Ex-NHL referee Tim Peel publicly addresses the infamous ''hot mic'' incident that got him fired

PUBLICATION

Mike Armenti
August 7, 2023 (5:50 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

Tim Peel certainly isn't the most popular individual around the National Hockey League. Peel, of course, was the referee responsible for the "hot mic incident" in a game between the Nashville Predators and Detroit Red Wings back in 2021 and was later fired by the NHL as a result. He said the quiet part out loud, which gave NHL officials a very poor image, from which they have never really recovered.

Recently, Peel was on the Nasty Knuckles podcast and he opened up about the incident and all of the aftermath that had ensued following his departure. He had a lot to say about the incident, which he revealed has been bothering him to this day.

Peel revealed that the words that came out of his mouth were very different from what he had intended to say, while mentioning that only 3 penalties were called between Nashville and Detroit that night. Peel also revealed that he wrote a letter to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly to clarify his comments but he was told to fly home the morning after the game and he knew that this mistake would be the end of his career, just one month before he was set to retire.

I think it's easy to forget sometimes that we all make mistakes. Unfortunately, not all mistakes are created equal and Peel had to pay for his much more publicly than the rest of us have to pay for ours.