NHL: Canucks

HOCKEYTALK NEWS

JANUARY 12, 2009 -- A major storm of controversy is brewing on the heels of frank comments by Vancouver Canucks left wing Alexandre Burrows.

While Burrows will almost certainly face discipline for such public utterances directed at an official, the substance of what Burrows asserts raises larger issues that the league will be hard-pressed to remedy.

According to reports in TSN.ca this morning, official Stephane Auger warned Burrows of coming discipline prior to the game, a serious charge that if true would expose one official as having acted in prejudice on at least one occasion.

"It was personal. It started in warmup, before the anthem," Burrows said of Auger's penalty calling. "(Auger) came over to me and he said I made him look bad in Nashville on the (Jerred) Smithson hit and he said he was going to get me back tonight."

At Nashville in December, Auger handed Burrows a charging major and a game misconduct in an incident involving Jarred Smithson.

"When Smithson hit me from sideways and he (Auger) said, 'I saw the replay, you had your head up, you weren't really hurt and you made me look bad so I'm going to get you back tonight,' and he did, and he cost us two points.

With an allegation of pre-game prejudice at hand courtesy the Vancouver wing, the league will be hard-pressed to take Burrows seriously.

Burrows was relentless in his commentary, and made clear his feeling that Auger's personal vendetta against him cost his Canucks standings points.

"He did his job in the third, I think. He got me on a diving call I didn't think was diving. He got me on an interference call that I had no idea how he could call that. It changed the game. It sucks right now for teammates who are battling 60 minutes to win a hockey game because every two points are so huge, are so important. And because of a guy's ego, it just blows everything out of proportion and the refs - they're making bad calls and the fans are paying for it and we're paying for it."

As the game went on, he and Auger exchange more words.

"After my second penalty, I skated by him and he said, 'If you say a word, I'm going to kick you out,' so I didn't say a word because I still thought we could come back and win the game. But with three seconds left and a faceoff outside the zone, I thought I could tell him what I thought about him.

Burrows then took his commentary to the next level, indicating that he believes that Auger should be removed.

"I think he should stay out for the rest of the year making calls like that that are making us look bad. Every two points are so important in this league. We just blew two points because of his officiating tonight."

Teammate Roberto Luongo and coach Alain Vigneault expressed solidarity with Burrows' assertions. Vigneault asked the most important question.

"Does he (Burrows) have a legitimate case and how many times has this happened with this individual?"

The league's officials through its NHLOA is expected to circle the wagons for their comrade. The NHLPA will likely support Burrows. The league will be expected to fully investigate, and if the allegations against Auger are true, take action against one of its protected class, the official.

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