Retired NHL official Kerry Fraser has taken heat from Maple Leafs fans for decades over the 1993 'high-stick gate' that ultimately led to the Leafs losing Game 6 and Game 7 to the LA Kings and missing the opportunity to face the Montreal Canadiens in the Stanley Cup Finals. Fraser has iterated time and time again that he did not see the play and was therefore unable to call it, but that has not stopped fans from blaming him.
On a recent episode of 'Missin' Curfew', Doug Gilmour himself revealed that Fraser isn't the only one to blame for the franchise-altering call.
As Fraser explained, he was not as close to the play as the linesmen and in turn, the play looked different from his perspective. Having the two sides play four-on-four would have led to the overtime beginning with Gretzky in the box and would have prevented him and the Kings from scoring on the man advantage less than 2 minutes into the extra frame.
The missed call seemingly changed the entire outcome of the series and ultimately cost the Leafs the chance to end their nearly 30-year Stanley Cup drought.
Source: Hockey Reference LA Kings vs Maple Leafs Game 6 Box Score
POLL | ||
26 AOUT | 851 ANSWERS Doug Gilmour reveals who Leafs fans should actually blame for Gretzky's missed high stick in 1993 Do you still blame Kerry Fraser for missing the call on Gretzky? | ||
Yes | 750 | 88.1 % |
No | 83 | 9.8 % |
I wasn't born yet | 18 | 2.1 % |
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