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At the recent 2014 NHL Draft in Philadelphia, there was a nice moment that occurred in the seventh and final round. The Calgary Flames honored scout Tom "Hawkeye" Webster by acknowledging that the hockey lifer is retiring after 11 years with the team and 50 years in the game at various levels in playing, coaching and scouting.

When Webby's name was announced, every single member of every NHL team delegation rose and gave him a heartfelt standing ovation before he was given the honor of announcing the Flames' final pick. It was one of those moments where team affiliations made no difference. It was a collective thank you from the hockey community and a reminder of how small our world really is.

I was not in Philadelphia but, if I had been, I'd have been on my feet, too. Tom is a sharp hockey man and a quality human being. I played against him in the WHA when I was a member of the Cincinnati Stingers and he was with the New England Whalers. Later, I refereed many games when he was the head coach of the Los Angeles Kings and an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Flyers and the Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes clubs.

I used to have some fun messing with Webby, especially when he was the Kings' head coach. I remember one time when I went over the bench before the game to go over some lineup-related stuff.

I pretended to talk, moving my lips but not actually speaking.

"I didn't catch that," Webster said. "Say that again."

I did it again.

"Stewy, what are you saying?" Webster asked, starting to get flustered.

Now I moved my lips fast and gestured with my arms. Tom stared and frowned.

"Dammit, I can't hear a word you are saying," he said.

By now, the players on the Kings bench caught on. They were all smiling and many broke out laughing.

I leaned in closer to Tom.

"Just kidding," I said.

"You S.O.B.," Webby said, finally breaking into a grin.

Another time, during a pregame, I told enforcer Marty McSorley -- a player with whom I had my share of run-ins over the years -- that he needed to go change his hockey sweater. As was his custom (as well as Rob Ray's), McSorley was wearing an oversized monstrosity designed to slip right off and give him an advantage in a fight. I told him to come back properly uniformed.

A member of LA's starting lineup, McSorley stood on the ice cursing at me before and during the "Star Spangled Banner". He refused to pipe down.

I skated over to the LA bench, directly to Webster.

"Webby, you are going to have to change your starting lineup," I said. "McSorley has a penalty."

"Already?" Tom deadpanned. I then informed him of the reason why I was dispatching McSorley.

Another time with McSorley, the player complained an opponent had pulled his long, frosted hair, which flowed out from the little eggshell Jofa helmet he wore. I hadn't seen the alleged hairpull.

Loud enough LA bench to hear, I said to McSorley, "Well, just look at that hair of yours. I mean, who wouldn't be jealous of a mane like that?"

I never had a confrontation with Webster that was out of the ordinary. Kerry Fraser once did, though. Webster threw a stick on the ice after a penalty call on Larry Robinson. The stick hit Fraser's skates and Webster earned himself a 12-game suspension and $10,000 fine. Not one of Tom's prouder moments, nor was the time he threw a punch from the bench at Calgary's Doug Gilmour.

Most of the time, however, Webby was pretty reserved and studious in observing the game. Standing behind the bench, peering out behind his glasses, he usually kept a low profile. But he was a competitor and could explode from time to time. Such is hockey. He was a good player, good coach and good teacher. Away from the rink, he's always been a gentlemen.

Congratulations for 50 years in our business, Tom. Enjoy your retirement.



Video from Flames.NHL.com

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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.