When you got to a hockey game, you expect to see the refs out on the ice, patrolling the game and making sure both teams don't step over the boundaries and compromise the integrity of the sport.
But in Brooklyn, New York, on Saturday afternoon, a group of zebras, known as a "dazzle" were spotted in the upper bowl of the Islanders' temporary home arena cheering on their beloved Isles against the Pacific-leading Vancouver Canucks.
Sporting the typical black and white striped jerseys, the support group came on to cheer their fellow refs and linesmen.
Whenever a call was made or a stop was made with a whistle, roars of jubilance would emerge from the sections.
Every year, the fan-organized group comes to a game for "Referee Appreciation Night." It's the fourth year in a row the group has come to game. Last year, 340 refs were in attendance, which is made up of "a bunch of strangers (soon to be best friends) going to a hockey game dressed as referees and cheering for the refs...and only the refs," according to the website.
The group sold jerseys for $19, along with the $28 tickets and a $5 donation to a charity. Proceeds benefitted "We Can Kick, "a non profit charity that provides FREE soccer to children and young adults affected by cancer. We use the passion of soccer to inspire and empower those impacted by this terrible disease. The programs help kids get active again and readjust to a new normal after treatment and trauma, but most importantly it gives them a chance to play, have fun and be kids again in a supportive and encouraging environment."
So, who did it better, the refs at the Islanders game, or the group that came together outside Maple Leaf Square during Round One of the 2018 and 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs?
