Follow Paul on Twitter: @paulstewart22
Thank you to everyone who came out to the Prudential Center yesterday for the Legends Charity Game between Team NHL and the Gazprom Export Russian team. There are no losers in these sorts of games, and all proceeds go to support worthy causes.
I have had a tremendous last few days. First I had the chance to visit with my "Brothers in Stripes" and be with my sons McCauley and Maxwell at the Devils-Red Wings game the other night. Last night, I was on the ice referees the Legends Game, all forcCharity and for a little fun, too.
It is sometimes hard to put into words exactly what it means to be to have made a life in hockey.
Teddy Roosevelt once wrote that all the praise "belongs to those that have the courage to go into the center of the arena and perform, not to linger in the shadows."
Within the realm of sports, there is a huge emphasis on winning games. That's understandable. At the professional level, of course, it's a business and teams and athletes are there with victory as their single-minded goal.
It is only later in life that some of us realize that simply being out there participating in the game is the greatest form of victory in and of itself. I got to live the dream and I'm still living it. That is an incredible -- and humbling -- realization.
In sports and life, there are always obstacles to overcome. There's always competition and there's always someone else who is equally or more naturally gifted than you. There are always naysayers and people who take delight in seeing others fail. There are those who try to stand in your way and those who are determined to knock you down. Hockey has always had many great people involved but it has also always had a remorseless and cutthroat side with a lot of casualties.
I never let myself become a casualty. I fought and fought and fought some more, both literally and figuratively. I was strengthened by the care and support of some people who did believe in me along the way, but my path has always been the circuitous one.
The result: I have never taken a day on the ice for granted. Not as a player, not as official and not in my post-NHL career. Every fresh sheet of ice and every chance to pull on the sweater and skate is an opportunity that should be appreciated.
When I stopped playing, I learned something about myself. I suddenly knew, like being in love with someone, I couldn't and didn't want to be anyplace without hockey in my life. After a long, hard look and attempts to "move on with my life" and do other things, I knew my first love was Hockey. I knew I had to get back to the rink. So, I came back as an Official.
After 20 years, that part of my life stopped too. I know I have earned the respect I wanted for doing a good job by giving the game my one hundred percent every game. There is no such thing as giving 110 percent. There is only your absolute best effort to give. Giving 110 percent, in reality, means you are accustomed to giving something less than your all.
I am not done with the game yet. Now, I try to give back to it by helping young Officials all over the world and in many leagues. In my life, I am closer to the end than the beginning, that's a fact that I cannot change.
I have faced that before. I am not afraid.
I will, however, be happy when the time comes and I can take a last spin around the rink, however slow I know that I lived a life that I wanted since I was five years old. Hockey has never been a job. It was my life and my passion.
The best part of it is that I still get the chance to see old friends and make new one ones who share that passion. Last night was one of those nights.
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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.
Stewart is currently working with a co-author on an autobiography.