Don Koharski
Encyclopedia
Don Koharski is a retired professional
ice hockey
referee
in the National Hockey League
. He currently resides in Tampa, Florida
, with his wife, together with whom he has two sons. Since the 1994–95 NHL season, he has worn uniform number 12, and, since the 1987–88 NHL season, he has been wearing a helmet
while refereeing NHL games.
in 1975, as a 19-year-old linesman. (He is the final player or official from the WHA to be involved in professional hockey in an on-ice capacity.) In 1976, he was signed by the American Hockey League
while working with a local dairy farm, for which he was milking cows. He began his NHL career 1977, as a linesman, before moving to the referee role in 1980.
Entering the 2005–06 season, Koharski had officiated over 1,400 regular season games, 235 playoff games, eleven Stanley Cup Finals
, two All-Star Games
, two Canada Cups
, and the 2004 World Cup
. He was the league's second-most senior official, behind only referee Kerry Fraser
. http://www.hockeyrefs.com/intheheadlines/09192005,2.htm On April 8, 2006, Koharski reached the 1,500-regular-season-game milestone when he officiated a game between the Pittsburgh Penguins
and the Tampa Bay Lightning
. http://nhlofficials.com/display_news.asp?articleID=147
During the NHL player lockout of 2004–05, Koharski officiated a charity game between former players from the United Hockey League
, as part of their All-Star Game
festivities. http://www.hockeyrefs.com/intheheadlines/01202005,3.htm
On March 24, 2009, it was announced that Koharski will retire as an NHL referee at the end of the 2008–09 NHL season
; however, he will stay on with the NHL in a supervisory or instructional position.
between the Boston Bruins
and the New Jersey Devils
. New Jersey coach Jim Schoenfeld
was infuriated with Koharski’s performance and waited for him in the hallway near the officials’ dressing room
. Koharski fell, but believed Schoenfeld had pushed him. Koharski yelled several times after Schoenfeld "You're done", implying that he would be suspended over the incident, and said he hoped the incident was on tape. Schoenfeld responded by yelling in Koharski's direction, "Good, because you fell, you fat pig! Have another doughnut
! Have another doughnut!" (A videotape of this incident recorded by WABC
has become part of sports television lore ever since, usually when discussing coaches losing their tempers.)
The NHL responded by suspending
Schoenfeld, but the Devils took legal action and were granted a court order
staying the suspension. The National Hockey League Officials' Association stood by Koharski; its members said they would not take the ice in the next game between the Devils and the Bruins if Schoenfeld was allowed to coach. This resulted in the NHL being forced to use low-level replacement officials for the game, with the two linesmen wearing Devils-coloured Cooperall
long pants (at the time, green pants with red-and-white stripes), along with white helmets and yellow practice jerseys over their street clothes.
The incident was parodied
in the movie Wayne's World
, in which Frederick Coffin
played a police officer named "Officer Koharski."
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
referee
Official (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, an official is a person who has some responsibility in enforcing the rules and maintaining the order of the game. There are two categories of officials, on-ice officials, who are the referees and linesmen that enforce the rules during game play, and off-ice officials, who have an...
in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
. He currently resides in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, with his wife, together with whom he has two sons. Since the 1994–95 NHL season, he has worn uniform number 12, and, since the 1987–88 NHL season, he has been wearing a helmet
Hockey helmet
A hockey helmet is worn by players of ice hockey and inline hockey to help protect the head from potential injury when hit by the puck, sticks, skates, boards, other players, or the ice.-Construction:...
while refereeing NHL games.
Officiating career
Koharski began his officiating career in the World Hockey AssociationWorld Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
in 1975, as a 19-year-old linesman. (He is the final player or official from the WHA to be involved in professional hockey in an on-ice capacity.) In 1976, he was signed by the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
while working with a local dairy farm, for which he was milking cows. He began his NHL career 1977, as a linesman, before moving to the referee role in 1980.
Entering the 2005–06 season, Koharski had officiated over 1,400 regular season games, 235 playoff games, eleven Stanley Cup Finals
Stanley Cup Finals
The Stanley Cup Finals is the championship series to determine the winner of the Stanley Cup, emblematic of the professional club championship of ice hockey. Although the Cup itself has existed since 1893, an annual championship series between professional teams was not established until 1913...
, two All-Star Games
National Hockey League All-Star Game
The National Hockey League All-Star Game is an exhibition ice hockey game that is traditionally held at the midway point of the regular season of the National Hockey League , with many of the league's star players playing against each other...
, two Canada Cups
Canada Cup (ice hockey)
The Canada Cup was an invitational international ice hockey tournament held on five occasions between 1976 and 1991. The tournament was created to meet demand for a true world championship that allowed the best players from participating nations to compete regardless of their status as professional...
, and the 2004 World Cup
2004 World Cup of Hockey
The 2004 World Cup of Hockey was an international ice hockey tournament. It was the second installment of the National Hockey League -sanctioned competition eight years after the inaugural 1996 World Cup of Hockey. It was held from August 30 to September 14, 2004, and took place in various venues...
. He was the league's second-most senior official, behind only referee Kerry Fraser
Kerry Fraser
Kerry Fraser is a hockey analyst and former senior referee in the National Hockey League, having joined the National Hockey League Officials Association on September 1, 1973, and officiating his first game in the 1980–81 season. Fraser's father, Hilton "Hilt" Fraser, had him skating at 15 months...
. http://www.hockeyrefs.com/intheheadlines/09192005,2.htm On April 8, 2006, Koharski reached the 1,500-regular-season-game milestone when he officiated a game between the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
and the Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
. http://nhlofficials.com/display_news.asp?articleID=147
During the NHL player lockout of 2004–05, Koharski officiated a charity game between former players from the United Hockey League
United Hockey League
The United Hockey League was a low-level professional ice hockey league , with teams in the United States...
, as part of their All-Star Game
National Hockey League All-Star Game
The National Hockey League All-Star Game is an exhibition ice hockey game that is traditionally held at the midway point of the regular season of the National Hockey League , with many of the league's star players playing against each other...
festivities. http://www.hockeyrefs.com/intheheadlines/01202005,3.htm
On March 24, 2009, it was announced that Koharski will retire as an NHL referee at the end of the 2008–09 NHL season
2008–09 NHL season
The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the...
; however, he will stay on with the NHL in a supervisory or instructional position.
1988 Stanley Cup incident
Koharski is perhaps best known for an incident that occurred following a 1988 playoff game1988 Stanley Cup playoffs
The 1988 Stanley Cup playoffs, the championship of the National Hockey League , began with sixteen teams on April 6, 1988. It concluded on May 26, with the Edmonton Oilers defeating the Boston Bruins to win the Stanley Cup.-Series:...
between the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
and the New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. New Jersey coach Jim Schoenfeld
Jim Schoenfeld
James Grant Schoenfeld is a retired professional ice hockey player. He is currently the assistant general manager with the New York Rangers, as well as an interim assistant coach...
was infuriated with Koharski’s performance and waited for him in the hallway near the officials’ dressing room
Changeroom
A changing room, locker room, dressing room or changeroom is a room or area designated for changing one's clothes...
. Koharski fell, but believed Schoenfeld had pushed him. Koharski yelled several times after Schoenfeld "You're done", implying that he would be suspended over the incident, and said he hoped the incident was on tape. Schoenfeld responded by yelling in Koharski's direction, "Good, because you fell, you fat pig! Have another doughnut
Doughnut
A doughnut or donut is a fried dough food and is popular in many countries and prepared in various forms as a sweet snack that can be homemade or purchased in bakeries, supermarkets, food stalls, and franchised specialty outlets...
! Have another doughnut!" (A videotape of this incident recorded by WABC
WABC-TV
WABC-TV, channel 7, is the flagship station of the Disney-owned American Broadcasting Company located in New York City. The station's studios and offices are located on the Upper West Side section of Manhattan, adjacent to ABC's corporate headquarters, and its transmitter is atop the Empire State...
has become part of sports television lore ever since, usually when discussing coaches losing their tempers.)
The NHL responded by suspending
Suspension (punishment)
Suspension is a form of punishment that people receive for violating rules and regulations.- Workplace :Suspension is a common practice in the workplace for being in violation of an organization's policy...
Schoenfeld, but the Devils took legal action and were granted a court order
Court order
A court order is an official proclamation by a judge that defines the legal relationships between the parties to a hearing, a trial, an appeal or other court proceedings. Such ruling requires or authorizes the carrying out of certain steps by one or more parties to a case...
staying the suspension. The National Hockey League Officials' Association stood by Koharski; its members said they would not take the ice in the next game between the Devils and the Bruins if Schoenfeld was allowed to coach. This resulted in the NHL being forced to use low-level replacement officials for the game, with the two linesmen wearing Devils-coloured Cooperall
Cooperalls
Cooperalls are a type of discontinued ice hockey equipment, which were made by hockey manufacturer Cooper. Cooperalls were invented by the late Senior Designer, Brian Heaton, who worked for Cooper Canada for 5 years from 1972-1975. Over the girdle is a shell, which came in two sizes: a traditional...
long pants (at the time, green pants with red-and-white stripes), along with white helmets and yellow practice jerseys over their street clothes.
The incident was parodied
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
in the movie Wayne's World
Wayne's World (film)
Wayne's World is a 1992 American comedy film directed by Penelope Spheeris and starring Mike Myers in his film debut as Wayne Campbell and Dana Carvey as Garth Algar, hosts of the Aurora, Illinois-based Public-access television cable TV show Wayne's World...
, in which Frederick Coffin
Frederick Coffin
Frederick D. Coffin was an American film actor.-Early life:Coffin was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1943 to actress Winifred Deforest Coffin, and was one of five children. He was educated at Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio, where he was both a student and athlete. He began to study...
played a police officer named "Officer Koharski."