It's not the NHL, but I am afraid for if he ever makes it there...
Jamie Koharski is, without a doubt, the WORST referee I have ever seen while attending a hockey game. JD Watt, our resident pugilist, was chasing after the puck ahead of Alex Henry. Hamilton goalie Cedrick Desjardins came out to play the puck, he and Watt make contact, which Desjardins recovers from until he realizes there's a penalty and sells back down on the ice. You'd think that maybe Watt is getting a lame interference call, until he gets a five minute major for charging and a game misconduct! Jim Playfair's reaction to Koharski is making it's way around the internet, but you can see it right here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVGMgFC3 ... re=related
I apologize for having to subject you guys to the Nickelback intro. If you're reading this part first, don't turn on your sound until you see Dave Sheldon
The game was a wash from the get go. First foray into our zone, goalie David Shantz gets knocked by Ryan White. Mask comes off, trainer has to attend to a cut, no call on the play. No real biggie, because Garth Murray got White's number and served him notice a couple of minutes later. There were also four instances of players having an extra penalty added on to their original infractions, and a few instances of unsportsmanlike conduct.
Koharski ruined a game that I otherwise was very much looking forward to seeing. Hamilton is a great team with some very talented players, especially PK Subban who played very well despite making himself hated by the Abbotsford faithful. My girlfriend and I were fed up with how bad the game had turned out, that we left about halfway to two thirds into the second period. Never leave a game early, even when Houston was slapping us around 7-1.
It is a darn shame that this guy is rising up through the leagues as a referee, simply because of who his father is.