One of the most frequently asked questions I have gotten since starting to do these blogs is about my views on the two-referee system and whether I think hockey would be better off adopting an officiating crew system similar the way baseball has umpiring crews that work together all season.
I will answer the second question first. While I understand the reason for the suggestion that pairs of referees and linesmen work as units all season, I would not be in favor of such a system.
The argument in favor of the "four-man crews" is that it would provide the opportunity for the referees and linesmen to get in optimal synch with one another; communication-wise and in terms of positional support. While this sounds like a good idea in theory, I do not think it would work from a practical standpoint. Two reasons:
1) Having different referees and linesmen work with each other throughout the season enables officials to familiarize themselves with working with colleagues of different styles and personalities. With the way that playoff assignments are handled -- including in baseball, where the regular season umpiring crews are not kept intact -- it is important that the officials work with a variety of different partners during the season.
Think of it in terms of how hockey teams themselves work. Are the same line combinations and defense pairs kept intact the entire year by the coach? No. There are changes throughout the year.
Players have to learn to work with different linemates. For instance, Steven Stamkos has to be able to work equally well with a small finesse player like Martin St. Louis on his line or a big power forward like Ryan Malone.
It's a bit like that with officials, too. There are different skating styles, different views on rules interpretation, more laid back and more intense personalities. As a referee or linesman, you have to be able to adapt to whomever you work with in a given game. It is easier to do so when you work with a variety of partners.
2) My experience is that there's a "familiarity breeds contempt" effect when officials and teams see each other too frequently during a given season. Hockey is a very emotional game, and officials are only human. Think of how division rival teams that play each other regularly are more likely to have carryover emotions that bubble to the surface more than interconference teams that play each other much less often.
As far as the two-man referee system goes, I never had a problem with it when I was refereeing. There were adjustments involved, and definitely takes teamwork and strong communication to make it work properly. As I see it, though, that's just part of the game. Believe me, there are times where you appreciate having backup.
A good officiating team communicates about their observations before and throughout the game: Positional assignments and "scouting reports" get discussed before the game. During intermissions, one official may share with his teammates things he's picked up on during play such as behind-the-play shenanigans.
While officials are on the ice, it is critical that members of the team support one another. The number one objective is to make the right call. But it is also extremely important to back up one another when things get heated on the ice.
Are there times where officiating teams get peeved at each other? Absolutely. But those discussions have to be kept out of sight and earshot of the teams and fans.
To illustrate I'll share a story with you from my own career after the adoption of the two-referee system. I was working a game with a much younger, less experienced referee. He was a little over-eager to assert himself, and he was calling the game differently from the direction where it should have gone.
Finally, there was a minimal obstruction play on my portion of the ice. I had a good look at it and let play continue. At the same time, my partner referee -- from way behind the play -- put his arm in the air to signal a delayed penalty.
The penalized team's bench squawked and the penalized player tried to plead his case. I actually couldn't blame them. It shouldn't have been a penalty. Nevertheless, I had to back up my partner, and we weren't about to change the call.
"Get in the box!" I ordered.
Privately, I had a discussion with the other referee.
"Did you think I lost a contact lens?" I asked him. "Did it roll up in my eye? Are my eyes bloodshot? Is my balance off?"
Not catching my drift, my partner referee said, "No, why?"
"Because that was my call to make," I said. "I saw it all the way, so I want to know why you, from all the way over there, think you saw something I didn't."
"Don't be that way, Stewy," he protested. "I saw a hook, and I called it."
"Yeah, well, even if there was a hook, I don't want it called from where you were. It's one thing if it happens out of my line of sight. It's something totally different if it's on my side and I see the play right in front of me but you make the call anyway. That can't happen," I said.
"OK, point taken," he said. "I won't do that again."
Once we hashed it out, things went much better thereafter.
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Coming tomorrow, I will pay tribute to a man who was a great influence on me in both my playing and officiating career: the late, great Fred Shero. I learned so much from the Broad Street Bullies' coach that I apply even to this day. His induction next Monday into the Hockey Hall of Fame is a long overdue honor.
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Recent Blogs by Paul Stewart
Unsafe at Any Speed: Hockey Equipment and Concussions
Defending Teammates, the Code and the Human Rulebook
Emery and the Aggressor Rule (Rule 46.2)
Hockey Fights Cancer: My Story
Delay of Game: Good Intentions, Bad Rules
Too Many Mississippis: The Hanzal Suspension
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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 only American-born referee to officiate in 1,000 NHL games.
Today, Stewart is a judicial 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 • 
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