In their quest to make the best of this unprecedented summer training camp, the MapleLeafs inadvertently went offside. reporterchris explains why the Leafs were instructed to stop using referees and linesmen by the NHL ⤵️
While it’s common to see officials used in camps before the season, the teams felt it wasn’t fair for only one to be permitted to do so at a time when everyone is being asked to operate under strict health restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Among those restrictions is an edict that only 20 non-playing staff can be in a team facility at any one time.
The Leafs were instructed to stop using the referees and linesmen immediately and didn’t voice any opposition to that ruling. That kicked off a best-of-five series between Team Andersen and Team Matthews which will run throughout camp in an effort to replicate game-like situations as closely as possible. No detail was spared, including having music played during stoppages and a horn sound after each goal.
“Any time we’re doing any sort of scrimmaging, we’d like to have the officials involved if we can,” Keefe said Tuesday, before the NHL’s ruling. “Certainly the professionalism of the faceoffs and the way that things were called, we missed having them on the ice. Just the fact that you have four extra bodies out there, that in itself is different and I think it’s important.
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