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As an NHL referee, I officiated dozens of games at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. I like to say I was the second most-popular person in the arena whenever I appeared, with everyone else tied for first. Such is the life of an official.
Longtime Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch was a kindly man, and we got along well. He once told me that he got a kick out of my banter with one of his friends who was a guest at a game. I was saddened when Mr. Ilitch passed away earlier this year.
Back in my playing days, I played at Joe Louis arena during its first season, 1979-80. As a member of the visiting Quebec Nordiques, we played there shortly after the arena opened for hockey midway through the season. Somehow, they'd only just gotten around to painting the visiting locker room. The fumes were strong.
Actually, I also played in the final game ever held at the venerable Olympia on Grand River Avenue. The Nordiques and Red Wings played to a 4-4 tie on Dec. 15, 1979. It was my second time playing in the arena. The first was during my college days.
Shortly after Christmas in 1975, the University of Pennsylvania's Quakers participated in the Great Lakes Invitational tournament at the Olympia and also saw a Red Wings game. My most vivid memory of the tourney, apart from us finishing last after losses to Michigan (7-6) and Boston University (4-2), was staying at a Howard Johnson's in Detroit and getting into a fight with an opposing players; a goalie.
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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.