Toronto Maple Leafs GM John Ferguson gets mightily exercised during a game. So do most NHL GMs, although Ferguson is a little more active than most.

He might be getting an invoice from the Ottawa Senators after his histrionics at Thursday’s game between the Leafs and the Sens. Ferguson got so angry with the work of referees Eric Furlatt and Chris Rooney that he alternated between shouted oaths and pounding on the wall of his booth in the press box.

By the end of the game the referees had disallowed a Leaf goal and made a dubious penalty call on Leaf forward Chad Kilger, which led to the winning Senators goal. Also by the end of the game, the drywall on the outside of Ferguson’s box had been kicked about two inches out from the studs.

This may be a little unusual, but Ferguson has a long way to go before he can match his late father, John Sr., or another legendary hothead, former St. Louis Blues GM Ron Caron.

I will always remember the first game I covered at the old Winnipeg Arena. The press box there was split into many tiny booths so you did not know who was sitting near you except for about two people on either side.

The puck was still sliding down the ice after the opening faceoff when a booming voice ripped into referee Greg Madill. Madill was known for his enormous pot belly and was regarded by some in need improvement as a referee.

The voice remained at full volume, cursing Madill in language usually heard on construction sites and loading docks. It could be heard all over the building and mothers down in the front rows must have been covering their children’s ears.

At the end of the first period, overcome by curiosity, I leaned out of my booth and looked to where the noise was coming from. It was John Sr., who by now was calmly sipping a coffee. When the action started again in the second period, so did Fergie.

Caron was almost as loud and he was known to throw the furniture around. Once, former Leafs PR man Bob Stellick asked him to tone it down and Caron challenged him to a fist fight.

As long as his team was not playing a game, Caron was a witty, humourous fellow who had lots of good stories.