Follow Paul on Twitter: @paulstewart22
I have been having a great time in Davos, Switzerland, taking part in the
hockey events overlapping with the World Economic Forum, including the charity outdoor Old Timers' Game. I have had the opportunity to room with Czech hockey legend Milan Novy, who was one of the greats of European and international hockey before the fall of communism in the former Czechoslovakia.
Nowadays, Old Timers' games are called Legends' Games. Cue the George Carlin routines on the softening of language to mask the fact that we're a bunch of old guys skating. Fair enough. But Milan, who comes from the same industrial town as Jaromir Jagr and a host of other Czech greats, is a genuine legend. Apart from his tremendous international accomplishments, he would have been an NHL star, too, had he been born a few years later.
As for myself, well, some have said I'm a legend in my own mind. Does that count? In all seriousness, though, I am honored to take part in the event.
First of all, as long as I keep skating, I'm a happy man. Secondly, I have always believed in my heart that hockey -- and sport in general -- is an international language that transcends barriers in amazing ways. Among others, I've been on the ice here in Davos with the president of Tartarstan, the deputy prime minister of Russia and CEOs from a host of multi-national corporations. Somehow, this ne'er do well Boston kid from Jamaica Plain is in the middle of this wearing a striped shirt.
Here is a picture of all of us on the ice:
Tomorrow, I will have the honor of being interviewed on CNN by Nina Dos Santos. I'm looking forward to it.
Coming up tomorrow on HockeyBuzz, I have a special Wayne Gretzky blog planned. This weekend, The Great One will celebrate his 53rd birthday. I have been close with Wayne's father, Walter, for many years and I've known Wayne ever since he was a 17-year-old on the WHA's Indianapolis Racers and I was playing for the Cincinnati Stingers. We've had an interesting relationship over the years, with a lot of twists and turns as we've changed locales and uniforms, and I hope you will get a kick out of the retelling.
In the meantime, keep all those message board and PM questions and comments coming. I love the interaction with my readers, and your input definitely helps shape the topics that I blog about here for HockeyBuzz.
I will close for today by passing along a special message left to me via PM by regular reader Stripes77, who himself knows what it's like to be an official: "I'm sure you are aware but Murph is hanging them up at least in the American League. Feburary 8th at the First Niagara center in Buffalo Rochester is playing and it's Murph's last game. Not one for big fan fare Murph that is but us local guys that have worked high school for him and college with him are trying to spread the word to get out and support him in his last game."
Consider it done, my friend. Be back tomorrow.
************
Recent Blogs by Paul Stewart
A Hole in the Replay Rules: The Safety Netting Goal
Dinosaurs, Giants and the Vancouver Pillow Fight
Rambunctious Fans and Rogue Zamboni Drivers
Penalty Shot Mania Runnin' Wild (or Not?)
Slew Footing, Match Penalties and Aggressors
Making Friends in Bratislava
************
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.
Today, Stewart is an officiating and league discipline consultant for the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) and serves as director of hockey officiating for the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC).
The longtime referee heads Officiating by Stewart, a consulting, training and evaluation service for officials, while also maintaining 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.
Stewart is currently working with a co-author on an autobiography.
Blogger •Former NHL Referee • 
Join the Discussion:
»