NHL under fire after Mason Marchment hits referee and receives no suspension

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / May 12, 2025, 19:08 IST

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During a tense playoff game between Dallas Stars and Winnipeg Jets, Mason Marchment made contact with a referee. He tapped the referee with his stick out of frustration. Surprisingly, the NHL reviewed the incident. However, the league decided not to suspend or fine Marchment. This decision sparked controversy among fans and analysts. They cited inconsistent rule enforcement regarding player-official contact.

NHL under fire after Mason Marchment hits referee and receives no suspension

Feature photo: Getty Images

Okay, this one’s wild. Imagine you’re in the middle of a tense NHL playoff game, the stakes are sky-high, and you feel a call should’ve gone your way. Most players might shout or throw a quick glare. But Dallas Stars forward Mason Marchment? He straight-up tapped a referee with his stick. Yes, that actually happened and even crazier? The NHL didn’t punish him for it.

Mason Marchment made contact with the referee during the game out of frustration, but no penalty was called in real time

During Game 3 of the Stars vs. Jets series, Marchment skated toward the bench clearly frustrated over what he thought should’ve been a penalty. Instead of just mouthing off, he reached out and gave referee Graham Skilliter a little tap on the shin pads with his stick while the game was still going.

It wasn’t a huge whack, more of a “hey, pay attention” gesture. But still, physical contact with an official is a big no-no in hockey, no matter how minor. Surprisingly, there was no penalty issued at the moment. The game went on, and Dallas went on to win 4–1.

The NHL reviewed the stick tap incident but chose not to suspend or fine Marchment afterward

After the game, fans and analysts expected the league to step in. NHL Rule 40.3 is pretty clear: any player who “deliberately applies physical force to an official without intent to injure” should be suspended for at least 10 games.

But according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the league did look into the clip and ultimately deferred to the on-ice officials' judgment. Since the refs didn’t see it as serious or intentional abuse, the NHL decided not to issue any supplemental discipline.

So yeah—no fine, no suspension, not even a public warning. Nada.

Fans are calling out the NHL’s inconsistent enforcement of rules when it comes to player-referee contact

As expected, fans aren’t thrilled. The Reddit hockey thread lit up with comments like “If this was a lesser-known player, he’d be gone for 10 games” and “The NHL really picks favorites.” Even some insiders believe this sets a dangerous precedent like, what is the line between frustration and abuse of officials?

People are drawing comparisons to past suspensions that seemed less severe but drew harsher punishments. It’s clear the NHL is walking a tightrope between context and enforcement here and many think they fumbled this one.Also read - “Oh for Christ’s sake”: Paul Bissonnette loses it over Florida Panthers’ birthday post for Brad Marchand

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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