Referee Wes McCauley's family victimized by threats.

National Hockey League referee Wes McCauley has been the subject of a great deal of controversy when it comes to his officiating, specifically as it pertains to the Toronto Maple Leafs, and it seems that the controversy on the ice has now boiled over into something much uglier off the ice.

According to a report from the Toronto Star's Kevin McGran, McCauley's family members have been on the receiving end of threats as a result of his officiating in the playoffs. Specifically, it appears McCauley's family was victimized following a Maple Leafs loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of that series.

From McGran:

A league source told the Star that there were threats made against McCauley’s family that night, feeding off the frenzy that McCauley and Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe have a long-standing beef that goes beyond the ice.

Even if you don't care for McCauley as an official, threatening the man's family is something that every hockey fan can agree goes a step too far. There's no question that McCauley's appointment to another Maple Leafs game is controversial given the potential conflict of interest between him and Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe, but that is a decision undertaken by the National Hockey League and not McCauley himself.

Please don't threaten anyone over a game, whether it be a fellow fan, player, coach or referee.