Rangers coach fined for remarks
Kitchener Rangers coach Steve Spott is a $1,000 lighter in the wallet, but he probably did tickle the giggly for a few observers around the OHL.
The line which got Spott in trouble was saying, "I'll take a dizzy Brent Holdsworth over a healthy Scott Ferguson any time," after Ferguson, an emergency referee, gave Rangers scoring leader Jeff Skinner a 10-minute misconduct with less than five minutes to play on Tuesday.
Brent Holdsworth and Bob Langdon started the game as referees, but Holdsworth was forced out of the game due to dizziness late in the first period. Scott Ferguson, who was acting as the emergency ref, was dressed and ready to go to start the second period.
It was Ferguson that handed OHL playoff scoring leader Jeff Skinner a 10-minute misconduct with 4:41 left in regulation after his on-ice comments after Windsor Spitfires forward Kenny Ryan scored a goal that was later reviewed and disallowed.
"I'll take a dizzy Brent Holdsworth over a healthy Scott Ferguson anytime," Spott said.
... "You throw Jeff Skinner, one of the best players in our league, out for not having a thick skin. If he comes over to the bench and tells me to calm Jeff down, fine, but he doesn't."
In all seriousness, the Rangers skipper did cross the line, calling out an official by name publicly, which is frowned upon. Still, it was hard not read that line and laugh.
