Follow Paul on Twitter: @paulstewart22
If I had my druthers on what I can do with the rest of my life, it would be to help as many aspiring officials and meet as many interesting people -- from whom I can learn something, and perhaps even teach something -- as I possibly can. Over the last few years, I've had to scale way down on the number of hockey officiating clinics I conduct as well as the number of speaking engagements (both sports and non-sports related) for which I make myself available.
I have missed doing these things, and that's why I am now trying to again fit as many of these engagements as I can into my schedule. Apart from my own upcoming officiating and tryout camp (see below), I have lined up several others, including one on July 25-26 for Blueprint Hockey in Caledon, Ontario, and plan to do more.
I would not do so in competition with USA Hockey and other outlets but rather on a supplementary basis. I view it along similar lines to a golfing enthusiast working with a golf pro to improve his game.
Honestly, every league needs more and better officials. So my motives are not entirely selfless. I want to increase the pool of officials and see who I -- and other assignors -- may wish to hire. I can't guarantee anyone a chance to follow my own path to the NHL (or that of Evgeny Romasko and Mike Mullen, with whom I've worked) but I can say that I can offer constructive coaching and honest feedback. I do not blow smoke when I coach or supervise.
Side note: As an assignor, I do not care who trained someone, where he hails from or who recommended him. If he can do the job, I am glad to use his services. Unfortunately, pettiness, politics and jealousy of peers is one of the realities of this -- and every job. I hope to live to see the day when these walls get torn down in the officiating profession and we can truly say only the cream rises to the top.
In terms of off-ice speaking engagements, these are a lot of fun whether it is for sports organizations, corporate motivational speaking, professional association meetings (I once spoke for a group of 100 lawyers in Toronto, and it was a fascinating experience) or for fellow cancer survivors. In the latter case, I donate my speaker's fee to cancer-related causes.
I am simply someone who loves meeting with people, telling stories and learning from one another. When I'm on the ice, I'm all business. Off the ice, my idea of a good time is meeting people of all walks of life.
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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 an officiating and league discipline consultant 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. 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.