On April 4, 1994 Mario Lemieux almost attacked the referee (Kerry Fraser). But were held back by his teammates.

The National Hockey League fined Pittsburgh Penguins superstar center Mario Lemieux $500 for leaving the penalty box to charge a referee during Monday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The fine was announced by NHL Senior Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations Brian Burke. The fine is the maximum amount allowed under the collective bargaining agreement. He was not suspended because he had no prior history of discipline by the league and the fact that there was no contact made with the official. Lemieux threw his stick onto the ice from the penalty box to protest a high-sticking penalty assessed by referee Kerry Fraser at 18:59 of the first period. When Fraser added a game misconduct for Lemieux's outburst, the Penguin center charged out of the penalty box after Fraser, but was intercepted by several teammates. It was only the third time Lemieux has been assessed a game misconduct penalty in his 596-game National Hockey League career. 'While this conduct cannot and will not be tolerated, under the circumstances, as I have reviewed them, the referee made the appropriate call and supplementary discipline in the form of a suspension would be excessive,' Burke said. submitted by /u/Tracypop [link] [comments]