Emotional and impulsive by nature, Michel Bergeron often had trouble with referees and, sometimes, his words exceeded his thoughts.
During his time coaching in the QMJHL and NHL in the 1970s and 1980s, it was not uncommon to see coaches standing on the boards to cheer on the scratched men.
At that time, there was only one chief referee on the ice, unlike two now, always accompanied by two linesmen, an important nuance, according to the “Tiger”.
“There was a lot of violence, a lot of punishments, recalls the retired coach. There were fewer referees and fewer teams so we saw them often and we got to know each other.
“When there was just one, I knew who I could argue with. Now, with the two-person system, the instructors don’t always know who is doing what”, underlines the man who swears that the objective was not to give a show.
The former coach of the Quebec Nordiques and the New York Rangers remembers that he prepared his game plan according to the referee of the meeting.
“They didn’t all work the same way. Some were intransigent at the start of the game, so we told the players to be careful at the start,” said Mr. Bergeron.
Never Forgave Kerry Fraser
It is not yesterday that the work of officials is criticized. Impossible not to mention referee Kerry Fraser when talking with Michel Bergeron. As part of the intense rivalry between Montreal and Quebec, Fraser had denied a goal to Alain Côté, of the Fleurdelisé, during the fifth game of a series between the two teams which was then tied 2 to 2, on April 28, 1987, at the Forum.
Rather than taking a 3-2 lead in the game and in the series, the Nordiques saw the Canadian score as soon as play resumed. The CH then reached the association final.
Michel Bergeron was in all his states when referee Kerry Fraser denied a goal to Alain Côté during the 1987 playoffs against the Canadiens.
Photo archives / Le Journal de Montreal
“I try to forget it, but every day someone reminds me! says “Bergie”. It will haunt me for the rest of my days. But hey, it’s also part of the folklore.
The columnist at Log claims that he has moved on from these events, but that he has not forgiven Fraser.
A fine of $20,000
The big challenge for Michel Bergeron was to find a balance between defending his players and remaining disciplined so as not to harm his club.
“I was reading my comments in the newspapers the next day and I was like, ‘I can’t say that. But I have never been misquoted! I had to live with the consequences”, he laughs today.
A good discussion with the referee before the next match and the file was closed… until the next chicane!
“I have already apologized to Bob Myers and Ron Fournier, among others. We understood that it happened in the heat of the moment, ”explains the man who is proud to say that he has never been expelled from an NHL game.
“But I’ve already been fined $20,000 by the NHL because during a series against the Philadelphia Flyers, I showed reporters video footage where the referees missed shots. calls. The League was furious!”
Even during a reality show about the hockey rivalry between Montreal and Quebec in 2010, Michel Bergeron had heated discussions with referee Ron Fournier.
Photo archives / Didier Debusschere
Peter Stastny brought him to order
Mr. Bergeron quickly learned that he could at the time climb on the bench, but that swearing was not tolerated. In particular, some officials preferred to award a penalty that gave the opponent a numerical advantage rather than sending the coach to the showers.
“I was beside myself and I had asked Denis Morel to put me out. But he just wanted to give me a couple of minutes. My captain with the Nordiques, Peter Stastny, told me to calm down!”
“A referee once told me: ‘It’s true that I made mistakes tonight, but I will never make as many as you!’ It was a good point.”
Behind the bench of the New York Rangers, Michel Bergeron has often piqued anger, like this one at the Montreal Forum in 1988.
Photo archives / Pierre-Yvon Pelletier