Follow Paul on Twitter: @paulstewart22
I am now back in the United States, where the Frozen Four semifinals will take place tonight in my native Boston. As the director of hockey officiating for the ECAC, a former collegiate hockey player myself, and part of a family that has been deeply involved in scholastic sports at various levels for four generations, college hockey holds a place in my heart that is every bit as strong as my bonds to the professional game.
I wish the best of luck to each of the four Frozen Four finalists: Providence, Omaha, Boston University and North Dakota.
During the plane ride back from Russia, I sat thinking about my dad in conjunction with long-ago college hockey playoffs at Boston Garden. I truly believe that his spirit is hovering around some rink just waiting to flick on the light. At his funeral, there was a piece that was read, "People that we are happy we know." This writing went on to say "We are happier when he arrives than when he leaves."
I was thinking of all the people that I have met that have meant so much to me....my friend, Romeo LeBlanc and his family in Moncton, One of my "best" friends, Uncle Buck, Terry Johnson from Kitchener, Junie O'Brien, Dave Rogerson, Al Bissonnete, Mark Blood, Paul and Margaret Wright, Stu Wickens, Doc Irons, Corky Nichols from Groton School, John McCauley, Frank Udvari, John Ashley, Dutch van Deelan, Lou Maschio, Jack Butterfield and Gordie Anziano from the NHL and AHL Officiating..
All those friends are gone now BUT there are many more. I thought that in my book, as we edit, I might add a bit about some "famous" names that I have actually sat and talked with, had a coffee and a real conversation....not hockey players this time around, that's too easy, but others that you would say..."Ah, come on, Stewy. Really?"
At the risk of being called a name-dropper (frankly, I don't care if you do), here goes: Ted, Rose, Ethel, Joan, Jackie, Joe, Patrick,Teddy Kennedy, Sargent,Eunice and Maria Shriver, Larry Newman, John Havlicek, Sam Jones, KC Jones, Red Auerbach, Bob Cousey, Walter Brown, Tom Heinsohn, Wyc Grousbeck, Tom and Jean Yawkey, Ted Williams, Johnny Pesky, Rich Gedman, Tony Conigliaro, Gino Cappellettil, John Kerry, Tip O'Neil, Speaker John McCormack, Mrs. Vito Genovese, Gennnady Timchenko, Fay Wrey, Katie Couric, Bryant Gumbel, Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell, Judith Light, John Candy, Larry Mann, Paul Newman (during my participation in Slap Shot0, Strother Martin, Mike Ontkean, Jerry Hauser, Gregory Peck, Chief Justice Warren Burger, George Wendt, Mary Hart, Jack Nicholson (at the LA Forum one night, he dissed me and the other officials) Rene Levesque, Dave Gavitt, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Craig Stadler, Nancy Lopez, Ray Knight, Pete Rose (we were good friends at one point in the late 1970s to early 1980s before losing touch), Bob Trumpy, Bobby Riggs, Fred Gwynne, Shania Twain and John McDermott.
Sometimes this kid from Dorchester feels like a real-life Walter Mitty, Zelig and Forrest Gump rolled into one.
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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 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.