The annual Nate Greenberg dinner with the same yearly motley cast of characters reconvened last night. We honored our long time friend, former VP of The Bruins who often was the only friendly face we saw on Causeway St.
Personally, everyone at this table deserves a night especially when I reffed. Friendly faces on Causeway and I didn't often collide in the same sentence. Especially when a Gallery God would yell out, "Hey, Stewart! Did they name Athol, Assonet, HyAnus or Marblehead after you?!"
"No, and you have a foul mouth!" I'd respond. Hahaha.
Pictured above clockwise from the left: Chuck Napoli, longtime video goal judge; Arthur Katz, TV Coordinator for visiting team TV; Kevin Collins, US Hockey Hall of Fame linesman extraordinaire; Nate Greenberg, everyone in hockey's friend, former writer and former VP of Public Relations and Special Assistant to Harry Sinden; Chris "Chicka" Rooney, South Boston native and longtime NHL referee; yours truly, retired journeyman WHA/NHL enforcer; Brian Murphy, prolific NHL linesman, former Bob's Big Boy and future U.S. Hockey Hall of Famer; and Mike Noeth, retired NHL referee, former roomie to one Paul Stewart and, after he survived that, officiating supervisor.
As Nate has said, I don't think we miss the games as much as we miss seeing the people in the game."
That's exactly right. I am proud to call each and every one of these men -- I'd say "gentlemen" but that'd leave a few of those troglodytes out -- a friend. It's always great to catch up.
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A 2018 inductee into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, 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.
Visit Paul's official websites, YaWannaGo.com and Officiating by Stewart
Blogger •Former NHL Referee • 
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