from Terry Jones of the Edmonton Sun,

It’s that time of year when hockey cuts become a daily story in sports. Careers come to an end. And huge gaping holes are left in lives that have been lived around the rink and the people around the game.

Ted McPhee was looking forward to his 58th year as a goal judge at the biggest hockey games in Edmonton, including every season of the Oilers in the WHA and NHL.

But this was the year Ted McPhee got cut.

OK, he didn’t get cut as such. His position was eliminated.

McPhee was informed by David Baker, the NHL’s senior director of off-ice officials.

“The league has eliminated the goal judge positions from the off-ice crew,” they were informed by Baker via letter. “The function of illuminating the red light behind each goal will now be performed by the video goal judge.

“Each video replay room will be equipped with buttons for each goal and the video goal judge will illuminate the appropriate light when the referee signals goal by pointing to the net.”

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