The Final Call

After thirty years as an official in the National Hockey League, legendary referee Kerry Fraser has decided to hang up his skates & whistle and enjoy the game from the other side of the boards. Never shy about offering his opinion, nor afraid to step in and separate an on-ice fight, the 5ft 7inch Fraser is arguably the most respected referee in the history of the game.Fraser began officiating in 1972 after recognizing that his size would limit his chances as a player. He was introduced to refereeing by former Detroit Red Wing coach and family friend Ted Garvin, who told him that the game needs more officials with actual playing experience. Fraser responded immediately with a welcomed understanding of the game, and over the course of the 2,165 NHL contests he oversaw, has shown himself to be an unbiased, courageous, and sometimes controversial judge.In The Final Call , Fraser uses the games he officiated in his farewell season to relive candid memories from various hockey cities and teams… such as the night he was pulled from the ice by the St. Louis police after a threat was made that if he skated out for the third period he would be shot. This wouldn’t be the first or last death threat he’d receive in his career. Fraser offers a colourful, behind-the-scenes portrait of Canada’s national game, recounting stories of pulling apart enraged 250lb men in on-ice battles, confrontations with some of the game’s greatest legends and exposes whiners, divers, and trash-talkers. Fraser also fully discusses, once and for all, “The Missed Call” on Wayne Gretzky in ’93 that still has Toronto fans talking.Fraser provides a highly entertaining, honest, and sometimes hard-hitting look at the game and its many faces and changes over his record-breaking career. Go to ice level and experience first-hand the interactions of your favourite players and coaches from the man you love to hate!