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On Friday, our friends and neighbors in the Great White North celebrated Canada Day. Today, of course, is Independence Day here in the United States.

It's a good time to discuss a subject that is near and dear to my heart: the importance of hockey people showing respect both to our own nation and to others.

One of my favorite parts of any hockey game takes place before the opening faceoff is even dropped. I'm talking, of course, about when the players and officials line up and the national anthem is played. Sometimes it is multiple anthems, such as when a Canada-based NHL team plays against a team based in the United States.

This is a time for honoring -- or as our Canadian friends would spell it, honouring -- the freedoms that have come at a very high cost. It's an opportunity to take a minute of perspective on what really matters before we play a game. No matter how "important" the match is, it really is only a game. There will be another one tomorrow and a new season to follow after that.

During my active career, and even off the ice, I always enjoyed signing along with the American and Canadian anthems.

Back in my school days, I was a lead tenor with Glee Club and Choir for my teacher, the late Edward B. Gammons (father of legendary baseball journalist Peter) for 5 years at Groton School: a nice Irish Catholic boy lustily belting out those Episcopalian songs. I also sang lead soprano for St. Thomas Aquinas Choir in JP as a sixth-, seventh- and eighth grader.

Ah, many hats, many passions. I may not have been much of a hockey player or referee, at least according to my critics. So I may have missed my true calling in life: following the tradition of the great Irish tenors to fame and fortune in a realm where strained vocal chords and not knocked-out teeth are a common job hazard.

At any rate, in all seriousness, it bothers me when I see players or officials act like restless five-year-olds when the anthems play. Don't stand there cracking gum. Don't shuffle your feet. Don't start skating away five seconds before it's over.

Show respect. Please.

You see, this behavior filters right on down from the pro level to the junior and kids' hockey levels. Youngsters emulate what they see the pros do. When the pros act bored or disrespectful during the anthem, those at lower levels copy that behavior.

When the pros act courteously and, well, professionally, that is what gets emulated.

This does not just apply to games in North America. I feel the same about the anthem in whatever country the game takes place. When I was in Russia as a KHL consultant, I discussed with then-league president Medvedev a plan to codify an expectation for proper professionalism and respect shown during pre-game anthem time in the KHL and MHL.

The same expectation should also be applied in Sweden's SHL, Finland's Liiga, Switzerland's National League, the Czech or Slovakian Extraliga or wherever. It's not a nationalist issue. It's one of respect and professionalism.

To me, this should just be common sense. Whether you agree or disagree with a nation's politics or political leaders and no matter how anxious you may be to get a game underway, be respectful when the sport you love brings you to that country.


Ultimately, what I've learned from traveling all over the world is that cultures and customs may be different but, fundamentally, people are people and hockey is hockey. By honoring our own countries and showing appropriate respect when we are guests in other countries, we bring honor on ourselves. Respecting the national anthem is both a simple gestures and a reasonable expectation.

Thank you, and happy Independence Day!

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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 serves as director of hockey officiating for the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC).