My dad often told me -- and my grandfather probably told him -- that an official is only as good as his commitment to the next game he works. He'd say, "Your next assignment is your most important one, so get going and get to that rink."
When I officiated, just as when I played, I viewed any chance to get out on the ice and get paid to do what I loved as a vital opportunity. Sometimes the opportunity arose unexpectedly -- such as when there was a late scratch in the lineup during my playing days or when I was asked to sub for another official during my refereeing career. It was my duty to be ready to go at the asking.
For example, I recall one day during my officiating career, I was at home for a scheduled off-night when the phone rang around 1 p.m.
It was my boss. He asked what I was doing.
"I'm in my dining room, doing paperwork and expenses," I said.
"How fast can you get to Logan and fly to Long Island?" he asked, wanting me to work the front end of a home-and-home set between the Islanders and Bruins. I had already been scheduled to work the return game in Boston.
I told hm my bag was already packed. It was always the first thing I did when I would get home. Take out the wet stuff, wash it, hang the equipment and then after it was dry, repack and leave it by the door.
"How long am I gone for?" I asked. "I'm working Boston and the Islanders game on Thursday."
"Just this game," he said. "[Richard] Trottier is snowed in in Montreal and the flight is delayed. Work tonight and then fly back and do Boston and NYI on Thursday."
I said OK and hung up. I caught the three o'clock shuttle to Logan Airport. I lived in Dorchester at The Baker Chocolate Factory, so I made Logan in 20 minutes. The plane took off about 3:30. It landed at 5 due to air traffic delays. From there, I grabbed a limo from Carey Limo and kept my ref bag in the back seat just in case I needed to change in a hurry.
Fortunately, we got to the Nassau Coliseum at 6:15 p.m. for a 7:05 puck drop: lots of time for a coffee and a stretch. Just as I was set to head out on the ice, Trottier comes running in like Clark Kent looking for a phone booth.
"I can be dressed in three minutes," he said.
"Good for you, Trotts," I replied. "Geez, don't they have the f-in' Weather Channel up there in Montreal? You just cost me a day off and if you think I am not getting credit for this game, you are très imbécile."
We came up with a plan. I told Trotts to get dressed but wait until after the first whistle to come out. At the stoppage, come on out and we'd change on the fly.
All went as planned. After the game, both teams took charters back to Boston for the back except NYI's were going to land at Hanscom while the Bruins landed at Logan. So I jumped on board with the Bruins, sitting at the front with the coaches and trainers.
The next night n Boston, the NYI lost the game. Wouldn't you know that The Islanders knew I flew with the Bruins and Al Arbour made a point of telling me that he knew?
"Yeah Al, I flew with Boston and it had nothing to do with the 'home team' thing," I said. "My car was parked at Logan. Actually, though, that wasn't the deciding factor. You know what was?"
Silence. Arbour just stared at me expectantly.
Affecting my very best Bostonian accent -- which I haven't totally lost in my natural speech but exaggerated here for effect -- I filled the silence by adding, "I heard the Bruins chahtah [charter] was servin' lobstah [lobster] salad and Islandahs were havin' linguini. I like lobstah a lot bettah than pasta."
Al smirked. Our discussion was ovah.
And that's the way it was: Wednesday, one winter day, a long time ago.
************************************************************************ 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 at both the Division 1 and Division 3 levels.
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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