Legends
Former U.S. Open competitor Garrett Rank delivers iconic goal reversal call in Blues-Islanders game
Octavio Passos
Move over, Wes McCauley. There is a new sherriff in town when it comes to hilarious referee announcements in the NHL, and his name is Garrett Rank.
Yes, that Garrett Rank, who golf fans might remember from the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock. Rank, who makes his living as a NHL referee, qualified for the Open that year by shooting 71-71 in a sectional qualifier. The guy can flat out golf his ball.
Rank can also skate and blow the whistle with the best of 'em, too. He has since risen the ... ranks (I'm sorry) and become a head referee in the show, which means he's the one announcing the penalties on the loudspeaker, as well as goal reversal or goal confirmation calls.
Some referees like to have a little fun with those, others play it straight. Normally, I fall on the side of referees needing to do way, way less. We didn't pay to come see you. But Rank absolutely knocked this one out of the park in the St. Louis Blues vs. New York Islanders game on Thursday night:
Perfect. Didn't ham it up too much. Said exactly what the hometown crowd was thinking. He also pulled it out at the correct time - in a 4-0 game where this goal call was going to be irrelevant barring an insane comeback from the Isles. I wouldn't try this in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but in a regular season blowout? Have at it.