Kerry Fraser
For over 30 years Kerry Fraser called the shots as the best referee in the NHL.
The all-time leader of games officiated by a Referee in the National Hockey League, Kerry refereed 261 Stanley Cup Playoff Games, including 12 Stanley Cup Finals. He officiated the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, two All-Star Games and the 2010 NHL Winter Classic.
Despite the tough job that hockey officials must do, Kerry Fraser enjoys unprecedented respect from both players and coaches. Wayne Gretzky said “He’ll will always be number 1” while Sydney Crosby said “Kerry is fair and accountable”. Scotty Bowman said “I always felt comfortable when he was refereeing a game” and Mark Messier said “He wanted the players to play the game the way it was meant to be played”
Every year, Kerry was overwhelmingly selected as the best referee in the NHL through independent polls of NHL players conducted annually by ESPN and the Toronto Sun, including his final season.
Speaking topics
- Making the Tough Calls
Playing by the rules is something Kerry Fraser knows a lot about. For over 30 years he had to blow the whistle on NHL players who broke the rules of the game. It didn’t always make him popular but it guaranteed that every NHL game he officiated was safe for everyone on the ice. Kerry shares why having a code of safety in place is important but that holding everyone on your team accountable to the code is that much more important. How to enforce the rules respectfully and influence positive attitudes so that everyone knows why playing by the rules is not an option, it’s a must! Using his many colourful examples as an NHL ref (along with action from game footage), Kerry takes your audience to ice level and entertains them while reminding them that a culture of safety is what keeps everyone in the game and that making the tough calls is what Leadership is all about!
- C’mon Ref You Suck!... Dealing with Rejection (The Art of Communication and Emotional Control)
- Leadership and Teamwork
Video clips
Speaker testimonials
Kerry and I worked closely together for many years, building sales and client relationships. He contacted the clients, entertained them at the hockey games – – and frequently before and after the games – – provided an insider’s view of the game, and acted as a surrogate of the corporation that retained us. In many ways, Kerry was the star of the program, as comfortable in the boardroom as he was on the ice. He is totally reliable, has a very good head for business, and is an outstanding speaker. I’m pleased to offer my unqualified endorsement of Kerry as an asset to any organization that chooses to work with him.
Kerry spoke to a room of over 100 sales people, sales managers and general managers. Kerry touched very deep into some key lessons in not only business but self development. He captivated the audience who ranged from young twenties to late sixties by sharing very relevant and interesting hockey stories which he would share commonalities into the business world. My text messages and email blew up after from employees who expressed their gratitude for my bringing in Kerry to speak to them. I would highly recommend having Kerry speaking to any businesses.