Under Pressure

For the last eight years, chief financial officer Ed Griffin has managed Pomfret’s finances. And for nearly thirty-five years, he has also been officiating ice hockey. Officials must make split-second decisions in the midst of a fast-paced game, while CFOs must make quick decisions in response to changing market conditions or financial emergencies. In both instances, they are under pressure.

WHEN DID YOU START PLAYING ICE HOCKEY?

I was about five or six years old, and two of my best friends wanted to play hockey. Hockey is not something you start when you are thirteen — you have to start it young. And we did. Some of us stuck with it longer than others. One of my friends went on to play at Lake Forest College, and his son is going to play at Air Force Academy — he obviously got the hockey gene that I did not.

IS THERE A PARTICULAR MEMORY YOU RECALL WHILE PLAYING HOCKEY?

In 1980, we had a game on the road. All anyone could talk about was the Olympic gold medal game between the United States and Russia that was going to air later that night. We had to hurry home to watch. I also recall scoring my first goal. My sister made a big deal of it at the dinner table. I played defense, so I didn’t score a lot. It meant a lot to me.

HOW DID YOU START OFFICIATING HOCKEY?

As body checking was introduced, I was too small to compete, and I got cut from my youth team. My mother suggested I try officiating, and I did. I took a break while in college. But after college, I was living in a hockey town and got back into officiating youth hockey. There were a lot of games, and it was a lot to manage. I had a work life, a hockey life, and a family life — a wife and three kids. It was tough sometimes, but it reminded me that I love hockey and being a part of the hockey atmosphere.

HOW HAS BEING A HOCKEY OFFICIAL MADE YOU A BETTER CFO?

I put on my resume a long time ago that I was a member of the Connecticut Chapter of National Ice Hockey Officials of America, along with a description that included the statement “able to mediate disputes.” It has helped me learn to work with others and successfully communicate my side of the decision, under pressure. On the ice, you’re speaking with high school-aged boys and girls, coaches, parents, and administrators. There’s a lot to navigate, just like there is here at Pomfret.

HOW HAS OFFICIATING CHANGED OVER THE YEARS?

When I first started officiating, we were not required to wear helmets. That changed when I returned to officiating after college. There was a time when I was hit near the eye with a puck. It was a bloody mess. After, I decided to wear a half-face shield. Now it is mandatory. That shield has saved me many times from getting a stick or elbow in the face. I am lucky I haven’t lost any teeth.

The spectators have also had an impact on officiating. There has been an increase in the abuse the officials receive and reactions to the calls we make. There is a shortage of officials right now. It’s due, in some part, to the abuse from the fans. The abuse is not at all levels — the older the players, the fewer incidents we experience. It is one of the reasons why I now only officiate independent and public high school games.

WHAT IS AN IMPORTANT SKILL A HOCKEY OFFICIAL SHOULD HAVE?

It is imperative to be knowledgeable about the rule book. Each league has its own. Knowing when to enforce the rules — game management — is also critical. Not every game is the same. Not every period is the same. Not every situation is the same. You need to understand your environment. Sometimes a glancing blow of the shoulder to the side of the head should be a penalty, perhaps a major penalty. It depends on that particular game and where the standards have been set. You need to understand your environment to manage the game effectively and communicate. It’s an essential skill to be a good official.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST MOMENT YOU EXPERIENCED WHILE OFFICIATING?

It is a tie between two. The first was when I was officiating the girls state championship game in 2012. It was just such a great game up and down, and it went to double overtime. There was never any controversy — it was a high-quality game. West Hartford was so excited when they won, and it was fun to be a part of the experience. It’s important to note nobody was talking about the officiating. The fans were there to watch the players, and they wanted the best team to win. If the officials are doing a good job, they are in the background, playing that supportive role.

My second favorite memory was the Hartford Whalers’ final game in

Hartford — but not for the reason you might be thinking. I had been a Hartford Whaler fan my whole life. They used to have youth games between periods or before the game. I officiated the youth game before the final Hartford Whalers game. I was on the same ice as the team on the day of their last game before they moved to North Carolina. There was a lot of excitement around that particular game. It was pretty cool.

HOW MANY GAMES HAVE YOU OFFICIATED?

I don’t keep track. For me, it’s not about the number of games. It’s about the quality of the officiating and doing so to the best of my ability.

WHAT WOULD YOU TELL SOMEONE CONSIDERING BECOMING A HOCKEY OFFICIAL?

The abuse aside, being a hockey official is one of the best parttime jobs any young person could get. You make the same money officiating for three hours as someone who has worked an eight-hour shift at a minimum-wage job. It is a way to stay connected with the sport and stay fit. It is also a way to keep young people involved in the sport. There is such a demand for officials right now — a couple of games were canceled this season due to the lack of officials. I love that I’m doing something so that hockey can continue to be played.

DO YOU PLAN ON HANGING UP YOUR SKATES ANYTIME SOON?

At the end of each season for the last several years, I have thought about it. But I’m inspired by some of my fellow officials. At a game a couple of weeks ago, the crew was me, a fifty-three-year-old referee; my partner, a sixty-two-year-old referee; and our linesman, a sixty-nine year old. I was the young one of the three — which is usually not the case. I wanted to ask the players, “do you realize your linesman is sixtynine years old? He’s out there, on the ice, doing what he loves.” How can I think about hanging it up when I’m only fifty-three? I get sore and hurt here and there, so in some ways it would be a lot easier not to officiate. I know I’ll struggle with the decision to hang up the skates for good. I doubt I will be a sixty-nine-yearold official, but I’ll probably do it for a few more years. I just love hockey, and officiating has been a great part of my life.

Jack Heroux ’23

DELIVERED ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2022 IN CLARK MEMORIAL CHAPEL