Is he though? They're not trying to win.
- Hank Balling

who said anything about winning this year

Not sure if this was mentioned already, but I was reading the box score for the Amerk's last night and noticed Justin Kea was one of the refs. After a quick search I confirmed it is the ex-sabres prospect. I found an article about recently hired/promoted NHL/AHL officials and saw that another ex-prospect Jordan Samuels-Thomas was also hired.

Glad to see these guys finding another hockey career path but I also feel like they are only a few years removed from playing and surprised they are already ready to ref pro games. Officiating is a skill much different from playing, I know I could never do it well. Anyone can make calls from their recliner, but on the ice at that speed it's way different.

So I guess my question is for Stripes. Does the NHL encourage former players/prospects to get into officiating? What's your opinion on former players getting officiating opportunities that quickly vs non-player officials who have been working the college/minor league circuits? I would think the official who worked their way up through the officiating ranks would be more skilled?
- Chris16

I think part of the reason we are seeing such spotty officiating is the league is taking guys fresh out of playing and throwing them into pro hockey as officials right away. The NHL has the combine for officials in Buffalo every year, the concept behind it makes complete sense, but instead of these guys going to the SPHL or ECHL (with an experienced partner), they're sending them to the AHL or even some instances the NHL right away.

They need to experience the crap show games, the line brawls, the weird situational things that can happen now and then in crap junior games to help them get the experience on how to handle things as they move up through the ranks.

It is just like hockey players, you want to develop your officials properly. The NHL in my opinion is NOT doing that. This year there was an official whose second game ever officiating at any level was in the NHL. That simply cannot happen.

who said anything about winning this year
- TheSabresTaco

No one. It just seems disingenuous to talk about the value of leadership when the off-season leaders they brought in were Pysyk and Hinostroza.

best case for the sabres, 4th line is asplund, okposo and girgens

that leaves
quinn
krebs
peterka
skinner
tage
olofsson
casey
tuch


room for 1, again if okposo girgens and asplund is your 4th line
- homiedclown

You put Quinn at the top.

You're a good man Homie.

alright boys and girls...

looking for local music tonight preferably downtown area as i'm staying at the marriott...

also, anything going on saturday night i might be interested in?

I think part of the reason we are seeing such spotty officiating is the league is taking guys fresh out of playing and throwing them into pro hockey as officials right away. The NHL has the combine for officials in Buffalo every year, the concept behind it makes complete sense, but instead of these guys going to the SPHL or ECHL (with an experienced partner), they're sending them to the AHL or even some instances the NHL right away.

They need to experience the crap show games, the line brawls, the weird situational things that can happen now and then in crap junior games to help them get the experience on how to handle things as they move up through the ranks.

It is just like hockey players, you want to develop your officials properly. The NHL in my opinion is NOT doing that. This year there was an official whose second game ever officiating at any level was in the NHL. That simply cannot happen.
- Stripes77

Good insight Stripes. Never really hear about the road to the ice for an official.

I think part of the reason we are seeing such spotty officiating is the league is taking guys fresh out of playing and throwing them into pro hockey as officials right away. The NHL has the combine for officials in Buffalo every year, the concept behind it makes complete sense, but instead of these guys going to the SPHL or ECHL (with an experienced partner), they're sending them to the AHL or even some instances the NHL right away.

They need to experience the crap show games, the line brawls, the weird situational things that can happen now and then in crap junior games to help them get the experience on how to handle things as they move up through the ranks.

It is just like hockey players, you want to develop your officials properly. The NHL in my opinion is NOT doing that. This year there was an official whose second game ever officiating at any level was in the NHL. That simply cannot happen.
- Stripes77

Agreed. Thanks for the input.

alright boys and girls...

looking for local music tonight preferably downtown area as i'm staying at the marriott...

also, anything going on saturday night i might be interested in?
- Michael Pachla

7pm vs the Capitals. I'll be there yelling at Eakin again if you want a good show I'm in section 110 behind the net.

I just got tickets to go to Beyond Van Gogh, looked pretty cool if you like artsy stuff. Bit pricey for how long the time slots are though.

Good insight Stripes. Never really hear about the road to the ice for an official.
- RhinoFan

As an American, there are development camps and national camps for officials who are showing promise. After those camps some of those officials are invited into the USA Hockey Officiating Development Program. Those officials work the NAHL and the USHL leagues (sort of like the NTDP Program for 17 and 18 year olds).

Those officials are usually college aged and they put over 30,000 miles a year on the vehicles. I never did the program because I was a late to the party as an official (I started at 22). But I was officiating higher levels of youth hockey my first year and junior hockey my second year. I went to a few camps and was picked up by the the Atlantic League because they liked my speed and most importantly attitude and willingness to learn. So I started officiating college in toward the end of my 2nd year.

I am assuming Hockey Canada has something similar where they take officials to work the major junior leagues.

7pm vs the Capitals. I'll be there yelling at Eakin again if you want a good show I'm in section 110 behind the net.

I just got tickets to go to Beyond Van Gogh, looked pretty cool if you like artsy stuff. Bit pricey for how long the time slots are though.
- RhinoFan

i'll be at the rags game tomorrow night

i'll be at the rags game tomorrow night
- Michael Pachla

I'm sorry


should have bought tickets for the game 75 miles east of there

As an American, there are development camps and national camps for officials who are showing promise. After those camps some of those officials are invited into the USA Hockey Officiating Development Program. Those officials work the NAHL and the USHL leagues (sort of like the NTDP Program for 17 and 18 year olds).

Those officials are usually college aged and they put over 30,000 miles a year on the vehicles. I never did the program because I was a late to the party as an official (I started at 22). But I was officiating higher levels of youth hockey my first year and junior hockey my second year. I went to a few camps and was picked up by the the Atlantic League because they liked my speed and most importantly attitude and willingness to learn. So I started officiating college in toward the end of my 2nd year.

I am assuming Hockey Canada has something similar where they take officials to work the major junior leagues.
- Stripes77

And that seems like a better course. Learn through experience and let the cream rise to the top as they say. That's amazing about the mileage though, had no idea there was that much travel. I assume they're calling guys to go ref a fair distance away if that's the case, not just local rinks.

i'll be at the rags game tomorrow night
- Michael Pachla

There ya go. Everyone hates the empty rink, but there's no lines, parking is a cinch and Eakin can hear me yell at him. What do you think? You been to a bunch of games this year or no?

I'm sorry


should have bought tickets for the game 75 miles east of there
- homiedclown

good point...thought of it after the fact...

*shrugs*

oh well

There ya go. Everyone hates the empty rink, but there's no lines, parking is a cinch and Eakin can hear me yell at him. What do you think? You been to a bunch of games this year or no?
- RhinoFan

haven't been to a game since pre-pandemic

haven't been to a game since pre-pandemic
- Michael Pachla

It's magical. Can't argue at $40 100 level seats either...

There ya go. Everyone hates the empty rink, but there's no lines, parking is a cinch and Eakin can hear me yell at him. What do you think? You been to a bunch of games this year or no?
- RhinoFan

This has meme potential. My recommendation is that at some point during the game, when it's very quiet, you yell "SHOOOOT" while Eakin has the puck in the neutral zone

And that seems like a better course. Learn through experience and let the cream rise to the top as they say. That's amazing about the mileage though, had no idea there was that much travel. I assume they're calling guys to go ref a fair distance away if that's the case, not just local rinks.
- RhinoFan

Even doing just college I would put on 6-8,000 miles on my car per season.

The guys who work the USHL are driving all over the place. It's crazy, but when you're chasing your dream it's worth it.

No one. It just seems disingenuous to talk about the value of leadership when the off-season leaders they brought in were Pysyk and Hinostroza.
- Hank Balling

It’s disingenuous to talk about any of it when the intention is to lose hockey games

This has meme potential. My recommendation is that at some point during the game, when it's very quiet, you yell "SHOOOOT" while Eakin has the puck in the neutral zone
- Hank Balling

I was relentless during the Oilers game and a buddy said they didn't hear anything on the broadcast, but I will try. I'm not sure they will let me in with my megaphone.

It’s disingenuous to talk about any of it when the intention is to lose hockey games
- sbroads24

Agreed

Even doing just college I would put on 6-8,000 miles on my car per season.

The guys who work the USHL are driving all over the place. It's crazy, but when you're chasing your dream it's worth it.
- Stripes77

That is willlld. I don't know why, I always thought refs stayed to a few rinks rather than being deployed league wide until you were beyond juniors. What's the thought there, to prevent home ice bias from forming or just more games/less refs ($)?

That is willlld. I don't know why, I always thought refs stayed to a few rinks rather than being deployed league wide until you were beyond juniors. What's the thought there, to prevent home ice bias from forming or just more games/less refs ($)?
- RhinoFan

All the games were either junior hockey or above that I was traveling too. I didn't really travel for junior games, but those guys working the program travel a lot. It's good to see different teams, different coaches and different rinks. Not only for experience but also mentally where you're not doing the same daily grind us 9-5ers are on.

I was relentless during the Oilers game and a buddy said they didn't hear anything on the broadcast, but I will try. I'm not sure they will let me in with my megaphone.
- RhinoFan

Gotta sit near a live broadcast mic

So does Krebs get the call, sooner or later you are gonna have to give these kids a cup of coffee up here, but you can't bring them all up at the same time, might be a good time for one of them.
- Buff36

I don't see that happening