Follow Paul on Twitter: @paulstewart22
This is a call to arms or, rather, whistles: We need more people to try hockey officiating. I am constantly suggesting to former pro, collegiate and junior to players to come give it a try. If not for the money, do it for the chance to stay on the ice, stay in the game and contribute something positive in a place where we all love to be.
There are some of us who have been pros both in the playing and officiating realms. I did it. So did current NHL referees Dean Morton (a former defenseman who played one game in the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings) and Wes McCauley (drafted by the Red Wings in the 1990 draft and played minor league hockey until the mid 1990s). Likewise, rookie NHL referee Evgeny Romasko was a player in Russia before embarking on his officiating career.
Maybe you played collegiate hockey. You didn't get to the Olympics and the pro league is not there for you. Come give officiating a try.
In the ECAC, we need linesmen and referees. In the ISL, we need linesmen and referees. You name the league, and need officials. We need women officials, too. We will have an open tryout for the ECAC in June at Rodman and for the ISL, Chowder Cups, KHL, VHL and MHL.
Hey, that's a whole lot of 'HLs. So what the L, might as well try. We'll get you going somewhere.
By the way, the jump from working the lines to reffing is a small one if that's where your ultimate interests lay: Gain experience, gain acceptability, gain familiarity with the players and coaches.
I see players who finish college or high school and then skate a few nights a week in a beer league. That's all well and good, but you pay to be there. Come out and give officiating a try. We will pay you.
Something else that I can't explain verbally but you'll experience once you get going reffing or lining games: It's a satisfaction in the game that you can never get playing or coaching.
Get hold of me. I cannot make any promises that you will make the pros or officiate in the Olympics but you never know what the future may hold if you have the conditioning, the right mental makeup and the work ethic, Ask Mike Mullen, Matt Brady, Ryan Knapp, or Evgeny Romasko.
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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.