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As much as I love the stretch drive of the regular season for the drama and intensity of the games, there's always a subtext to all the scrambling that bubble teams do at this time of year. If most of those middle-of-the-pack teams had not given away points earlier in the season, they wouldn't be in a position now where there's no margin for error. The same thing goes for the teams that are now playing for home ice.
If you make it to the postseason, congratulations. If not, well, look in the mirror rather than blaming your coach or the GM making or not making a certain move or the refs for that one call last night. In the end, you didn't take care of the things that were at point within your control.
No referee or linesman in the world thinks that the "fans are paying to see [them] officiate." We get that. We also get that you can't have the game without us and it's our duty to give our utmost to uphold the game. Any official worth a damn knows that there are going to be off nights from time to time when you officiate -- you are human, after all -- but you can't take a night off whether it's November or April.
Let's just say that there are some players who lack that sort of backbone.
Does officiating need to strive for high standards greater consistency? Absolutely. But there is so much going on in hockey: blatant greed, pampered players, unscrupulous agents who seem to get more attention than the honest ones, out-of-control parents, etc. Officials sit and take so much BS all the time with no understanding that we who wear the stripes are human and we do get involved in the game because we have to.
I was a so-so player but I made it to the NHL. No one can take that away from me. I was not a natural as a referee but worked and worked to make myself a good enough one to last 1,010 games in the NHL. No one can take that away, either. Somewhere along the way, I might, just might, have gained a bit of insight about what it takes to last in this game.
I loved being with the greats and near greats. Let's get this straight: I never wanted to be the show. You know what, though? Sometimes, the official becomes the show because the players don't play and are sucking pond water for 60 minutes, dogging it and looking for an excuse to blame for their lack of effort and them not winning.
Guess what, the teams play too many games, the players get paid way too much and the average fan can't afford to get to the games. More players that you might realize have lost their zest for the skating, the hitting and the thrill of being on the ice. So when they are scrambling to get in the playoffs, well, where the hell was that passion earlier this season.
Officials also get that no one really worries or cares about us. The NHL pension plan for officials is a disgrace. There are no headlines or Masterton Trophies for injured officials who persevere to come back, and make it. It doesn't even matter. We do it because we love it.
Anyone wondering these days about how Don Henderson is doing since Dennis Wideman knocked him down with no provocation? Nope, but we're all so happy that some lawyer got career-long blueline mediocrity Dennis Wideman his money back by having his suspension reduced.
If I were still an active official, next time a Wideman type or one of those "professional agitators" who pollute the game nowadays got my face if I was reffing, I wouldn't just walk away. You don't like my officiating, great. Now get out of my face or beware.
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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 serves as director of hockey officiating for the ECAC.
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.