You knew it was going to happen eventually, Leafs Nation: Wes McCauley has drawn into the head referee slot for the Leafs/Panthers Game 3 and #LeafsNation is losing its mind.

wes mccauley is officiating the leafs game tonight
pic.twitter.com/lbU0CczI8g

— x – m (@hbwknies) May 7, 2023

Can't wait to watch one of the NHL's biggest stars, Wes McCauley, do his thing tonight:

pic.twitter.com/4SpLDgVlfP

— Kevin Papetti (@KPapetti) May 7, 2023

I'm not one to make excuses but knowing the history between Sheldon Keefe and Wes McCauley's brother-in-law, I find it absolutely insane that the league still allows McCauley to officiate Leafs games. https://t.co/tuy4CxnDtW

— Rob Pizzola (@robpizzola) May 7, 2023

@NHL TAKE WES MCCAULEY OUT OF THE LEAFS GAME!!!!!!!!!!! HOW CAN HE CALL ARE GAMES WHEN HES GOT A MAJOR CONFLICT OF INTEREST WITH ARE COATCH SHELDON KEEFE. IT IS DISGUSTING AND DISAPPOINTING THAT YOU GUYS LET HIM CALL LEAFS GAMES. SHAME ON THE NHL 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

— Jason Mcintyre (@jasonmcintyre3) May 7, 2023

Quick backstory, Sheldon Keefe and Wes McCauley have a bit of a history.

Via HOLR

Why is it a conflict of interest for Wes Mccauley to referee any game where Sheldon Keefe is the coach? In 2004, Toronto Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe, who was a player in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) at the time, was involved in a case against his former coach and agent, David Frost. David Frost who was accused of sexual abuse during his time playing for the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Brampton Battalion.

Frost was charged with 12 counts of sexual exploitation by the Ontario Provincial Police in 2006. He spent around $200,000 to hire Marie Henein as his defence lawyer and was found not guilty on those charges on November 29, 2008, after the judge in the case found “some testimony by government witnesses was simply not believable and he feared some of it had been tainted by collusion.” However, several witnesses who would have likely bolstered the case against Frost were not called by the Crown prosecutors.

What is the connection between Wes Mccauley and David Frost?
The referee of last night’s Leafs vs. Tampa Bay Lightning game was Wes Mccauley, who is David Frost’s brother-in-law. As Sheldon Keefe testified against David Frost during the trial in 2006, there could be room for a strong conflict of interest between Wes Mccauley refereeing any game that Sheldon Keefe coaches. Wes McCauley and his brother-in-law, David Frost (who allegedly now goes by, Jim McCauley) are supposedly close, which could pose a problem for him refereeing any Maple Leafs games fairly.

David Frost and Sheldon Keefe

Frost was also known for his close relationship with Michael Sage Danton, a former NHL player who grew up playing hockey with Sheldon Keefe. Michael Danton was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in 2004 for allegedly trying to hire a hit man to kill Frost. Danton pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 7½ years in prison, though he later alleged that it was his father he intended to kill, not Frost. The FBI and the alleged hitman both agreed that Frost was the target. Frost had almost complete control over Danton, requiring his permission for Danton to conduct interviews and frequently giving his opinion on many issues. The accusations against Frost have led to a significant amount of public scrutiny, and he has been banned from coaching or managing in the OHL.

Seems like a little bit of a conflict on interest, no? The NHL knows this and still put him on the game. Be prepared to be furious at every call, Leafs fans. Steve Dangle says it right: It’s prison rules tonight.

Big fist pump from Prison Rules Paul for this one 🤪 https://t.co/btMMw8QwcV

— Steve “Dangle” Glynn (@Steve_Dangle) May 7, 2023