Peter Forsberg isn't happy about Canadian refs working the gold medal game: 'What a f---ing joke'

Two-time Olympic gold medal winner, Stanley Cup winner and IIHF Hall of Fame inductee Peter Forsberg criticized the composition of the on-ice officiating team assigned to referee Sunday's gold medal game between Canada and Sweden.

The game will be called by American Brad Meier and Canadian Kelly Sutherland, while a pair of Canadians in Greg Devorski and Derek Amell will serve as linesmen.

"What a f---ing joke!" was Forsberg’s response to the North American slant of the officiating team, per Dave Feschuk of the Toronto Star. Added Forsberg in a text message to Aftonbladet (via google translate): "Comedy at the highest level."

Swedish skaters and coaches didn't share Peter Forsberg's outrage. "We are accustomed to American and Canadian referees. We know what standards they have, so I think it's easier for us," Team Sweden captain Niklas Kronwall opined (via google translate).

According to the IIHF, their referee selection process on their website, it has nothing to do with nationality:

"14 referees and 14 linesmen received the assignment for the Olympic men’s ice hockey tournament in Sochi 2014. Half of them are from the NHL, the other half consist of top IIHF officials.

During the tournament the officials have been evaluated by officiating managers including Konstantin Komissarov (IIHF) and Terry Gregson, former Head of Officiating for the National Hockey League, and six others (four IIHF, three NHL). The process by which the officiating crews are selected for the playoff round is determined by their performance in the preliminary round. For the medal games, the officials chosen were judged to deserve these assignments based on their performance in the playoff round.

And anyway, when you consider the persistent iffy quality of the hockey refereeing at the Olympic men's hockey tournament thus far; it's very probably a good thing that NHL referees are calling the gold medal contest.