Don Koharski Don Koharski ( born December 2 , 1955 , in Dartmouth , Nova Scotia , Canada ) is a retired professional ice hockey referee in the National Hockey League . He currently resides in Tampa , Florida , with his wife , together with whom he has two sons . Since the 1994 – 95 NHL season , he has worn uniform number 12 , and , since the 1987 – 88 NHL season , he has been wearing a helmet while refereeing NHL games . Officiating career . Koharski began his officiating career in the World Hockey Association in 1975 , as a 19 - year - old linesman . ( He is the final player or official from the WHA to be involved in professional hockey in an on - ice capacity . ) In 1976 , he was signed by the American Hockey League while working with a local dairy farm , for which he was milking cows . He began his NHL career 1977 , as a linesman , before moving to the referee role in 1980 . Entering the 2005 – 06 season , Koharski had officiated over 1 , 400 regular season games , 235 playoff games , eleven Stanley Cup Finals , two All - Star Games , two Canada Cups , and the 2004 World Cup . He was the league ' s second - most senior official , behind only referee Kerry Fraser . On April 8 , 2006 , Koharski reached the 1 , 500 - regular - season - game milestone when he officiated a game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Tampa Bay Lightning . During the NHL player lockout of 2004 – 05 , Koharski officiated a charity game between former players from the United Hockey League , as part of their All - Star Game festivities . On March 24 , 2009 , it was announced that Koharski will retire as an NHL referee at the end of the 2008 – 09 NHL season ; however , he will stay on with the NHL in a supervisory or instructional position . 1988 Stanley Cup incident . Koharski is perhaps best known for an incident that occurred following a 1988 playoff game between the Boston Bruins and the New Jersey Devils . New Jersey coach Jim Schoenfeld was infuriated with Koharski ’ s performance and waited for him in the hallway near the officials ’ dressing room . Koharski fell , but believed Schoenfeld had pushed him . Koharski yelled several times after Schoenfeld " You ' re done " , implying that he would be suspended over the incident , and said he hoped the incident was on tape . Schoenfeld responded by yelling in Koharski ' s direction , " Good , because you fell , you fat pig ! Have another doughnut ! Have another doughnut ! " ( A videotape of this incident recorded by WABC - TV has become part of sports television lore ever since , usually when discussing coaches losing their tempers . ) The NHL responded by suspending Schoenfeld , but the Devils took legal action and were granted a court order staying the suspension . The National Hockey League Officials ' Association stood with Koharski ; its members said they would not take the ice in the next game between the Devils and the Bruins if Schoenfeld was allowed to coach . This resulted in the NHL being forced to use low - level replacement officials for the game , with the two linesmen wearing Devils - coloured long pants ( at the time , green pants with red - and - white stripes ) , along with white helmets and yellow practice jerseys over their street clothes .