McCauley misses major milestone as he misses list for third round

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TJ Tucker
May 23, 2024 (7:01)

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Well-known NHL referee Wes McCauley won't be officiating in the 2024 Stanley Cup Conference, and misses a major milestone in the process

The referees and linesmen moving on to the Conference Finals of the 2024 Stanley Cup Conference Finals have been set, and a well-known name is not among them. Wes McCauley, who can be a polarizing figure in the NHL, won't be refereeing any of the games between the New York Rangers and Florida Panthers in the East, and the Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers in the West.

Advancing to the later rounds of the NHL playoffs means more money for officials. The deeper you go, the more you get. McCauley will miss what would have been his 13th NHL Conference Finals in a row. Scouting the Refs says it is likely a hamstring issue.

"Referee Wes McCauley made the cut for Round 2, but never worked a game after Golden Knights/Stars Game 7 in the opening round, prompting suspicion that he was dealing with an injury. If so, it's apparent the league doesn't expect him to be able to return soon, and opted to leave him on the sidelines. McCauley has reached the Conference Finals for 12 straight seasons, including 10 trips to the Stanley Cup Final � missing 2021 due to injury."

McCauley, a former hockey player himself, first gained notice from NHL fans with his enthusiastic penalty calls, and on-ice conversations with players.

Since then, he's gained many critics who seem to believe he's not very good at what he's being paid to do, and often shows bias towards or against certain teams.

Despite that, the NHL certainly seems to trust him as he's been a regular in the postseason for several years. There's no official word on whether McCauley might return for the Stanley Cup Final.

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23 MAI \| 802 ANSWERS McCauley misses major milestone as he misses list for third round If Wes McCauley wasn't injured, does he deserve to referee the 2024 NHL Conference Finals?
Yes	391	48.8 %
No	342	42.6 %
Not sure	69	8.6 %
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