As someone who played an enforcer's role during my playing days, I have always had a certain affinity for the honest tough guys of hockey. In my "Tough Guys vs. Bluff Guys" blog other day, I mentioned mid-1980s to mid-1990s NHL enforcer Todd Ewen as one of the guys whom I never had a problem with and respected for the way they went about their jobs.
He lasted 518 games in the NHL, which is an impressive accomplishment and spoke to his physical and mental toughness. He knew his job and went about it professionally.
Sadly, Todd Ewen passed away on Saturday at the way-too-young age of 49. No cause of death was given but it has been said he took his own life. Until last year, Ewen served as a coach at St. Louis University.
I always liked Todd, although we didn't know each other beyond the context of being on the ice together and sharing a mutual respect. But he was someone I enjoyed chatting with before a game, and he had a good sense of humor about him.
He rarely got much ice time (I knew that plight myself) but he always gave his all and could contribute quality shifts apart from fighting. He had a big heart, on and off the ice. This rough-hewn enforcer from Saskatchewan wrote and illustrated children's books in his spare time. Some folks found that incongruous, even humorous, but it made perfect sense if you interacted even casually with him.
Todd was a journeyman tough guy on the Montreal Canadiens who played on the team during their Stanley Cup season of 1992-93. The club was coached my old Cincinnati and Quebec coach Jacques Demers; another reason I was able to appreciate Todd. If Jacques saw you as a fit on his team, it was a compliment because he knew his stuff.
Ewen only dressed on one playoff game after starting in 75 regular season games. That was enough to qualify for his name on the Cup but he didn't get to take part in the celebration festivities because he was traded to Anaheim over the summer.
When I refereed a game of his the next season, I told him not to feel bad about not getting to bask in the spotlight of his team's Cup win the previous year. Then I said, "I'll get you a standing ovation tonight from the crowd."
"How will you do that?" he said.
"Just wait," I said.
When his team scored its first goal of the game, I told the official scorer the goal belonged to number 36 (Ewen). The crowd jumped to its feet and applauded the rare goal by the proud owner of 36 tallies in his 516 NHL games.
Then I looked over at the bench and winked. He smiled back at me.
Ewen wasn't even on the ice when the goal was scored. I knew that. He knew that. I had to go right back at the next stoppage to correct the scoring in order to credit the right player.
That wasn't the point.
The important thing was the guy got his name called out for something other than a trip to the penalty box, and he got to feel some appreciation from the fans of his team. I knew Todd appreciated it because we always shared a little smile and chuckle about it when I reffed one his games thereafter.
Rest in peace, Todd Ewen. You were one of the guys who reflected the character of our game; tough on the outside, but gentle beneath the surface with an inner drive and heart that made it possible to live out a dream of playing this game at the NHL level.
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.
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.
Blogger •Former NHL Referee • 
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