need to strike early this time; Bad start cost them against Oshawa; MEMORIAL CUP; [FINAL Edition]
Edmonton Journal. Edmonton, Alta.: May 17, 1997. pg. D.3
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