Hockey referees wear microphones so they can announce penalties to the entire arena. But every now and then, they forget to turn them off when talking to players. That’s exactly what happened last night when Kyle Palmieri was sent to the penalty box — and fans absolutely loved it.
Referee Kyle Rehman is no rookie; he has officiated over 1,000 NHL games since making his debut in 2008. Over the years, he’s also delivered a few unintentionally hilarious, Wes McCauley-style announcements. But during last night’s matchup between the New York Islanders and the Detroit Red Wings, his latest viral moment wasn’t intentional.
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Arguing with Kyle Palmieri
The Islanders cruised to a 7–2 win, jumping out to a 5–0 lead after two periods. The game also marked rookie sensation Matthew Schaefer’s first NHL outing without a point. But what everyone will remember is Kyle Rehman getting caught on a live mic.
It happened in the first period when Kyle Palmieri was sent to the penalty box. Rehman, still mic’d up, could be heard arguing with him — loud and clear for the entire arena to hear.
Fans can’t stop laughing
“You want a slash or a cross-check?” Rehman said before officially announcing the penalty as cross-checking.
Fans couldn’t stop laughing at the awkward slip-up.
“I heard that. Never heard a player get that choice before. Great hockey,” one fan wrote.
“Imagine if he asked the crowd: ‘Slashing or cross-check? Cast your vote now on the UBS Arena app, brought to you by Coca-Cola,’” another joked.
“Haha, choose your own adventure,” added a third.
You can watch the hilarious moment below.
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