Set your alarm clocks for early on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, aspiring officials. At Rodman Arena, starting at 5:45 a.m., you are invited to skate for a nominal $5 fee. I will watch you skate, assist you to be better, plus we will get you signed up to begin reffing. We call it "the Breakfast Club."
Thank you to Rob Barletta, owner of Rodman Arena; Cathy Harrop, Rodman's Boss of Bosses who every Referee's friend at Rodman and Bill Whitfield, GM of Rodman who makes the ice after our early skates. They all, as am I, are interested in bettering the officiating in the game. As a hockey lifer, leaving the game with good officiating is a legacy that is better than Obama Care.
We need officials. You can get ice which will help you both as a Referee and as a player.
Ryan Daisy, the NHL's newest linesmen, trains with us. So does former AHL player Dmitry Antipin, who is going to the NHL Camp for Officiating in Buffalo in two weeks. Likewise Cam Lynch, an ECAC referee who is off to the IIHF Olympic Officiating Camp in the next few days. They all are Breakfast Club alumni.
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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.
Today, Stewart serves as director of hockey officiating for the ECAC.
The longtime referee heads Officiating by Stewart, a consulting, training and evaluation service for officials. Stewart also maintains a busy schedule as a public speaker, fund raiser and master-of-ceremonies for a host of private, corporate and public events. As a non-hockey venture, he is the owner of Lest We Forget.
Blogger •Former NHL Referee • 
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