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Having been accidentally and accidentally-on-purpose struck by flipped pucks, checked, elbowed, kneed and high-sticked by players as they skated past me, I can tell you it isn't fun. Under the rulebook, the official is basically part of the playing surface but he isn't the invisible man. There needs to be a mutual respect factor when the official is in a vulnerable spot.
Officials also need to use common sense and know how to protect themselves. There is no extra hazard pay for getting steamrolled and dangerous situations arise -- for both the official and the player -- when evasive action is needed but not taken.
I tell my young officials this all the time: Safety comes first. Skate to find open ice, and trust your partners. Also keep in mind that you don't "own" the line. It's part of the playing surface and not your domain. In terms of being struck by pucks, it's common for players to get anxious to get rid of the puck when it's on their stick -- for example, when they see an oncoming forechecker -- and they are not necessarily aware of their surroundings.
Our prime directive as officials is to get the call right. An official sitting on his backside after standing his ground too long is not helping the game. However, I don't blame the officials themselves in most cases, because they are only doing what is misguidedly expected of them by their bosses.
This does NOT strictly refer to the NHL: I'm talking about leagues worldwide and at various levels.
You know who I fault for the fact that officials getting involved in collisions is not nearly as rare as they should be? I blame being handcuffed by protocols created by bosses who have either never officiated at all or have not done so at a high level.
These folks, many of whom do not understand the psychology of officiating and may never have had the physical fitness to relate to the athleticism of most modern officials, do not understand that the aforementioned rules one and two are necessary parts of good officiating. The officials are coached to hold their ground it's too late to take evasive action.
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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.
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.