Follow Paul on Twitter: @paulstewart22
Spaceba, one and all. Most of the time when I am traversing the hockey world across Europe and North America, I do it alone. This year, I had the opportunity to bring my wife and two sons with me to Russia. Here we are at Red Square. We went to visit Lenin, but much like Wally World, he was closed that day. However, I have it on good authority that Lenin is still embalmed.
At any rate, while we were walking around Red Square, I pondered an idea I have been turning over in my head for awhile: Why not take the NHL All-Star game overseas? What a magnificent setting Red Square (which has previously been a venue for special games) would be for an NHL vs. KHL game with a winner takes all purse and a big portion of the proceeds going to a children's charity such as the Ronald McDonald Houses in the U.S., Canada and Russia.
Let's face it: Regardless of league, All-Star Games tend to be terrible. It would be neat to see a return to the old-fashioned format of pitting the defending Stanley Cup champions against an team of NHL All-Stars -- back when there was actual checking, defense and coaching -- but that is not going to happen.
So why not try something different since East vs. West, World vs. North America and "fantasy draft" teams have not provided much entertainment value. Let's move the game to where there will be a crowd with a rooting interest and something at stake that also supports a good cause.
Da Hockey, Nyet Politics; That's my proposal to both Leagues, both Players Associations. Do something for the fans of the game around the world.
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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 is the chairman of the officiating and discipline committee for the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) and serves as director of hockey officiating for the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC).
The longtime referee heads Officiating by Stewart, a consulting, training and evaluation service for officials, while also maintaining 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.
Stewart is currently working with a co-author on an autobiography.