Part of fanhood is going through mixed emotions about referees. Sometimes, they're your best friends; other times, you hate them more than the other team's players. I sat down with an NCAA referee about his career and how he truly feels about the calls he makes. Names have been removed for privacy.
The Past
Why did you become a referee?
I initially started officiating in order to get on the ice more, and I thought learning the rules would help me to become a better player. I was only 13 and still playing a lot, so at first I didn't officiate very many games. But as time passed, I do think learning the rules helped me to become a smarter hockey player.
What was your toughest call? Why?
No one particular call stands out, but the toughest calls are always the ones that have a significant impact on the game. That can be whether a goal counts or not, or whether to throw a player out or call a significant penalty at an important juncture in the game. Luckily, as I've officiated longer and gained more experience, the ability to process these calls in the heat of the moment has become somewhat easier.
Where is the furthest place you’ve refereed away from your home city?
I spent several years working "full-time" for USA Hockey's Officiating Development Program, which meant I moved away from home and lived in a league sponsored apartment. When you are in that position, you are basically at your supervisor's beck-and-call when it comes to game assignments and where to travel, which meant I logged a lot of miles and visited a lot of cool places. Basically, I've been everywhere across the country, from Alaska, to Texas, to North Dakota, to New Mexico, to New England, to California, to Tennessee, and everywhere in between.
Where is your favorite place to ref?
It can depend. I've been fortunate to officiate in some state-of-the-art professional arenas, as well as college facilities like Penn State's Pegula Ice Arena. But unless they are large crowds, those arenas can feel cavernous and empty for some games, so I actually prefer the smaller arenas that are filled to capacity. Small towns like Aberdeen, SD have arenas that only seat about 1,000 people, but they jam 1,500 people in there, which makes for a great crowd and atmosphere. Johnstown, PA always has a special place in my heart too, since it is so close to where I grew up and has a good mix of large arena atmosphere and small-town feel.
Now
What is your current title?
Currently, I skate for several different minor pro, college, and junior leagues, as well as still skating local youth hockey. I have also gotten more involved in local grassroots officiating in the
Western PA area, serving as a supervisor of officials for USA Hockey in our district.
Do you have another job outside of refereeing?
Since making officiating a full-time gig, I've bounced around several places and jobs, working at a few college recreation departments and scheduling and supervising officials around Pittsburgh. I recently became a certified personal trainer as well, but I still officiate pretty often.
How do you feel when fans yell at you during the games?
For a minor pro, college, and junior games where the fans had to pay to get in, them yelling is part of the job. The players out there are basically playing for a job or a scholarship. In junior hockey, the players are trying to earn one of those two things. Everything is more professional, including the officiating, so it usually doesn't affect what we do. In contrast, in a youth hockey game, the yelling can get out of hand, and is personally one of the aspects of officiating that bothers me the most. Unfortunately we are seeing more and more incidents where parents and spectators have crossed the line when it comes to yelling and behavior, especially towards younger officials, which is very troubling.
How many games do you ref a year?
For minor league, college, and junior games, they typically are on Friday and Saturday nights, so every weekend I'm consistently skating 2-3 of these games. This season usually runs from September through April, so that can be anywhere from 80-120 games depending on the workload. In between I'll typically try to officiate youth and high school games during the week or when I have time on weekends.
What is your ultimate goal when refereeing?
Ultimately, it's to get out of there with as little effect on the game as possible. That doesn't necessarily mean calling no penalties; it's inserting yourself into the game only when you have to. Basically, we want the players to determine the outcome of the game as much as possible. That means our job often requires a little regulation and management, but the ultimate goal is to get in and out without being noticed.
How do you feel about all of the injuries to refs lately?
Hockey is a fast and violent game, and unfortunately injuries happen. I myself have gotten concussions, stitches, and numerous bumps and bruises. It comes with the territory. The only really unfortunate situations are injuries that could have been avoided. It's tough to see friends or colleagues that get hurt or have to miss time due to injury, especially at the upper levels where that is their livelihood.
Future
Where would you like to be in ten years in your career?
At this point in my career, I don't think moving away from home again or going to the NHL is in my future. However, I'd like to keep progressing in some of the leagues I work now, especially when it comes to NCAA hockey. Perhaps working a conference championship or the NCAA tournament would be a lofty goal sometime in the future.
