Ron MacLean apologizes for comments about a French referee

CTV Ottawa: CBC host in hot water Terry Marcotte on the outrage, and apology, after CBC host Ron MacLean suggests French-language refs should not work Habs' playoffs games.

Hockey Night in Canada host Ron MacLean is apologizing for remarks he made during game four of the Montreal Canadians - Tampa Bay game in Montreal that caused a firestorm on social media.

During the second period of last night's game 4 MacLean suggested that a french referee should not have worked the game. Many observers took that to mean he felt a french referee gave the Canadians an "edge."  The issue arose after the Lightning coach complained his team lost Game 3 Sunday night because of a bad call from a referee.

Today MacLean was forced to explain. He said he only meant that he would not send an Alberta referee to do a tight  Alberta game, and he would not have had a problem with a  French referee working game 5, 6 or 7. MacLean added it was not his intention to offend anyone...and ”It’s not about French Canadians, certainly not about French, and that’s what I kinda triggered and it’s easy to step into that kind of mistake.”

The Canadians swept the series four straight.