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It is always fun to answer the questions that readers send me here at HockeyBuzz. I got this one last month from Kevin Ellis of Buffalo, NY: "Paul, did you have have any special rituals you followed on game days, either as a player or referee? Also, how did you get the nickname Stew Cat?"

Like many players and officials, I usually followed a similar routine on game nights in the I would put on my equipment and prepare for the game. As a referee, at least I knew I'd actually get on the ice and be part of the game that night! There were many times during my pro playing days where I'd dress for the game but never get to skate a shift.

I also had rituals tied to visiting certain cities. When I worked a game in New York, I used to love to ride into NY on the train whenever I was coming up from Philly, Washington or down from Boston or Hartford. Riding the rails, I'd press my face pressed against the glass, feel the pulse of the city and then it all seemed to freeze in a giant pause when it became time to walk off the train into Penn Station just under Madison Square Garden.

Many hockey people had rituals in the game. Think of Ron Hextall rhythmically tapping the posts like a magician trying to get the rabbit out of the hat. Think of Ray Bourque having to be the last one to touch the goalie's pads before the start of the game. Actually, one night, Ray and Paul Coffey started a game when they were the last players on the ice and we had to finally switch the starters because they both kept circling the net trying to be the last to touch the goalie!

Anyway, getting back to my NYC travel ritual, my routine when going into Madison Square was to walk across or down 7th Ave from my Hotel, across the street at The Penta (formerly the Hotel Pennsylvania) or The Marriott Marquis in Times Square. I used to always go to get a shoe shine on a side street shoe repair shop on 35th across from Macy's then amble into the Garden with two large coffees. One coffee was for me, and the other was for Mike Cosby. We'd drink them sitting in Gerry Cosby's Sporting Goods, remembering all the fun we have had in our lives.

We'd laugh and talk about people we knew in common, including Tom "The Bomb" Barnwell, a friend to all and a long time trusted employee of Cosby's and my pal Fuzzy the bagel King from down in Penn Station who turned up at almost every game I ever worked in the Rangers, Islanders, Devils home game gauntlet. Mike and I would shoot the breeze until it got to be five minutes before six o' clock.

At that exact time, I would go up the stairs then up the ramp, right though the front doors of Madison Square Garden. Once inside MSG, I'd go up the escalator, down the hall across from the Rangers' room and say hello to the trainers. After that, I'd tamble out to the bench to kibitz with the stick boy, wave to Sam Rosen and John Davidson, say hello to Kenny Albert (it used to be Marv). I'd great Chief Ryan, our dear friend from the NYPD, and then pay a visit to Officer McDonald, wwas a fixture in the Zamboni pit.

Finally, I would go into the Officials' room, stretch, dress and go out to the lights and the music, the Hockey on Broadway.

For other NHL cities, I had other routines. As an alum of the University of Pennsylvania and a former Philadelphia Firebirds player, Philly was another stop I enjoyed. Playing there was a challenge and reffing there was even more of a challenge but I have always enjoyed a challenge. The Philly people liked the way I reffed -- until a call went against their team, of course. They had long memories, too.

When I worked a game in Philly, I used to walk down that ramp and think of Tennyson's Charge of the Light Brigade: "Into the Valley of Death rode the 600." After a game in Philly, I'd be off to Downey's for some oysters and a beer or two. I also made the cheesesteak rounds and despite locals' insistence that the place is "overrated" compared to others, I was partial to Pat's for my steak wid Whizz.

Shhh! Nobody tell Gary Bettman this, but I would have paid HIM for the privilege to be part of the NHL lifestyle. I just loved that part of my life and all my friends. Oh, and Mr. Snider still owes me the brick from the Spectrum he promised me.

As for the second part of the question about how I got the nickname Stew Cat, another reader asked me the same question a few months ago: Here's the story for those who missed it.

Speaking of nicknames, did you know that when Chris Pronger was a young player with the Hartford Whalers, he was nicknamed Cornflakes?

The late Brad McCrimmon and I teased the rookie about being a 6-foot-5 guy whose skates looked like they were for a kid. We marveled at how such a big person could have such small feet.

Brad continued, "Ever see the way he passes the puck? It's like the way cornflakes come out of the box. All sorts of fluttery."

From then on, when I would see Pronger I'd say, "How's it goin', Cornflakes?"

There aren't too many people who could get away with calling the famously truculent defenseman by the nickname Cornflakes. Brad the Beast was one. I was another. Nowadays, though, I'd probably just shake his hand for his Hall of Fame career.

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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. 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.

In addition to his blogs for HockeyBuzz every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, Stewart writes a column every Wednesday for the Huffington Post.