Forever_Habs10 Posted April 30, 2011 Report Share Posted April 30, 2011 This is one of the strangest hockey related article that I have come across in a long time... CASE OF THE MISSING NHL LINESMAN BOB MCKENZIE 4/29/2011 9:04:23 PM The Case of the Missing Stanley Cup Puck has turned into the Case of the Missing NHL Linesman. The NHL, for now anyway, has pulled veteran on-ice official Steve Miller, 38, of Stratford, Ont., from his duties in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Miller has worked back-to-back Stanley Cup finals, which signifies his status as one of the very best in his profession. Miller worked Game 1 of the Pittsburgh-Tampa series on April 13 and then Game 3 of the New York Ranger-Washington series on April 17. But he hasn't worked since then. On April 20, three days after Miller last worked, ESPN's Outside the Lines presented an in-depth story about the ongoing, year-long controversy surrounding the as-yet unfound game-winning goal puck from overtime in Game 6 of last year's Cup final in Philadelphia. Video and still photographs in the ESPN investigative feature appear to indicate Miller picked up the puck. Miller was portrayed as a suspect in the story about the much-talked about unsolved mystery. In the story, Miller denied knowing of the puck's whereabouts. Miller has not worked a game since the story appeared. The NHL has confirmed Miller, for now, has been taken off active playoff duty. "We do not know where the (missing) puck is and Steve says he does not know where the puck is," NHL spokesman Gary Meagher told TSN. "We 100 per cent believe Steve and we fully stand behind him. But in the best interests of the league, and Steve, we felt the best course of action for everyone was to take him off his assignments at this time." The league said Miller has not been ruled out from returning to active duty in these playoffs, but it's not known when or if that will happen. "Nothing has been ruled out or decided at this point," Meagher said. NHL Officials' Association president Brian Murphy, a linesman who worked Game 1 of the Washington-Tampa series tonight, said: "The NHLOA supports Steve Miller 100 per cent." Miller is in his 11th season as an NHL linesman. He has worked more than 500 regular season games and 50 playoffs. It's believed Miller is extremely shaken at finding himself in the middle of the missing puck controversy. TSN, through both the NHL and NHLOA, requested comment from Miller, but he's not talking at this time, though it's been suggested Miller will publicly address the entire issue at some point in the future. The whereabouts of the puck has been an issue from the time the Cup was won in Philadelphia when Chicago's Pat Kane scored in overtime. There was a lengthy investigation on a Philadelphia-based Flyer blog, Crossing Broad, that first focused on linesman Miller as someone who may have picked up the puck. Here is a link to that: http://www.crossingb...ame-6-puck.html The in-depth ESPN Outside the Lines investigative piece was carried on ESPN.com. Here is a link to that: http://sports.espn.g...421/missingpuck ...well,what's your take here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
habs_93 Posted April 30, 2011 Report Share Posted April 30, 2011 That's a very unorthodox spelling of Chris Pronger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FirstStar Posted April 30, 2011 Report Share Posted April 30, 2011 Definitely odd... But with all the camera angles we have in today's day and age, there has to be one cameraman who was focusing on the net after Kane scored. Seriously, it was ruled a goal, so either a linesman or a ref went to check the net and found the puck in it. If it was Miller, then it kinda puts him on the hot seat. But where did he go after that(and did he take the puck), to the refs dressing room, over to the penalty box? They must have some sort of evidence to go so far to relieve him of duty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manatee-X Posted April 30, 2011 Report Share Posted April 30, 2011 Heh, this is absolutely ridiculous Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forever_Habs10 Posted April 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2011 That's a very unorthodox spelling of Chris Pronger. Has his finger prints all over this. Heh, this is absolutely ridiculous Ya think? lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forever_Habs10 Posted May 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2011 This Tuesday & Wednesday...he will be reffing the Tampa game. Just seen a clip that clearly shows him picking up the puck & skating away.....I guess my thinking is he may have given it away at the time,and some how forgets to who. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigTed3 Posted May 3, 2011 Report Share Posted May 3, 2011 The NHL seems to be making a big deal out of Miller possibly taking the puck. If they suspended him, why didn't they suspend Pronger last year when he was stealing pucks from winning teams AND admitting he had them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLAMEITONPKSUBBAN Posted May 4, 2011 Report Share Posted May 4, 2011 The NHL seems to be making a big deal out of Miller possibly taking the puck. If they suspended him, why didn't they suspend Pronger last year when he was stealing pucks from winning teams AND admitting he had them? Can't touch superstars. Can touch refs that many people don't even know the names of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3thehardway Posted May 6, 2011 Report Share Posted May 6, 2011 This is definitely a strange one. Obviously the NHL wants the puck in the Hall so I can understand their concern. They don't want their refs grabbing souvenirs while they're suppose to be working? Is an NHL game puck considered NHL property? Could be considered theft I suppose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatethosebruins Posted May 7, 2011 Report Share Posted May 7, 2011 This is definitely a strange one. Obviously the NHL wants the puck in the Hall so I can understand their concern. They don't want their refs grabbing souvenirs while they're suppose to be working? Is an NHL game puck considered NHL property? Could be considered theft I suppose. I'm certain that would be the case, Pat Kane probably wants it, or the hawks/city of Chicago or somethin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
js2 Posted May 8, 2011 Report Share Posted May 8, 2011 So they're stopping a guy from working games because a puck went missing? Wow.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatethosebruins Posted July 15, 2011 Report Share Posted July 15, 2011 Anyone know what happened with this case? just curious Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenzed Posted August 13, 2011 Report Share Posted August 13, 2011 This Tuesday & Wednesday...he will be reffing the Tampa game. Just seen a clip that clearly shows him picking up the puck & skating away.....I guess my thinking is he may have given it away at the time,and some how forgets to who. What a 'curious' story. I tend to go along with FH's theory. Any news on the outcome? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FirstStar Posted August 14, 2011 Report Share Posted August 14, 2011 This Tuesday & Wednesday...he will be reffing the Tampa game. Just seen a clip that clearly shows him picking up the puck & skating away.....I guess my thinking is he may have given it away at the time,and some how forgets to who. That's what I was thinking FH... He did go over to see if the puck was actually in the net. It's not like they have pockets (or do they?), he probably brought it over to the time keeper. The NHL seems to be making a big deal out of Miller possibly taking the puck. If they suspended him, why didn't they suspend Pronger last year when he was stealing pucks from winning teams AND admitting he had them? I know, was thinking the same thing... At least with Pronger, they knew who had it. If they wanted back (the NHL) for the HHOF or something, they knew who to ask. Possible Miller has it and doesn't want to give it up. You'd think with all the cameras they had for the playoffs, someone would've tracked him... Plus all the people snapping pics and recording on smart phones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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