NHL looking for new Ref Recruits in college/university players

[goalies-r-us]

The Hockey News: Double OT: Double OT: NHL looking for graduating players with interest in officiating

Double OT: NHL looking for graduating players with interest in officiating

Mike Brophy
2008-04-02 12:16:22


The NHL wants YOU!

That is, if you are a graduating college or university hockey player and are interested in trying to climb the ladder to the big leagues – as an official.

Stephen Walkom, the NHL’s senior vice-president and director of officiating, says the league has embarked on a recruiting program aimed at directing players into the world of officiating. A letter was sent to coaches in the NCAA and CIS asking them to suggest strong candidates who might be interested in becoming officials.

In the letter, Walkom says the NHL is looking for players who are athletic, have a strong skating ability, have a strong understanding of the game at a high level, are passionate about the game, are accustomed to having high expectations placed upon them and have a desire to stay involved in the game.

The NHL hopes to attract enough interest from graduating players to hold an introductory seminar soon after the 2007-08 season has concluded.

“We look at all the guys playing university and college hockey who never think about officiating like the tar sands – they are an untapped resource,” Walkom said. “There is a place for them in the game. We can’t guarantee what level they will make it to, but I can guarantee you that USA Hockey and Hockey Canada will welcome these guys into their officiating ranks.”

It isn’t unheard of for players who reached a high level of hockey to become officials upon retiring. Paul Stewart embarked on a successful NHL career as a referee after 65 games in the World Hockey Association and 21 in the NHL as an enforcer. Dean Morton, currently employed by the NHL as a referee, played one game in the NHL with Detroit in 1989-90 (and scored a goal). Kevin Maguire made it to the NHL as a ref after playing 260 big-league games with Buffalo, Philadelphia and Toronto.

Walkom points out current refs Wes McCauley (Michigan State), Dan O’Rourke (Western League, ECHL), Tim Nowak (NCAA Div. II) and Scott Driscoll (Wilfred Laurier) also played at a high level before becoming professional officials.

Walkom says the NHL has turned to college and university coaches for guidance for a very simple reason.

“The coaches know the men of integrity who are in their room and we believe they are probably the best source to go to who can provide us with strong candidates,” he said. “I think what is important is you have a chance to stay in hockey before three or four years go by in the beer league. Players think they’d never want to coach when they were playing, but suddenly after their playing days are over, they find themselves wanting to coach. It’s the same with officiating. They didn’t think about officiating when they were playing, but now it is an option for them.”

Walkom points out officiating positions in the NHL – and at other elite levels – are few, but added there are upwards of 70,000 amateur officiating positions and a lot of fantastic hockey played.

“You might be able to get to a higher level than you got to as a player,” he added.

Entry-level officials in the NHL can earn six figures with senior referees earning more than $200,000 a year. But more than earning good money, Walkom hopes to attract the interest of players who simply want to extend their time in high-level hockey. It may be somebody’s ticket to the NHL who otherwise wouldn’t have made it.

“Nobody playing hockey today grows up wanting to be a referee,” Walkom said. “When you look at guys refereeing in the NHL, those guys all wanted to play in the NHL. But somewhere along the way their skill didn’t take them to the next level. But they still made it to the NHL – as officials. We hope to bring guys in who have a similar experience and background to the guys we have.”

[junior1cats]

Anything might help at this point.

[azdave]

So the guys that have been busting their ass to get to the NHL will now wait while the NHL chooses former player? Every announcement they come up with is dumber than the next. Do former players make great coaches? Gee I wonder if former players will make good refs. How much longer is Bettman going to be allowed to kill this league.

[bc30]

Originally Posted by azdave

So the guys that have been busting their ass to get to the NHL will now wait while the NHL chooses former player? Every announcement they come up with is dumber than the next. Do former players make great coaches? Gee I wonder if former players will make good refs. How much longer is Bettman going to be allowed to kill this league.

No, they are looking for more guys to bust their asses and join the ranks of those in the lower levels - if they do well there they can advance. It's a simple matter of getting the word out to an untapped resource - guys who might have the desire to continue in the game but not know that there is an actual opportunity outside just playing beer league. I'm sure there is a shortage of competent officials at all pro/college levels. The proliferation of minor leagues means the officiating talent is pretty thin.

Nowhere in that article did they suggest anyone was jumping from college player to NHL referee in one step.