A Pleasure to Share the Same Ice

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In past blogs, I have talked about some of the best teammates -- both fellow officials and guys who were on the same team in my playing days -- I have ever had. People also ask me about which players I most enjoyed being on the ice with during my career.

I was never in awe of any player from an officiating standpoint. I treated 'em all the same, and gave no "star treatment" in terms of penalty calling or whistling additional penalties if someone crossed the line. That included everyone from Mark Messier (a former Cincinnati Stingers teammate of mine when he was just starting out) to Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux. The same boundaries existed for everyone.

From the standpoint of being a former player who understands just how tough this game really is, however, I greatly appreciated the on-ice talents of the game's superstars. Away from the ice, I was cordial to players I knew but we did not socialize together for obvious reasons. Tomorrow's blog will look at the issue of fraternization. On the ice, though, I appreciated what it treat it was to see these gentlemen at work.

I talked a bit about Scott Stevens yesterday. All I can add is that I would have loved to have him as a teammate if our playing careers had overlapped and if there's one player I wish my sons could embody when they play and interact with teammates, Stevens would be that guy.

Here's a short -- far from complete -- list of other players I felt the most privileged to watch up close:

Ray Bourque: A great leader who had a patience and an understanding of both sides of his and my job. What a skater! He was so strong on his blades. When he left the Bruins, there was a hole in the control of that team's bench and dressing room.

Mark Messier: Mark kept the talk to a minimum and even with just a look could get his message across to me. I consider him a friend besides being a great player. As I said, we were teammates in the WHA. His brother Paul was my teammate, too. Great family. Mark was a complete player: tough, skilled, ultra-competitive, and a true leader.

Wayne Gretzky: I have known him since he was making his pro debut for my buddy Whitey Stapleton's Indianapolis Racers. We had a mutual respect that started from playing against each other. He had a great family background; Phyllis and Walter were wonderful, salt of the earth people and it rubbed off on their kids. Gretz had a respect for the fact that officials are human too. Apart from being a magician with the puck, Wayne was easily the hardest worker I ever saw for a "superstar sphere" player.

Mario Lemieux: We were an acquired taste for each other....as the time went on, I came to understand him. When we both battled cancer, it formed a personal bond that only fellow cancer survivors can truly appreciate. Hockeywise, Mario was easily the most naturally talented player I ever saw in all facets of the game: a sublime combination of skill and strength. People say he was indifferent to defensive play and didn't like physical play but when the game was on the line, he could dial those up at will and excel in those areas, too. As a referee, I had to guard against just watching him because he could hypnotize you with all the things he could do on the ice. Over time, I learned he is real class guy and a man of his word. Oh, and he's a good golfer too.

Joe Sakic: I was always impressed with his guts. He wasn't big but he never threw snow. He skated and went to traffic with fearlessness. A class guy when we had to talk and a real winner overall. He let his play do the talking.

Jaromir Jagr: My admiration for Jags has only grown over the years but I always felt he was misunderstood even in his younger years. Apart from being one of the most skilled and freakishly strong players ever to play the game, he has a fanatical devotion to his craft. He thinks outside the box and has a high intellect, both on and off the ice. People judged him too much by his flamboyant appearance and brashness when he was young. He was always a good guy at heart as well as a tremendous hockey talent.

There were many others I could add to this list, but these are the absolute cream of the crop.

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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.