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Players -- and coaches -- are responsible for the actions they initiate, regardless of when it happens. If you commit a serious foul during warmup, you can be suspended for it. It can be after the period or even after the game. It doesn't matter.

As a rule of thumb, most officials hate making calls they feel could affect the outcome of the game. I understand, and agree with this to an extent. However, that leeway ends when it comes to overlooking actions that should be penalized regardless of when they occur. That includes things such as deliberate stalling and delaying tactics, whether it is in the first period or late in a game.

For example: When you look at the rulebook, when a team puts too many men on the ice intentionally as a tactical move, there is a specific remedy in the form of awarding a penalty shot. Not every ref wants to make such a call but when you decide NOT to do, you are proving the old saying that to take no action IS an action. You actually are affecting the game by giving endless leeway.

In more general terms, when you are supervising a game and see excessive "swallowing the whistle" when there are clear cut whistles need, you have to ask the ref "Did the rule get taken out of the book?"

Listen, you are not going to make friends in this job. Bill Dineen once said of coaching that the key is to keep the players who don't like you away from the ones who do. It's somewhat similar in officiating, except, well, no one likes you for 60 minutes. It is what it is.

To be an official with moxie, you have to take an attitude of "I don't care what you think of me. I serve the game, not you."

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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.

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