Hall of Fame former NHL referee Bill McCreary has just come out with a new book, and one of the revelations involves a famous Detroit Red Wings moment.
In Stories From Ice Level: A Great NHL Referee Tells All, the book McCreary co-wrote with author Rob Simpson, he discusses the underlying political turmoil that accompanied the infamous Bob Probert vs Tie Domi rematch on December 2, 1992. The Red Wings face the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden that night, but all eyes were on Red Wings forward Bob Probert and Rangers forward Tie Domi and their impending showdown for the NHL’s heavyweight title.
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“It was really, really highly anticipated,” McCreary said. And not only by hockey fans. The hype over the rematch between the two tough guys also drew the attention of the NHL hierarchy.
Bettman Wanted To Prevent The Bout
“We go into the game in New York, we’re getting ready for the game, and Mr. [NHL commissioner Gary] Bettman came down [to the referee’s room],” McCreary recalled.
Bettman was still new to the job and he didn’t like the attention that the fight was bringing to the sport.
“He was really upset about the media attention for the two people who were potentially going to fight,” McCreary said. “He didn’t want that to be the centre of attention for the game, which we understood from where his position was in the game at the time.”
Bettman laid down the law to McCreary. In those days, there was only one referee in charge of NHL games.
“After a discussion with him, he preferred that they didn’t fight,” McCreary said.
McCreary Defied The NHL to Let Red Wings Probert Fight Domi
McCreary listened to what his new boss was saying. As he was processing Bettman’s words, he knew the truth in the back of his mind. There was no way they were going to prevent this fight from happening.
1992. The most hyped heavyweight tilt since Ali/Frazier in the Thrilla in Manilla…Probert vs Domi at MSG. A couple tough dudes from the Windsor, Ontario area, in a bout that lived up to the hype. And of course, this one had some undercards (Gallant!). #LGRW #NYR pic.twitter.com/pQcZ9Q1XcX
— The Hockey Samurai 侍 (@hockey_samurai) June 5, 2022
The two highest-profile fighters in the league had fought on the same ice surface 10 months earlier, during the previous season, on February 9. Domi landed more punches and came away the winner.
As he skated to the penalty box, Domi made a mocking two handed motion around his waist, suggesting that he was putting on a champion’s belt.
McCreary knew that he couldn’t stop the bout from happening. He made a conscious decision to do his best to keep the carnage to a minimum. He met with both Domi and Probert before the puck dropped.
“I knew that the only way to have it, have the game go on, was to have the fight early, get it over with, done,” McCreary said. “So I spoke to both players before we got the game going. It was either before the national anthem or after, I just can’t remember exactly. I asked, ‘Are we going to do this early?’
“They both said yes, and I said, ‘Okay, we’ll do it early.’”
McCreary Defied Wishes of His Bosses
Even though the commissioner didn’t want the fight to happen, McCreary knew that he had to let it happen.
“‘But when we’re done, it’s over,” McCreary told the combatants.”‘There will be no more scrumming or anything the rest of the game. Or I’ll just throw you out of the game, simple as that.’
“‘So, it’s a one-and-done, and it’s over and it’s finished, win, lose or draw.’ And they both agreed.”
When all was said and done, McCreary had no doubt in his mind who the true champion was.
“On this occasion, Probert left everything out there,” McCreary said. “Aside from one big roundhouse from Domi that connected, ‘Probie’ dominated the rematch.”
Bob Duff has worked in the sports media industry since 1984 and covered the Red Wings since 1988. As … More about Bob Duff