Sports fans are used to seeing referees have a word with players about bad language – but it’s not so common to hear the exchange happen the other way around.
Ref Wes McCauley got a ticking off for using a few choice words as he took charge of an NHL play-off game between the Dallas Stars and the Nashville Predators.
“Your mother would be mad at you for those swear words!” @jamiebenn14 keeping Wes McCauley in line is priceless. ?? #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/XECZuiDPy4
— NHL (@NHL) April 22, 2019
McCauley was talking to Predators forward Filip Forsberg when he let a few expletives slip out in earshot of Stars captain Jamie Benn.
And Benn was not going to pass up the opportunity to have a joke at the referee’s expense, telling him: “Your mother would be mad at you for those swear words.”
McCauley could only agree, replying: “Yeah, you’re right.”
Best Referee in the game. Love Wes Mccauley
— Seth (@slgseth) April 22, 2019
The moment was very much in keeping with the image of two of the NHL’s more colourful characters.
McCauley is known to enjoy the spotlight – in particular when he dramatically announces the results of video reviews – while Benn has been described by Yahoo Sports as a “known joker”.
