The National Hockey League laid down the hammer on veteran official Tim Peel on Wednesday after he was heard on a hot mic claiming that he was looking to call a penalty on the Nashville Predators.
The league announced that Peel has been removed from working any games now or in the future.
Here is a video of the questionable penalty call -- a tripping penalty on Viktor Arvidsson on Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jon Merrill -- and the a hot mic picking up Peel admitting to looking for a penalty on the Predators.
Peel gets the early dismissal from the NHL, even though he was set to retire after the 2020-21 season. The last game he was set to officiate was scheduled to come on April 24.
The 53-year-old is a veteran official with well-over 1,300 games of NHL experience, while also officiating 90 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Nashville went on to win the game in Detroit, 2-0.