Ref Night 2018: Meet the fans cheering on the referees as referees

December 12, 2018 12:50 am

During Tuesday night’s matchup against the Detroit Red Wings, a bunch of hockey fans arrived at Capital One Arena dressed as referees.

In section 423, dozens of referees cheered on the NHL officials throughout the course of the game, giving support to a faction that rarely receives it.

According to RMNB fan Karen Kraus, tonight is ref’s night for the zebras around the DMV. Local referees who officiate everything from beer league to USA Hockey games gathered to cheer on the unsung NHL referees and linesmen who put in the hard work calling the icings, offsides, and penalties that make up the wonderful sport of hockey.

When Brett Connolly scored the first goal of the night, one referee fan seated behind the net signaled the goal in dramatic Wes McCauley fashion.

I'm dying 😂 pic.twitter.com/CYL6MGud8D

— Ian Oland (@ianoland) December 12, 2018

They even chanted the legendary Mike Leggo catchphrase when a boarding penalty was called on the Red Wings.

The best was win the Red Wings got called for boarding and they chanted “YOU CAN’T DO THAT” I was dying.

— Eli_Pendry (@Eli_pendry) December 12, 2018

Of course, on a night where the referees had their loudest cheering section of the season, there would be a coaches’ challenge.

There's a Coach's Challenge on #RefNight2018. Fitting. pic.twitter.com/gqS3JQhu3V

— Ian Oland (@ianoland) December 12, 2018

The fans carried signs in support of their fellow zebras. One sign got an acknowledgment from one of the refs as they skated onto the ice.

View this post on Instagram

It was Referee Appreciation Night at @capitalonearena and referees from local DMV rinks showed up to cheer on the zebras, even chanting “You can’t do that!” on a Red Wings penalty call. 😂 (📷: @jessfainberg, Amy from Crashers, Lisa Gasparott, @capitals)

A post shared by RMNB (@rmnb_blog) on Dec 11, 2018 at 9:37pm PST

Photo: Amy from Crashers

dress for the job you want pic.twitter.com/p1txUXmQb2

— NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) December 12, 2018

After the game, one lucky fan managed to snag a pic with veteran NHL official Kelly Sutherland.

Photo: Lisa Gasparott

This is the second year that there has been a referee appreciation night at a Capitals game. Last year, the black and white striped fans attended the Capitals’ game against the Chicago Blackhawks. Crazily enough, that game also ended 6-2 in the Capitals’ favor so perhaps Referee Appreciation Night is a thing that needs to happen more often.