Marc Crawford, the former NHL and AHL coach of the year and Stanley Cup winner, is facing a new investigation after directing homophobic remarks toward a referee in a National League game between ZSC Lions and EHC Biel in Switzerland.
The incident, which was televised, occurred when Crawford began screaming at Finnish referee Mikko Kaukokari to check the clock as his ZSC Lions trailed by a goal. However, Crawford’s rant quickly turned homophobic when he called Kaukokari a slur. The same homophobic slur former NHLer Ryan Getzlaf was punished for directing at an official during a 2017 game, earning him a $10,000 fine from the league.
The incident has sparked an investigation into Crawford’s actions and is the latest in a long line of controversy surrounding the former NHL coach. In 2019, Crawford faced allegations from NHL players regarding physical and verbal abuse, while in his tenure with the Vancouver Canucks he was named as a defendant in a lawsuit by Colorado Avalanche player Steve Moore, who suffered three broken vertebrae and a broken jaw after Todd Bertuzzi attacked Moore from behind on the ice.
Crawford has now been hired to replace Rikard Grönborg as head coach of the ZSC Lions on December 28, 2022. However, less than two months into his tenure, Crawford is already facing disciplinary action due to his homophobic remarks.
The NHL and AHL have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to homophobic language, and Crawford is likely to face similar consequences to Getzlaf, if found guilty. National League director Denis Vaucher said he saw and heard Crawford’s “discriminatory remarks” on television, and the investigation into Crawford’s actions is ongoing.
Crawford has served as the head coach of five NHL franchises including the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche, Vancouver Canucks, Los Angeles Kings, Dallas Stars, and Ottawa Senators. Last season Crawford was an associate coach for the Chicago Blackhawks.
It is clear that the NHL and AHL will not tolerate any kind of derogatory language, and the investigation into Crawford’s conduct will be a stern test of the league’s commitment to its anti-homophobia policy. The ZSC Lions currently sit third overall in the National League standings, and it remains to be seen how this incident will affect the team’s performance.
