How and why do they become referees?
Becoming an NHL referee is a process that involves classroom instruction, seminars, ice time, league certification and experience, membership fees, and having to complete an open book rules exam, much more in-depth than any other professional sport.
So why do people want to become a referee/linesman and voluntarily subject themselves to abuse from every team’s head coach, fans, and the media?
The answer is simple…Hockey, we all love and appreciate the game, sport, and culture of Hockey and it is this passion that drives some of us to teams and leagues to play or officiate with the more passionate ones endeavoring to become professionals.
I used to purchase The Hockey News from a newsstand here in my city back in the late 1980s and I recently submitted my email to be informed when THN will digitize all their back issues to 1947.
During the late 1980s, THN ran an ongoing series observing and keeping their own statistics on the NHL referees, the NHL does not make referee statistics publicly available.
So in that spirit, I will run a similar series on NHL referees for the 2023-24 NHL regular season, and select some but not all referees, and follow them during the season in what could be referred to as an “NHL fantasy referee league”.
My intent is not to mock or drag down an official’s reputation or poke holes in how the NHL officiates their games but to observe and analyze statistically to report on what referees seem to be the most fair and consistent when dishing out punishment.
In the series of THN articles from the late 1980s they declared Kerry Fraser the most fair and consistent official, it is my hope to highlight more referees with similar traits.
Buffalo Winter 
Buffalo Winter, what a really interesting idea and I look forward to your writings on this topic.
Kerry Fraser I have heard of.
The NHL referee whom I have come to dislike (a strong word, I know) is Tim Peel, an ex-NHL referee for many years as well as an All-Star game, the Olympics and the Winter Classics. On social media, following his hockey career, he comes across as an arrogant man.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought THN had a brilliant series of articles and it is my attempt to follow up with one of my own, it is still a work in progress, lol, I have no idea yet how I am supposed to keep track of everything, still organizing.
And oh yes Mr. Peel is a piece of work alright, the Athletic wrote about his suspension back in 2016 and the “hot mic” call about wanting to give a team a penalty deserved or not, but overall it is suggested that most of Mr. Peel’s “missed calls” were done out of protocol that
even THN wrote that the NHL wants penalties called 60-40 for the home team, (I plan on expanding on this in one of the upcoming articles).
As with most people, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely…example Mr. Peel, (who I am sure is probably a decent chap with family and friends).
LikeLike
My husband is a subscriber to THN and he is like a kid in a candy store whenever an issue appears in our mailbox. (Full disclosure: I have been known to read the articles too!)
I renew his subscription every year for his birthday which is December 26 because I am better than him at securing a good deal on the annual home delivery subscription price (and funny enough he readily admits to this fact, lol).
I hope you receive a reply to your email regarding digitization.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Back in 1988 when I initially began purchasing THN it was at a real “newsstand” one of those wooden box like structures similar to a Rockwell painting, it had a permanent spot on a sidewalk, sadly that part of our culture has long past, oh you can still purchase newspapers and magazines at “stores”, but none have the ambiance of newsstands of old, imho.
I was looking for back issues when I found a link proclaiming back digitized issues, (I thought finally), but it was one tab with a space to enter your email and a promise to contact you when the digitization is complete, whenever that will be, lol.
Back in elementary/primary school I would feel bad for the Gentiles whose birthdays were so close to the one birthday where everyone receives gifts, I am a Gentile/ Christian, but I believe that the chosen people were selected to bring us all together in a covenant with God, ( I could be wrong ).
I am hoping for quick response email from THN, lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know what you mean about newsstands and ambiance and agree with you.
Fyi: https://www.blogto.com/city/2013/11/what_newsstands_used_to_look_like_in_toronto/
My husband (who converted when we got married) was raised as a Christian and his Mother always made sure that his Birthday (and his Father’s which on the same date as his) and the Christmas Holiday were treated entirely separate so that as a child he would not feel like he was getting ‘ripped off’.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice link, most of the 1930’s newsstands were similar to the one I frequented, too cool.
Converted, very accommodating, I enjoyed the television program Bridget Loves Bernie in the early 70s that was cancelled after one season even though it was the highest rated show on tv because religious groups could not handle interfaith marriages and pressured CBS similar to today’s cancel culture, sadly enough.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember watching it too but had forgotten the reason for its cancellation.
What a shame.
You’re welcome for the link!
LikeLike