NHL hockey referee sounds off to website

January 12, 2006

Retired NHL referee Bruce Hood says his high profile may be the reason why he isn’t in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Speaking Wednesday in an exclusive with HockeyRefs.com, he said: "I was honoured to just be nominated. I have been put on the outside of things because of my speaking out on things I believed in."

Hood officiated in the NHL for 21 seasons before retiring in 1984. His career included 1,033 regular season and 157 Stanley Cup playoff games, three All-Star Games, and three Canada Cups.

A group of Hall of Fame members headlined by former players Bobby Hall and the late Maurice Richard nominated Hood in 1994, but the effort was unsuccessful.

Despite that, the former NHLer says he isn’t upset about not being part of the club.

Hood also discussed the four-official system, the sport’s evolution over the years, and recent controversies involving the NHL Officiating Department.

"I never liked the two-referee system," he added. "It is absolutely ridiculous for referees to be skating backwards into the zone all the time."