Wes McCauley lands back in Leafs controversy with non-call on Brad Marchand

Toronto Maple Leafs fans are wondering how referee Wes McCauley could have missed the call. On Thursday, Leafs defenseman Timothy Liljegren was forced to leave the game against the Boston Bruins injured after captain Brad Marchand hit him into the boards with what’s known as a “can opener” in the final minute of the first period and wasn’t penalized for the incident.

Fans were adamant that McCauley was looking right at the hit and it did not take long before he was called out for his decision not to penalize Marchand.

After the game, this is what Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe had to say about the controversial non-call:

“I got nothing. He just didn’t see the stick go in between his legs, a can opener, and you can go feet first into the boards in the most dangerous area of the ice,” the bench boss said.

This will only add to the fire of McCauley being public enemy in Toronto. You may remember how McCauley was the official in Game 1 of the Maple Leafs- Tampa Bay Lightning first-round series last spring, where then-Toronto forward Michael Bunting received a three-game suspension for an illegal hit to the head of Bolts defenseman Erik Cernak .Prior to that incident, Keefe had been fined $25,000 for demeaning conduct towards an official, or in simple terms, a fine for berating McCauley during a late December game against the St. Louis Blues. 

Some believe it all goes back to a messy personal situation involving McCauley’s brother-in-law is David Frost. Do you remember the David Frost and Mike Danton scandal? David Frost was a former junior coach turned NHL player agent who was accused of sexually assaulting a number of underage hockey players, including Danton. Frost was acquitted of the charges and Danton was subsequently arrested and convicted for conspiring to murder Frost. Danton and Keefe are lifelong friends. The two grew up playing hockey together and were teammates on a junior team coached by Frost when the alleged abuse took place. Fast forward to Danton’s trial and it was Keefe who was on the stand testifying against Frost.
It could easily be said that there is a conflict of interest here… and maybe it is interfering with McCauley’s judgment during Maple Leafs’ games.

Howeber, when it comes to supplementary discipline, we have to wait and see what’s the call from the NHL Department of Player Safety.

Neither Keefe and McCauley can make that call.

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