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Last Friday, I attended the funeral of former American Hockey League vice president Gordie Anziano in Springfield, Mass. It was the least I could do as a debt of gratitude to someone who helped me out along the way. As a matter of fact, most every official who made it the NHL over the last quarter century owes a thank you to Gordie.
I attended along with longtime NHL linesman Kevin Collins, current NHL linesman Brian Murphy and longtime Boston Bruins executive Nate Greenberg. We saw current AHL president Dave Andrews, Teddy Shore and a variety of other hockey people. It was a reunion of old friends,and we all held Gordie in the highest of esteem. The funeral home was elegent and beautifully decorated to reflect Gordie's passions and personality.
Over the years, I have often joked that, before I came around, the late Jack Butterfield (longtime AHL president) had a full head of hair and Gordie never smoked. Perhaps I was the one that turned Jack into a cue ball and Gordie into a chimney. I also may have turned Gordie into a better Christian.
To this day, whenever I reach for the phone, I have flashbacks to conversations with my AHL bosses when I was working my way up to the NHL. Many a discussion with Gordie began with, "Jesus H. Christ, Stewy, what have you done this time?!"
All kidding aside, Gordie was a great hockey man and a good person. He was helpful, supportive and a man of his word. Gordie was talkative and friendly, and was adept at being the "good cop," in whom you could confide.
One time, I was working a game in the 1986 Calder Cup Finals. I missed a call that I should have made. When Gordie met with me after the game, he asked me if I had a beer handy.
"No, why?" I asked.
"Well, before you watch that play again, you may want one," he said in his good-natured way.
"Uh oh," I said. "Was it that bad?"
He smiled.
That was Gordie. Even when he was breaking some bad news to you, he had a way of putting you at ease yet he also commanded respect and was straightforward.
When dealing with Gordie on a regular basis, you always looked forward to seeing him. You left in a better mood when you parted ways. That is a gift.
I liked Jack, too. He and Gordie were well-matched to work together, like a good head coach and assistant coach. Both were honorable men with different ways about them. Butterfield was always straight and to the point, but he always had his officials backs if push came to shove.
Jack knew me from my playing days. During my AHL playing days with the Philadelphia Firebirds, I once got fined $850 by the AHL. George Piszek refused to pay my fine. That was a first -- back then teams usually paid fighting-related fines for their players.
I appealed it to Butterfield who said I would get the money back over his dead body. I went to Jack's funeral a few years ago, sitting next to Brian Burke.
No, Jack did not leave me $850 in his will!
Butterfield and Anziano were icons throughout the AHL but especially in Springfield. Formerly associated with the now-defunct Springfield Indians (who relocated several time to become the Worcester IceCats, Peoria Riverman and now, the current incarnation of the Utica Comets), Butterfield and Anziano were instrumental in keeping an AHL franchise in Springfield with the creation of the Falcons.
Both league officials have been honored with banners that the current Springfield Falcons have in their home arena, the MassMutual Center. They are honored alongside the team's retired numbers. It is a fitting tribute.
As for myself and many other officials, players, coaches and other hockey people who dealt with Gordie over the years, he will always be remembered fondly. I will miss him.
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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 Eastern College Athletic Conference (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.
In addition to his blogs for HockeyBuzz every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, Stewart writes a column every Wednesday for the Huffington Post.