Paul Stewart: Officiating Teams and the Two-Man Ref System

Paul Stewart: Officiating Teams and the Two-Man Ref System
- Paul Stewart

Very interesting read. I have issues with the two ref system at times. Especially when you have a good ref that seems to understand how the game flows and a guy like Chris Lee, who is very active and calls a tight game with little feel for the flow.

The key remains consistency. Fans don't get as upset when the refs call an even game. If you let something go for one team, let it go for another. If it's called tight early, make sure the whistles don't get put away late.

Very interesting read. I have issues with the two ref system at times. Especially when you have a good ref that seems to understand how the game flows and a guy like Chris Lee, who is very active and calls a tight game with little feel for the flow.

The key remains consistency. Fans don't get as upset when the refs call an even game. If you let something go for one team, let it go for another. If it's called tight early, make sure the whistles don't get put away late.
- Jsaquella

This is my biggest issue. If it is a penalty in regular season game #51 in the 1st period of a 0-0 tie, it should be a penalty in the third peiod of a game 7.

Paul, would you be able to shed some insight on that, and the difference between the two I mentioned above?

Good read, and I understand your points for sure.

I was one of the ones who asked you to write this blog. I honestly thought, now that you are out of the game, that you would rip into the 2 head ref system. I was surprised to learn that you are on board with it.

The only thing I wonder is the example you gave at the end of your article where you talk about the other ref calling a penalty from miles away. Maybe in your experience it only happened once or twice, but I seem to see this happen quite often.

There is a play in the offensive end and the ref standing right there lets it go. Then you see the guy way behind the play (stationed near center ice) call it. Those are the ones that frustrate me as a fan.

Great read and nice Don Van Massengill story.

Thanks for answering my two questions, Stewie. Good points all.


The "Third" Team

That's my biggest gripe with the referee's these days. A lot of games seems like they are called different period to period, one end vs. the other end, etc.

I don't care if they let them play, or if they call every little thing. The refs just need to figure out which way they want to go so they can both be consistent about it.

Tremendous respect for you as a ref, but I must say that the last 4 years of officiating have been absolutely atrocious. No consistenticy, too many missed calls with chinch make up calls that ruin the game, and goals called on the ice from the guy 5 feet away then overturned by the guy 60 feet away. These guys aren't confident and don't have the smarts (guys) to make the right calls. I hope it gets better or else we are going to lose the US fans again (they think it's fixed like wrestling because of the rules and then the actual calls). Anyhoo, always good to hear from refs.

Paul what are your thoughts on possibly adding a challenge system similar to the nfl? Do you think it could work for hockey and if it was implemented would it make the refs job any easier or would it just complicate things ?