Before the end of the decade, John Tortorella got in one last classic Torts rant at the buzzer. His December 29th rant on the refs and the NHL's review system earned him a $20,000 fine from the league, and in a rare move from the fiery head coach, he actually apologized for lashing out in that manner.
That being said, some think Torts was in the right. He was originally incensed about time that allowed to run off the clock after a whistle late in the game, which eventually led to Zach Werenski’s game-winning goal being negated after the buzzer.
So, Blue Jackets fans have started a GoFundMe on Torts’ behalf. They can’t actually, like, wire him the proceeds or anything to cover the fine, so instead the money is going towards an altruistic purpose: The Tortorella Family Foundation, which gives back to children in disadvantaged situations.
In three days, the fundraiser has raised over $2,500.
Many of the comments from donors side with Torts on the issue, and some even self-identify as fans of other teams who simply see him in the right.
“Being a referee is NOT easy, and too often fans complain about split second decisions. In this case however Torts is 100% correct. They should have used the technology afforded to them,” reads one comment.
“Love our coach, he just said what we were all thinking, the truth. I watched the game and saw everything he saw, how hard is it to get it right. Seasons are decided by small margins of error, losing a point in a game we won fair and square is unprofessional and unacceptable. Losing our all star goalie was unfortunate and unnecessary. The league needs to remember the fans are key stakeholders who understand the game,” says another.
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