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Eight Promising Signs for Good of the Game |
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Follow Paul on Twitter: @paulstewart22
I have never been shy about voicing my issues of concern i today's game. At the same time, I think there also needs to be credit given where it is due.
There are many indications in the big-picture growth of the game as a whole and steps taken in the right direction toward eventually developing solutions to areas that need to be addressed.
While the goings on in the National Hockey League filter down to all levels of the game, it equally true that having strong grassroots also benefits the game filtering upwards. Here are seven trends that are moving in a positive direction for the sport as a whole.
1) Hockey is the Ping-Pong Diplomacy of the New Millennium. Some years ago, there were lots of positive stories -- and rightfully so -- about how the Belfast Giants team's fan base and Irish national hockey team were transcending on a small scale what otherwise seemed like unbridgeable political and religious divisions. This year, we had the dramatic unification of the South Korean and North Korean women's hockey teams into one squad. Will there ever be peace between South Korea and North Korea? That remains to be seen over time. But things such as these can be be valuable precursors.
2) A U.S. Olympian and collegiate player who went straight to the NHL thereafter (Ryan Donato) has made an immediate impact in the league during the stretch drive.
3) The USHL continues to be an ever-growing viable source of developing talent. There are USHL players coming in droves into Div 1 college hockey. Meanwhile, USA Hockey's NTDP (National Team Development Program) continues to be a key source of talent for the World Junior Championships at the various age groups, as well as the NHL Draft and straight up to the NHL.
4) We are seeing more development of American-born officials growing significantly across the various national levels and up into the pros.
5) A very positive step here: I have been told that USA Hockey officials will start the registration process earlier in the year to allow officials to work more summer tournaments across the country and over the course of the year add to the pool.
6) We have yet to see it because it's so soon thereafter but I expect that the Team USA women's gold medal in hockey will attract more young women to play, coach and officiate in similar fashion to the growth of men's hockey in the USA after 1980. Katie Guay and Dina Allen are trailblazers for women officials.In fact, Katie is one of the most technically flawless skaters -- male or female -- who is either officiating or play the game at any level.
7) On the Arenavision screen in Philadelphia recently, there has been a USA-Hockey produced video starring Philly native longtime NHL referee Ian Walsh geared toward recruiting people to try out officiating as the former Junior Flyers player himself did and eventually worked his way up to the NHL.
8) Regular readers of my blog know that I hope to see more former players consider officiating as a potential path for staying in the game. Tonight, former Florida Panthers draft pick Corey Syvret will make his NHL refereeing debut. Here's wishing him the best of success and that he helps inspire others. As I can personally attest, it's a long road and a lot of adjustments -- the challenge isn't right for everyone -- but it's also very rewarding.
To me these are signs of inspiration and progress to the future of our sport. They may seem like little steps for now but they will add up to giant steps over time. I predict that the impact will be significant as we adjust to changing times, styles in the game and the massive growth of Hockey and in USA Hockey at all levels and in all areas of our country.
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Paul Stewart holds the distinction of being the first U.S.-born citizen to make it to the NHL as both a player and referee. On March 15, 2003, he became the first American-born referee to officiate in 1,000 NHL games.
Blogger •Former NHL Referee • 
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