SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. - The Ontario Hockey League has suspended referee Joe Monette for the rest of the season for tweeting after a Friday game: “Soo Saint Marie, two words, Slim Pickens. #noteeth #hicktown #allfaties.”

In announcing the suspension, the league apologized for the offence he might have caused.

“Mr. Monette displayed extremely poor judgment and the tweet not only contravened the league’s social networking policy, but as well was detrimental to the welfare of the league, the officiating staff and fans of the OHL,” league commissioner David E. Branch said in a release Wednesday. “The league apologizes to those that may have been offended by such comments.”

Monette of Windsor, Ont., worked the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds game Friday night against the Windsor Spitfires with fellow referee Ryan Hutchison.

The offensive tweet was posted on his account (@MONZY25) after the game.

Monette was scheduled to work the Greyhounds game the following night against the Oshawa Generals, but was replaced as the league began its investigation.

Greyhounds general manager Kyle Dubas said his staff told him about the tweet Friday night.

“It was an unfortunate thing to be said. But I wasn’t too upset about it,” Dubas said. “We had a hockey game to play. We have other things as an organization to worry about.”

Part of the league social networking policy is that all staff and players “conduct ourselves in a most professional manner,” Branch said in Wednesday’s release.