Calgary Hockey Mag - Spring 2014 by Suggitt Publishers

TABLE OF

CONTENTS

Publisher’s Message

HockeyShot Tip of the Month

NHL Draft Prospect: Jake Virtanen By Jeremy Freeborn

11.

Paul Reinhart: From NHL Player to Ultimate Hockey Dad By Jeremy Freeborn

14. University of Calgary Dinos Men’s Hockey Team By Jeremy Freeborn 17.

18. NHL Top Prosepcts Game 2014 By Jeremy Freeborn 22. NHL Referee Brad Watson By Rob Suggitt 26.

Coaches Deserve Credit for Canada Defending Olympic Hockey Gold By Jeremy Freeborn

28. Double Gold: Quantity and Quality By Lorna Schultz-Nicholson

Arena Locator Map

Hockey Magazine

PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE Welcome to our final edition of the Calgary Hockey Magazine for the 2013-2014 season. In mid-January, I joined our senior correspondent Jeremy Freeborn at the Top Prospects Game in Calgary, which featured the top talent in the CHL. (Canada’s best major junior players, who are in their draft year.) This is the second year I’ve attended this event (last year it was in Halifax), and for those who think it’s an “all star” game, think again. The game is attended by numerous NHL scouts and senior hockey personnel, and the players compete hard to show their talent. Jeremy has provided a report on this year’s event, and in addition, a feature article on Top Prospect and local Hitmen player Jake Virtanen. While at the Top Prospects Game, Jeremy also met up with former Flame Paul Reinhart, who was there to cheer on his son Sam, a player expected to be a top pick at this year’s NHL draft. The Reinhart family name will continue its prominence in the NHL, with Sam’s older brothers, Max and Griffin already drafted. (Max with the Flames, and Griffin with the New York Islanders.) We also have some special coverage of the Calgary Dinos university hockey team, who are having a great season. The talent level in CIS hockey (Canadian Interuniversity Sport) is very high. Of 29 players who have played for the Dinos this season, 23 of them played in the CHL. Most people wouldn’t think so, but the top university teams in the country would compete well with the top CHL teams (some would say they’re better), but for some reason, the fans don’t come out to support CIS hockey in big numbers. One hockey event which hit “big numbers” was the Sochi Olympics! We have two great recaps on the success achieved by our men’s and women’s teams, both teams which brought home gold medals for a second consecutive Olympics! We also have a few comments from Brad Meier, who was one of seven NHL referees selected to officiate games in Sochi. Meier, who makes his home in Calgary, shares a few comments about his experience, including the gold medal game which he officiated with fellow NHL referee Kelly Sutherland. In wrapping up this issue, we have a feature interview with one of the NHL’s top referees – Brad Watson. Watson has officiated the last two NHL playoffs, which is a testament to his stature as an NHL referee. I met up with Brad in Red Deer, as he was making his way from Calgary to Edmonton between games. Originally, our interview was going to take place in Calgary or Edmonton, but when Brad found out that I was “stuck” in Red Deer coaching in a tournament there, he took time out of his busy schedule to accommodate the interview at this midpoint location. Very courteous and classy move by one of the top officials in the game! Thanks Brad!

Credits President and Publisher Rob Suggitt Art Director Christine Kucher Graphic Designers Cole Mckelvie | Cailey Buxton

Contributing Writers

Jeremy Freeborn | Rob Suggitt | Lorna Schultz-Nicholson

Copy Editing Shari Narine

Photography Credits

Brad Watson – Calgary Flames Hockey Club Calgary Flames Hockey Club University of Calgary Dinos | Calgary Herald Marko Ditkun – EOHC Getty Images | Katelyn Suggitt

Cover Photo

Brad Watson – Calgary Flames Hockey Club

Administration Suzanne Peacock

10177 - 105 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 1E2 Ph: 780-423-5834 • Fax: 780-413-6185 The Hockey Magazine is a product of Playhouse Publications Ltd., an affiliate of Suggitt Group Ltd.

President & CEO Tom Suggitt President & CFO Rob Suggitt All rights reserved. The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed within do not necessarily represent the opinions of the publisher. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher. www.Suggitt.com Printed by: R.R. Donnelley

DO YOU

HAVE A

MINOR

HOCKEY Sincerely, Rob Suggitt Publisher,

STORY

We are always open to suggestions for articles and stories, and in particular, at the minor hockey level. If you have a suggestion for a story, please pass it along to publisher@hockeymagazine.net.

TO TELL?

CALGARY HOCKEY MAGAZINE

Hockey Magazine

The spring is an exciting time of year for many junior hockey players. Players are vying for their league titles, constantly trying to impress scouts, and riding the dream of being chosen in the National Hockey League Entry Draft. In January, the NHL Draft Prospect Rankings list was published and at number nine among players in North America was Calgary Hitmen left winger Jake Virtanen. A native of Abbotsford, British Columbia, Virtanen was drafted first overall by Calgary in the 2011 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft. Over the last two seasons, Virtanen has worked his way into the mix as one of the Hitmen’s top forwards. That’s an impressive feat considering the Hitmen are loaded with talent which includes five players drafted into the NHL. Despite that talent though, there was no representation from the Hitmen at the recent World Junior Hockey Championship in Malmo, Sweden. One of Virtanen’s strengths is his remarkable speed. At 6’1”, 210 pounds, he has increased in size by 30 pounds over the last two years, and his speed has remained consistent. “He’s got deceptive speed. He’ll come out of nowhere and beat you,” said an impressed Dave Babych to the Canadian Press in October.

Babych, who is Vancouver Canucks defence consultant of player development, should be an excellent source in analyzing Virtanen’s abilities. Not only because he played in the NHL, but because Babych’s son Cal is also Virtanen’s teammate on the Hitmen. Virtanen himself feels that his speed, his slap shot and the ability to play physical are his greatest assets. Virtanen realizes the scouts are watching his every move, but he’s not letting that intimidate him. “I don’t really worry about it. I don’t really look at OHL or Q guys or other W guys. I kind of worry about myself, have fun out there, you know, try to improve every day and just be a better player. If my stock rises, that’s good. I just try to be an all-around player.” Virtanen feels he has made improvements to his game. “Last year it was a struggle for me at the beginning of the year. I struggled in the d-zone quite a bit and wasn’t doing very well. In the second half, I kind of picked it up. I think I’ve really improved in my d-zone.” Virtanen credits coach Mike Williamson for helping him be a better hockey player.

Hockey Magazine

From having the worst record in the WHL in 2010-11 (reason why they were able to draft Virtanen first overall), the Hitmen had a 46-point improvement in 2011-12. They had an even better year in 2012-13, at 97 points with Virtanen notching 16 goals and 18 assists for 34 points in only 62 games. The Hitmen are looking for even more success this year and a return to the Memorial Cup for the first time since 2010. Calgary’s last appearance run saw them advanced to the semi-finals before losing 5-4 to the Brandon Wheat Kings in overtime. Virtanen believes Calgary will be in contention for a junior hockey championship title. “We have the team for it. We’ve got a lot of skilled guys. It’s quite exciting for myself. I’ve always wanted to make the Memorial Cup. We just have to work hard and play every game hard. I think if we do that, we have a chance.” Virtanen has enjoyed his time in Calgary and feels he has adjusted well to the big city compared to growing up in small-city Abbotsford. “Obviously playing at the Saddledome is a big difference for me. Playing in an NHL rink from a local rink in Abbotsford is completely different.” Other personal highlights for Virtanen include scoring five goals and two assists in only five games for Team Pacific (team comprised of players from Alberta and British Columbia) at the 2013 World U-17 Hockey Challenge in Victoriaville, QB, and representing Team Orr at the 2014 Canadian Hockey League Top Prospects Game. Participating in the Top Prospects Game was extra special because the game was in Calgary. “Not many guys get to do it and to be selected is an honour. When I found out it was in Calgary, I got even more stoked about it.” Being known as an all-around team leader on and off the ice is what Virtanen would like the scouts to recognize. “I’m really talkative with the guys and I’m really big on that. I’m a young guy but I really like to show the guys I care. I’m also a hard worker. So those are the two things I would like the scouts to know.”

“I can’t thank Mike enough. He has improved my game a lot. For me coming in as a 15-year-old, I came and played playoffs for the Hitmen (five games). He has taught me a lot of things -- a lot of stuff in the defensive zone. I’ve learned a lot about starting and stopping. Just the little details Mike has taught me a lot.” Over the next year Virtanen will have a difficult decision to make. He has dual citizenship because his father was born in Finland. Virtanen helped lead Canada to a gold medal at the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. The prestigious summer hockey event in the Czech Republic is not sanctioned by the International Ice Hockey Federation, therefore Virtanen is still eligible to play for Finland internationally. The choice for Virtanen may be even more difficult because of Finland’s gold medal success at the 2014 World Junior Hockey Championship in Malmo, Sweden. “I’ve seen articles about Finland wanting me to come. I think it is pretty cool that I could play for either Canada or Finland,” he said. For now, Virtanen is focused on helping the Hitmen win hockey games, and he has been key to turning Calgary’s junior franchise completely around.

It will be interesting to see what National Hockey League team drafts Jake Virtanen on June 27-28 in Philadelphia. Wherever he lands, the future is bright for this Calgary Hitmen star.

27th Great Year!

2014 CAMPS & TOURNAMENTS

HOCKEY

Day & Residence Camps - Professional Instruction At All Locations JUST FOR GIRLS HOCKEY CAMPS Canmore, AB Kelowna, BC July 14 - 18, 2014

July 21 - 25, 2014

Day & Residence Camps

Instruction from Canada’s National Women’s Team players Visit our website to see more 2014 Just For Girls Camp locations

MEN’S & WOMEN’S TOURNAMENTS Montreal, QC Quebec City, QC Mont-Tremblant, QC Niagara Falls, ON Ottawa, ON London, ON

Kelowna, BC Vancouver, BC Whistler, BC Banff, AB Jasper, AB

Lake Placid, NY Atlantic City, NJ Las Vegas, NV Phoenix, AZ Chicago, IL Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Mens & Womens Divisions 19+, 25+, 30+, 35+, 40+, 45+, 50+ Divisions A,B,C,D, Novice Levels

INNOVATIVE HOCKEY CAMPS Canmore, AB - July 21 - 25, 2014 Kelowna, BC - July 28 - August 1, 2014 ! NEW Whistler, BC - August 11 - 14, 2014 Boys & Girls - Ages 7 - 15 - All Skill Levels • Power Skating, Goal Scoring & Puck Control Program • Elite AAA/AA/A Program • Development Program • Specialized Goalie Program

ADULT HOCKEY CAMPS • Men’s & Women’s Recreationsl Hockey Camps

Las Vegas, NV - May 22 - 25, 2014 Kelowna, BC - July 28 - August 1, 2014 Whistler, BC - August 7 - 10, 2014

Visit our website for more 2014 Camp and Tour nament locations

1•800•461•2161

www.chehockey.com

Hockey Magazine

SUMMER CAMP IN STRATHMORE JULY 21-25, 2014

BOOK TODAY – 1.888.416.5376

Apple Fitness Store

Paul Reinhart was a leader on the Calgary Flames defence for eight National Hockey League seasons from 1980-88. The native of Kitchener, Ontario, who was the Atlanta Flames’ first round pick, 12th overall in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft, is now back in the spotlight. Paul Reinhart is the father of three NHL prospects—Max, Griffin, and Sam.

Max Reinhart, is the oldest of Paul’s sons at age 21. The Calgary Flames’ third round pick, 64th overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, has played in 15 games at centre for the Flames over the last two seasons. One of his greatest accomplishments to date was leading the Kootenay Ice to a Western Hockey League Championship in 2011. Max is currently on the roster of the Flames’ American Hockey League affiliate in Abbotsford.

Just how rare is it that a father and his three sons have all played in the NHL? According to the website, http://www.hockeycentral.co.uk/, it has only happened twice before.

Griffin Reinhart plays the position of defence like his father. Over the last five seasons, Griffin, age 20, has been a leader on the Edmonton Oil Kings blueline. Drafted fourth overall by the New York Islanders in 2012, he is expected to be an everyday player for the Islanders once the team moves from Long Island to Brooklyn at the start of the 2015-16 NHL season.

Former Boston Bruins goaltender Harvey Bennett Sr. had three sons who went on to play in the NHL—Harvey Bennett Jr., who played from 1974-79 with five NHL clubs; Curt Bennett, who played from 1970-1980 mostly with the Atlanta Flames; and Bill Bennett, who played with the Bruins and Hartford Whalers, 1978-1980. Also, former Detroit Red Wing Bill Dineen is the father of former NHL players Gord, Peter and Kevin. Gord mostly played with the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins, and Ottawa Senators from 19821995; Peter Dineen played for the Los Angeles Kings and Detroit Red Wings in 1987 and 1990; and Kevin played 1,188 career games with five teams from 1984-2003. Kevin is most recently known for coaching the Canada’s women’s Olympic team to gold in Sochi.

Sam Reinhart, the youngest son at age 18, might just be the best hockey player of the three. He led the Kootenay Ice with 35 goals, 50 assists and 85 points last season, and is currently projected to be drafted fourth in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Like his brother Max, Sam is a centre, but seems to have greater offensive potential at this stage of his career. In January, Paul Reinhart was in Calgary with his son Sam for the 2014 Canadian Hockey League Top Prospects Game at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Paul had the thrill of coaching Sam on Team Cherry.

Hockey Magazine

Paul was an assistant coach to his former Flames teammate and long time friend, Jim Peplinski. Paul and Peplinski’s friendship has gone beyond hockey over the years as they were best men at each other’s weddings. Paul had a great time practicing with Sam at the Saddledome just hours before the game. “The most fun you have as a hockey player is practice. Within the practice, there is always those hockey moments where you just get to play around and work on your skills.” Paul has high praise for Sam’s hockey skills.

“I marvel at when I have the opportunity to sit and watch Sam play. I marvel at some of the small things he does with the puck and away from the puck, and just his ability to understand the game.” There is no question that Sam is being watched closely by many scouts leading up to the 2014 NHL draft in Philadelphia. However, Paul personally does not put much emphasis on the draft even though he was a first round pick himself. “With regards to rankings, there are a lot of guys who were never drafted who have played in the National Hockey League. To me the draft is a measuring stick of where you happen to be at any given time. It’s significantly overrated. Not to say you ignore it, but at the same time it doesn’t really matter a whole bunch. All three of my boys have understood that. Sam, having watched both Max and Griffin go through it, has great appreciation for how little it means at the end of the day. It is up to you, no matter where you were drafted, to make the club and the National Hockey League.” Paul also sees a significant number of similarities between the way he played defence and the way Griffin plays now. “I had the opportunity to see Griffin play recently

and I was blown away at how similar Griffin’s game was to mine. But having said that, Griffin will be a better National Hockey League player. He has a better set of skills, size, and how he sees the game and how he plays the game. I think he will have one hell of a career.” Paul has often been called the ultimate hockey dad, but he says that balances with having “married the ultimate hockey mom. It is a combination.” But Paul is humble about taking credit for what his boys have achieved. “My contributions to the boys’ success are so minimal compared to the contributions and efforts that they’ve made. At the end of the day, it is still up to them. They are the ones that had all kinds of options to look at doing what they wanted to do. The fact that they chose hockey certainly isn’t something that we pushed them into. But them, being good Canadian young kids, they gravitated towards that sport. Once they showed some ability, it was the three of them who put the time and effort in and the sacrifice. The vast majority of credit goes to the individuals rather than the parents.”

CANADA’S

CLASSIC BEAVER 2014 50-CENT PURE GOLD COIN

Ultimately, Paul also loves family time when all three of his sons join him on the rink. “I enjoy the moments when I get the opportunity to play two-on-two when all three of the boys are home. We do that quite often on a small sheet of ice. We just go play two-on-two and have a lot of fun doing it. I used to have an advantage with a little bit of knowledge, but that is long gone. Their strength, their puck control and their stamina is way too much for most of us these days.” The Reinhart family has a lot to look forward to in the coming years. It seems the parenting of Paul, and his wife Theresa, deserves high recognition as well.

Hockey Magazine

The University of Alberta Golden Bears have been a dominant franchise on the national university men’s hockey stage. They have advanced to 18 Canadian Interuniversity Sport University Cup championships, winning a national best 13 times. They have also won an unprecedented 50 Canada West men’s hockey championships since 1934. This season their supremacy was challenged. In the 2013-14 season, the University of Calgary Dinos emerged as a formidable men’s hockey opponent, and were equally as dominant as their provincial rival in the Canada West standings. By January 27, the Dinos (20-0-2) and Golden Bears (19-2-1) were not only ranked the top two teams in the Canada West, but at the national level in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport as well. The Dinos are now considered an elite men’s hockey program, but unfortunately do not get the local respect that they deserve. On a

January evening at Father David Bauer Arena where the Dinos played the University of Manitoba Bisons, their attendance was 215. The Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League has an average attendance that is 36 times greater than the Dinos. To many hockey outsiders the comparison should not be surprising when you know the Hitmen play at the Scotiabank Saddledome, but one should realize that 23 of the 29 Dinos hockey players this season played in the Canadian Hockey League as teenagers. Despite the fact that CIS players have the difficult task of combining athletics with a demanding academic workload, many of the hockey players are better at the CIS level than they were at the CHL level because they are simply bigger, stronger and smarter players. University of Calgary Dinos Head Coach Mark Howell encourages all local hockey fans to give the CIS brand a try. “Our level of play is extremely fast and extremely intense. Anybody that comes and watches would be really excited to watch us play.”

One of the major reasons for the Dinos success this season was the play of goaltender Jacob DeSerres. The Calgary native won a Memorial Cup championship with the Saint John Sea Dogs in 2011, and had a valiant 1.82 goals against average and .946 save percentage in the national major junior hockey tournament. This season DeSerres shared the goaltending workload with Kris Lazaruk, allowing each of them to stay fresh rather than playing on back-toback nights, which is common in Canada West hockey action. DeSerres, who just finished his third year with the Dinos hockey program, explains why the Dinos had such a great year. “You know what, it’s a combination of a lot of things. First of all, we’ve had a lot of good recruits that have helped out. They all came in hungry. You never know how the young guys are going to come in, but they have all come in and made a huge impact on our team. Everyone stepped up their game this year and everyone started believing. The commitment was there from everyone.” Among those new recruits is left winger Chris Collins who came to the Dinos after recording 72 points in only 59 games with the Okotoks Oilers a year ago. Collins also played 88 games with the WHL’s Chilliwack Bruins and two seasons with the Saskatoon Blades. Dinos’ Head Coach Mark Howell has high praise for his star forward. “His speed is very dangerous. He’s quick. He’s on the puck. He generates offence. He has good vision. He has a real keen knack around the net. He finds open ice and really dynamic with the puck, puts pressure on defense and finds open ice.” One of the key reasons why Collins believes the Dinos had been so successful this season is because of their depth. The Dinos’ depth also created competition within the team itself, something that Howell said was a strong benefit. “It pushes the guys to be a little better and challenge for their spots. When you bring in good players it gives you a chance to be successful because they can make plays at high levels. I think we have 15 forwards who can play in a lot of high end positions. That creates unique situations for us to create offence.” Defense has also been a top priority for Howell. “We upgraded the talent on our defence as well. We believe our team is built on defence.” Prior to this season, the Dinos had not won a Canada West men’s hockey championship since 1995-96. Howell, who has now been with

the Dinos for five seasons, realized he needed to simplify his game plan and emphasize speed. “We simplified our plan a little bit. We really emphasized the need to play fast and have people around the puck. Yes, we have systems, but I think philosophically it is about speed and being around the puck.” For a team to be successful, chemistry is critical. “A lot of it was being lucky, and having a good group of guys that blend well together. Getting along on and off the ice is one thing where you have to get lucky, and we did,” said DeSerres. DeSerres has also been impressed with Howell’s overall hockey knowledge. “We’ve learned a lot from him. He knows hockey as well as anyone I have ever met. He studies the game and knows it so well. That helps a lot when you’re so well coached like that. He always knows what we should be doing. He studies the other teams and coaches, everyone really well.” Howell also believes the Canada West is closing the gap on a strong Atlantic University Conference, that has won four University Cup championships in the last five years. “I think both conferences are really good. When you get to a national tournament, it is a tricky tournament. If you just look at the two conferences as a whole, I think there a lot of good teams in both conferences. I would put our conference against their conference any day.” But Howell realizes for the University of Calgary to be an excellent hockey program for years to come, the Dinos will have to get by one fierce opponent, who Collins claims the Dinos “hate.” “Most of the time you have to go through the U of A,” said Howell, who actually won a University Cup championship as a player with the Golden Bears in 1992. “(They have great) depth, tradition, and work ethic. Over a long period of time they have been able to replace guys. Everyone that attends that program has a sense of pride and sense of determination.” The Dinos, who have eight Canada West Hockey Championships themselves, will take a while before they reach the Golden Bears’ remarkable benchmark, but it seems they are starting to build something very special at Father David Bauer Arena.

Hockey Magazine

On Jan. 15, 40 elite hockey prospects who are eligible for the 2014 National Hockey League Entry Draft played in the Canadian Hockey League Top Prospects Game at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary. In front of 11, 631 fans, Jared McCann, a centre for the Sault. Ste. Marie Greyhounds, scored the game winning goal with 3:29 left in the third period to give Team Orr a 4-3 victory over Team Cherry. For McCann, scoring the game winning goal and being named Team Orr MVP was an outstanding experience that he will always remember. “It was awesome. It was a dream come true. I felt it was like a great experience overall. I didn’t get many shots tonight, but I got one that counted, and that’s all you can ask for.” Josh Ho-Sang, a right winger for the Windsor Spitfires, co-led Team Orr in scoring with a goal and an assist. His goal came in the second period to put Team Orr up 3-1, and then he set up the game winner by McCann just inside the Team Cherry blue line. Other Team Orr players who recorded multi-point games were defencemen Aaron Ekblad of the Barrie Colts, who is currently ranked third in the NHL central scouting mid-term rankings, and Julius Honka of the Swift Current Broncos. They each notched two assists. It has been quite the January for Honka. First he helped Finland win their third World Junior Hockey Championship in Malmo, Sweden, and then he displayed his prolific slapshot in front of many of the top

NHL scouts at the Top Prospects Game. One of his hard shots from the point hit Team Orr teammate Brendan Lemieux of the Barrie Colts before going into the net to open the scoring. Honka and Ekblad also recorded an assist on a goal by Blake Clarke of the Saginaw Spirit. Team Cherry meanwhile responded with goals from Russian sensation Nikolay Goldobin of the Sarnia Sting, Sam Reinhart of the Kootenay Ice and Michael Dal Colle of the Oshawa Generals. The best player in the first period was Team Orr goaltender Mason McDonald of the Charlottetown Islanders, who made 14 saves to keep the game without a goal. McDonald was pleased with his performance. “It was one of the finest games I’ve ever played and something I will never forget. It was an honour (representing the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League). I went there knowing there were only seven players from the Q (QMJHL) and I wanted to make a good impression on the Q.” The best player in the third period meanwhile was Goldobin, who demonstrated offensive brilliance. His goal came on the wrap-around after he stickhandled the puck with ease behind the Team Orr net. He also generated a penalty shot opportunity and made a slick pass to Team Cherry captain Sam Reinhart, which tied the scoring at three. In his post game interview, Goldobin, who was the Team Cherry player of the game, said however “he can play better” and was disappointed to have hit the post on his penalty shot attempt. Still, he is excited about one day playing in the NHL, like so many Russian greats have done before him.

From a Calgary perspective, there were many local connections to the game. The coaching staffs on both teams were represented by Calgary Flames alumni. Tim Hunter was the head coach of Team Orr with Mike Vernon and Joel Otto as his assistants. Jim Peplinski was the head coach of Team Cherry with Paul Reinhart and Mark Hunter behind the bench with him. On the ice, the Calgary Hitmen were represented by two players on Team Orr—left wing Jake Virtanen and defenseman Ben Thomas. Both had excellent end-to-end rushes throughout the game that would have made Boston Bruins legend Bobby Orr proud. For Thomas, it was meaningful playing the Top Prospects Game in his native city of Calgary and his home rink of the Scotiabank Saddledome.

“It was definitely a little more comfortable for me playing on my home ice. I think the atmosphere was a little different than what it is at a normal Hitmen game. There’s quite a few fans in there and you’re not playing with guys who you are familiar with. I had a whole bunch of friends and family. They were out there supporting me. So, it was a really good experience to be here.” It was also special for Thomas to be on the winning team. “I was really excited. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and we were able to take advantage of it and get the win. I will remember this for the rest of my life.”

Hockey Magazine

Meanwhile, Team Orr centre Brayden Point of the Moose Jaw Warriors and Team Orr defenseman Brycen Martin of the Swift Current Broncos are both Calgary natives. Team Cherry centres Ryan MacInnis of the Kitchener Rangers and Sam Reinhart of the Kootenay Ice are sons of former Calgary Flames’ Al MacInnis and Paul Reinhart, respectively. Conner Bleackley of High River, Alberta, was not too far away from home. The Red Deer Rebel centre was seen wearing number 91 for Team Cherry. Reinhart, who captained Team Cherry, notched the game tying goal on the power play at 13:53 of the third period and recorded an assist on Dal Colle’s goal in the second period. Point and MacInnis also got on the scoresheet with an assist each. Finally from a charitable perspective, two Calgary nonprofits benefited from the the 2014 Top Prospects Game. Team Orr’s charity was the Children’s Cottage Society of Calgary, while Team Cherry’s charity was the Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre. Because Team Orr defeated Team Cherry 4-3, 75 per cent of the charitable portion of the total draw of $22,485 went to the Children’s Cottage ($8,432) with the other 25 per cent of the charitable portion ($2, 811) going to the recovery centre. Children’s Cottage Society will be using its funds for the operation of their house in Bridgeland, while the money for the Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre will be going to offset treatment fees for families who cannot pay the full cost of treatment.

Team Orr might have won the CHL Top Prospect’s Game, but it is clear that there were many more winners from Wednesday night than just the players on the ice.

“I was really excited. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and we were able to take advantage of it and get the win. I will remember this for the rest of my life.”

Hockey Magazine

If you’re looking for the top NHL officials, you should check which referees make it to the Stanley Cup Final. And Brad Watson’s name is at the top of the list. Officials are chosen on merit, with only the top 20 NHL referees making it to the playoffs. Each round whittles down the number, until the Stanley Cup playoffs, for which only four linesmen and four referees are selected for this honour. (And extra pay as each round of playoffs earns NHL officials extra money.) Since 2003, Watson has officiated seven Stanley Cup finals, including five of the last eight, and most recently, the finals in 2012 and 2013. That’s impressive! Watson is one of the NHL’s most senior referees, starting his professional career nearly 20 years ago. He began in the AHL, and then, in 1999, was called up to work full time in the NHL. Not unlike other top officials in the game, Watson played minor hockey before making the switch. He played in Regina up to juvenile and then a friend got him officiating at 16 years old. He worked his way through the Regina minor ranks before starting to do lines in the Western Hockey League in 1984. He was three years as a linesman in the WHL and six years as a referee. “Some of that was a crossover as a trainee in the AHL program, and in ‘93, I got offered a contract from the NHL,” recalled Watson. He made the decision to be a referee after the ’86 Memorial Cup, which he worked as a linesman. He was passed up for a camp,

which Mike Cvik, Shane Heyer and Brad Lazarowich, also linesman at the Memorial Cup, were chosen to attend. “They all got picked, and they were big guys. I wasn’t that big,” said Watson. “I said, “You know what – I’m going to try refereeing.” And I enjoyed it – it was just a natural progression. I started in the Saskatchewan Junior League. I got my Level Six in 1988 (in the CHA), and then I was doing the Western League.” Watson remembers his call-up to do his first NHL game, which isn’t officially recognized as his first NHL game. It was a standby assignment in Ottawa, with Rob Schick working and John D’Amico as supervisor. “Schick ended up getting hurt in the second period, so D’Amico told me to get ready. After the second period, the injured Schick asked me if I could finish the game for him, and I said ‘I’d love to,’ so I went out and did the third period, but I never got credit for it,” said Watson, laughing.

Watson’s first assigned and official NHL game was in Pittsburgh with the Penguins taking on the Ottawa Senators. “I remember the Penguins were on a five-on-three power play with Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr and Ron Francis up front, and they were passing around the puck like a tennis ball. I was mesmerized (for a moment), and then I said to myself you have to get back in this game. I was in awe with the talent on the ice,” he said. If the game were called then like it is today, Watson says about Lemieux’s tally, “You have to think he would be in the 200 point range the way we call the game today. In the past, you could have a third line centre or a third or fourth line checker, and they could neutralize a first line player. I remember how Tikannen used to go up to Gretzky (when they played on different teams), and just stick his stick between the legs of Gretzky, and Gretzky would try to get away, and he had to hop and skip to get away, and you know what – we’ve cleaned that up so much, and rightfully so.” The big difference in the game today is in the defensive zone, said Watson, with better defensive systems and better goaltending equipment. Another big change in the game was the introduction of the two-man referee system, which turned out to be a great opportunity for Watson. “When I got hired full time (in 1999), they brought in eight of us to do the two-man system. I didn’t get hired until I was 37, and before that, I thought I might be lucky to work until I was about 45. When the two-referee system came in, it created more opportunity to work longer.”

The removal of the red line has necessitated a change to the twoman referee system. “It just added to the speed (of the game), because the red line slowed guys down. But now, it really speeds things up, and generates a lot of offense and excitement. “ Watson credits Andy Van Hellemond with providing him with the opportunity to work the playoffs early in his career. “I think I was in the league four years and I got the opportunity to work the 2003 finals, and I took advantage of it. It was New Jersey versus Anaheim, and it went seven games. This was the series when Kariya got smoked by Stevens. I was about 10 feet away from the hit, and at the time, it was ‘keep your head up guy’ and that’s an example of how the game’s changed.” As the game has changed so has Watson as is evidenced by the call to work the two Stanley Cup finals before the 2004-2005 lockout and then the next three cup finals following the lockout, with the new enforcement of the rules - no more clutching, grabbing, etc. - in place. The toughest part of the job, said Watson, is “probably the travel – the constant waiting in line – airports, hotels – it’s boring. Being away from your family – you’re not home much.” But he does enjoy the cities and having grown up in Regina, appreciates returning to Western Canada. “This is hockey country – Edmonton, Calgary – so I don’t mind coming up for 10 days if I have to. If it’s cold – big deal!” As Watson is quick to point out, being an NHL referee is a tremendous job. “I love it. The games themselves – it’s great! Every night is a different challenge in this business. That’s the beauty of this job. Everyone goes ‘well it’s an easy game, or a routine game.’ I go ‘you know what – every night something different can happen, so you have to be ready.’”

Hockey Magazine

How has physical training changed for officials? I think from when I started (20 years ago), it’s changed quite a bit. Dave Smith is our fitness guy and he gives us a program to follow. And he says I’m not trying to bug you guys, I’m trying to prolong your career, and that’s always stuck with me. Everyone tries to watch what they eat. Travel’s hard. In the summer I train harder than I ever have. If you can stay in shape, if you can stay out there with these guys, who are so young and so fast, it’s a challenge. I try to work harder than I ever did to prove I belong out there still.

Which former NHL players exhibited the most class on the ice? Shjon Podein – not a common name, but he was the nicest guy all the time. He had a great demeanour. The pressure never seemed to bother him. Joe Sakic was quiet – he led by example, and Nick Lidstrom was the same. Marty St. Louis – he just plays – he doesn’t complain – he also does it by example. You like to have those guys who you can talk to. And then you have those other guys – I used to find Yzerman tough, but he’s a winner. So I respected him. But he would challenge you. There are different types and makeup of superstars.

What’s it like dealing with the coaches in the game? I think guys like Claude Julien – he understands it’s a business, but he understands it’s a game – it’s not life and death. The Sutters – they worry about their team – they let us do our job. Then you get coaches who try to fire up their teams by maybe challenging us. And you learn that basically they get away with what you let them get away with. You don’t want to moot it all, but you have to draw the line. John Tortorella – I’ve batted heads with him for 14 or 15 years, but you know what to expect from him. He will let you have it, but then he’s fair. He holds his team accountable – that’s what’s nice. And that’s what the Sutters do too. And then you have coaches who sometimes just blame the officials – it’s always like they’re victims. And those guys come and go. The guys who’ve had success, the Hitchcocks, Joel Quenneville, etc., they coach, and they have longevity. They don’t focus on us too much.

What’s your viewpoint on fighting in the game at the professional level? You know what, I think I’m starting to change a bit. The staged fighting, I’m totally against. I believe sometimes the spontaneous fight has a place in the game. Let’s say a player is checked and he didn’t like it and he defends himself, I can agree with that sometimes, but I don’t believe you have to go defend your own player. There are times when it can settle a game down, but I kinda cringe when I see the big guys fight each other, because I’ve seen some guys get knocked out. I don’t like seeing people get hurt. I watch a lot of hockey. Detroit – a pretty good team, and for a long time. You know what – they don’t fight. That’s not part of their makeup and they’re very successful. I think eventually I can see it being a game misconduct.

What advice would you give to young minor hockey officials? For younger guys, I can appreciate what they do, especially when I’m back watching minor hockey and see how some of the parents act. You have to enjoy it. But you have to give effort, be prepared. When I was a young kid working in Regina and I used to work like a bantam game or a midget game, and that was like the highest level I worked, that used to by my Stanley Cup. I worked hard and I believed in showing effort, and when you give effort usually people will work with you (rather than complain) because they see you working hard. Hey– I’ve made a lot of mistakes and that’s the nature of this business. You get further ahead by respecting the game, and working your hardest. And kids need to be open-minded and learn from their mistakes. And you’re going out there to enjoy it. That’s the best thing I got out of the job when I was working the juniors. I never got to play at that level – when I was 17, I was like 5’2,” so my hockey (playing) career never took off. And I’m not saying it ever would have, but I enjoyed the sport so much. I learned so much when I was doing junior hockey. I learned how the game was played and being around some good coaching and having some good mentors in the officiating business, I became a student

of the game. And I love it. I go into work tomorrow (Edmonton) and I’m looking forward to it. I love seeing some of these kids play, because they’re so good. It’s a great sport. There’s a rush to it.

What was it like officiating your 1,000th game? It was awesome! There was a pregame ceremony which included my wife Amy, daughter Genabeth and son Reid. My son skated with me on the ice and dressed in a #23 referee jersey just like his dad. We joined my wife and daughter on a red carpet where NHL Director of Officiating Stephen Walkom presented me with a crystal from the league. Team captains from Toronto and Colorado presented me with team signed sticks. It was very nicely done. It was great having my family on the ice for the presentation. After all, it’s them that sacrifice so much over the years with the amount I travel. So this was as much for them as it was for me. My dad, two sisters and brother (along with their spouses) flew in for the game, as did a few friends from out of town. My wife brought 15 of my jerseys and there was an entire row of referees in the crowd. It looked great from the ice. I really enjoyed the game and feel proud that I reached 1,000 games. We celebrated the milestone with friends and family. All in all it was three days of laughter and memories. I worked with referee #3 Mike Leggo, linesmen #56 Mark Wheler and #74 Lonnie Cameron. We all worked junior hockey together in the WHL, so I felt it would be fitting to have them work my 1,000th game together. (And the NHL made it happen.) It meant a lot having close friends work a special game.

What was it like officiating the outdoor game which took place at Dodger Stadium in January? It was a wonderful experience! The warm weather made the event so enjoyable. The best part for my family (my wife and kids joined me for this trip) was the family skate the night before the game. Everyone enjoyed touring Dodger Stadium and skating on the rink. The night of the game was outstanding. When I skated on the ice and looked around at all the fans, it was truly unique. The rink seemed so small when you looked at the rows of seats that are set a fair distance from the boards. The ice was very good, as it’s always a concern in games played outdoors. There was a lot of pregame excitement. It was good once the puck dropped for the opening faceoff and we had a hockey game. There were so many distractions prior to the game, but it was nice to have it start. The game itself was a typical season game between two rivals. The teams played hard and you knew right away this wasn’t an exhibition game. There were times when you would catch yourself gazing around at the surroundings during a stoppage of play. I wanted to take it all in – it was an awesome setting from the ice level. All in all the entire experience is something that my family and I will never forget.

Hockey Magazine

At the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, the Canadian national hockey teams successfully defended their Olympic gold medals. The women’s program faced internal adversity and the skill of a familiar opponent, while the men’s program received national praise for executing their game plan to perfection. Both programs had similarities—they were well organized, brought Canadians together, and for a span of a few days in February, delivered unprecedented excitement. My personal journey with the Canadian Olympic men’s hockey team began in August at the orientation camp. Canadian head coach Mike Babcock was told he could not coach his players on ice because of insurance reasons. No problem. The ice was taken out at Calgary’s Markin MacPhail Centre, so Babcock and his coaching staff put 45 of Canada’s best National Hockey League stars through intensive drills playing traditional ball hockey. For many outsiders, including many in the media, watching the practices was unique, but one thing was clear—Babcock would be the leader, and he had a plan he was ready to conduct when his selected players would be in the world spotlight come February. The Canadian women’s hockey team went down a different path and faced some challenges regarding their Olympic glory. In December, head coach Dan Church resigned citing personal reasons. That same night Canada played the United States in exhibition action

at the Markin MacPhail Centre, and the United States pounded the Canadian team 5-1. I attended the game and it was not even close. If it was not for the outstanding play of Edmonton goaltender Shannon Szabados, the score could have easily been 10-1. There was a lot of work to be done in a short period of time, and Hockey Canada chose former NHL veteran Kevin Dineen, recently fired by the Florida Panthers, to take over as bench boss. The American momentum in women’s hockey continued against Canada as they would win three more times against their rivals before 2013 came to an end. Trying to improve the confidence in the women’s hockey players would be number one on Dineen’s ‘to do’ list. According to Cassie Campbell, of Hockey Night in Canada, the Canadian team seemed to relax under Dineen’s guidance. One of the first things Dineen did, was to tell the leaders on the team to organize a “fun night” so the team could feel at ease heading into Sochi. Dineen paid for the evening himself. During the round robin of the Olympic hockey tournaments in Sochi, both Canadian teams went undefeated, but challenged. The Canadian women’s team beat Switzerland 5-0 and Finland 3-0 in their first two games. Both of Canada’s opponents made significant improvements from the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, where Canada trounced Switzerland 10-1 and blanked Finland 5-0 in the semi-final.

The Canadian women then had a round robin showdown with their archrival, the United States. In a dominating third period, Meghan Agosta-Marciano scored twice on her 27th birthday in a 3-2 Canadian victory. It was clear that stability was back in the women’s hockey program, and Team Canada would be ready for the future challenges in the elimination games ahead. A narrow 3-1 win over Switzerland, where Swiss goaltender Florence Schelling was sensational in making 45 saves, helped set up a CanadaUSA gold medal rematch.

Americans almost had their two goal lead again. With just over a minute left and Szabados pulled, a linesman mistakenly got in the way of a backward Canadian pass to defenceman Catherine Ward at the blue line, and the puck trickled all the way to the empty Canadian net and hit the post. MariePhilip Poulin capitalized on the Canadian break with a dramatic game tying goal with 55 seconds left, and then the overtime winner, to give Team Canada an emotional 3-2 victory over the United States. It was possibly the best women’s hockey game ever played.

The Canadian men meanwhile got by Norway, Austria and Finland in their first three games. But it was the way Team Canada was winning these games that concerned many Canadian hockey fans. Critics wondered why Canada was not scoring and pointed the finger at Babcock for his constant line juggling. They beat Norway 3-1 and Finland 2-1. Captain Sidney Crosby went through the round robin without a goal. Then in Canada’s quarterfinal win, team Canada put 57 shots on net but came away with only a 2-1 win over Latvia.

Dineen deserved much of the credit for Canada’s success. He never noticeably got down on his players when they were behind, and instilled a quiet sense of confidence when orchestrating a game plan in the comeback attempt.

Despite the criticism, Babcock showed confidence in postgame interviews, and was pleased with his team’s performances. He highly praised his team’s defence every time he could. As a unit, the Canadian defencemen were playing flawlessly on both ends of the ice. In fact, defencemen Drew Doughty and Shea Weber were leading Team Canada in the opponents’ zone with seven goals in four games. Comparisons were being made between Doughty and the legendary Bobby Orr. The Americans meanwhile became the media darlings of the Olympic men’s hockey tournament and were highly praised for their offensive prowess. They sparkled in a commanding 7-1 victory over Slovakia and a 5-1 win over quarterfinal bound Slovenia, while T.J. Oshie became a sensation for the four goals he scored in the shootout in a 3-2 win over Russia. After this game, many in the American press were looking forward to an American-Russian repeat in the gold medal game. In the quarterfinals, 42 year-old Teemu Selanne notched a multi-point game as Finland stunned Russia 3-1, while the Swedes and Americans continued to score at ease in wins over the Slovenians and Czechs. But who would have known the five goals the United States scored against the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals, would have been their last five goals in the Olympic tournament? Next up on the Olympic hockey schedule was the women’s gold medal game. The Americans came out flying at the Bolshoy Ice Dome in Sochi, and by leading 2-0, controlled the play through the majority of regulation.

The momentum the Canadian women created carried over to the men’s side. In an outstanding display of team defence, Team Canada beat the United States 1-0 in the Olympic semi-final. Babcock went from being portrayed as a coach who was not getting enough scoring from his players to being the architect of Canada’s greatest defensive team in the program’s history. Simply put, the Americans just did not have many great chances to score. With all of the offensive fire power Canada had, Babcock enforced a flawless system that emphasized puck possession and aggressive forechecking from the defense. Babcock’s system worked because all of his forwards and defensemen bought into his vision. In Canada’s 3-0 gold medal victory against Sweden on February 23, Babcock’s defensive systematic strategy received a perfect mark one last time. Swedish left winger Gustav Nyquist (who plays for Babcock in Detroit) hit an early post in the opening minutes, before the Canadians got goals from Jonathan Toews, Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz. In all, Canada would play six Olympic hockey games, and only give up three goals. Yes, Carey Price and Roberto Luongo each recorded shutouts, but the reason for the shutouts, was because of an outstanding team commitment in all three zones. After Canada won the gold medal against Sweden, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper sent out a tweet praising Babcock. “Just spoke w/coach Mike Babcock and told him (this) was the most perfectly executed game I have ever witnessed.” Babcock and Dineen did not receive an Olympic medal for their outstanding coaching in Sochi, but the primary reason why Canada won two Olympic gold medals in hockey was the extraordinary teamwork the coaches instilled.

However, the Canadians got a lucky break when a Brianne Jenner shot fooled American goalie Jessie Vetter with 3:26 left. The

Hockey Magazine

To win two gold medals in hockey at one Olympics is hard enough, but Canada has done this impressive feat in three out of four Olympics, (2002, 2010 and 2014). I was there for all three of those Olympics and most recently in Sochi, Russia. Heading into the 2014 Olympics there were question marks. Could the women pull it off after losing over and over to the USA in pre-Olympic play? Did Canada have the right players for the men’s team to beat power-house teams like Russia, Sweden, Finland and USA? Canada had weak goaltending. Or so they said. I arrived in Sochi to find a totally different Olympics than the gloom I had expected. The beautiful grounds reminded me of Disneyland and the arenas were magnificent buildings. I couldn’t wait for the hockey to begin. The women started and finished first. Wow, is all I can say about our Canadian/US women’s gold medal game. Okay, let’s also add crazy, insane and unbelievable. Oh, and totally Canadian. Being in that arena for their final game is a forever memory. Going into the third down by a 1-0 score is okay, not great, but still doable. Canadian family and friends chatted in between the period. We just need one, we said. When the US scored early in the third on a power play, we groaned. We were supposed to score after the puck dropped! The energy in the arena plummeted and we sat like stiff sticks, watching, waiting for that all-important first goal. I said to Coach Kevin Dineen’s wife, “If we score one, we could get two.” She nodded nervously.

Time ticked by. It looked bleak.Then with 3:26 left in the game Brianne Jenner rifled a shot that made the red light glow. The crowd hugged and we yelled. Go Canada Go bounced off the rafters. We screamed as if Canada had tied the game. Still down by one, Coach Dineen took a risk and pulled Shannon Szabados with 1:38 left on the clock. Please, I muttered, don’t get an empty-netter. When the lineswoman got in the way on the blue line, and the puck careened toward our net, the arena hushed. It hit the post and we gasped. What if it had gone in? Disastrous ending. Team Canada refused to lose that way or any way. With just 56.4 seconds left Marie-Philip Poulin slapped the puck in the net. We were on our feet, arms in the air! The Zamboni took to the ice for the overtime period and we were jittery, our hearts racing. We shook our heads. My friend Sam checked his heart rate with some app on his phone. The period started and the play was frantic. Canada got a penalty. US got a penalty. Then Hayley Wickenheiser was on a breakaway. Could this veteran player score? Yanked down by the US, Wickenheiser didn’t get the chance but she drew a penalty. Skilled Poulin found the net again. The girls went crazy! And so did the fans! In the box where the men’s team was sitting Marty St. Louis ran around high-fiving everyone. Post-game, I chatted with Coach Dineen. He said when he looked down his bench with five minutes left, the girls said, “Don’t worry Coach, we got this.” They never gave up he said. They believed. This team had been through so much adversity leading up to the Olympics. In December, just months before the Olympics, their coach resigned. Dineen (a former NHL player/captain and coach) happened to be in the right place at the right time. He took less than 24 hours to say yes to coaching women, something he had never done. After the gold medal game, he said, “It was the best day of my hockey career. What a quality group of women.”

ended tied 1-1 many of us were worried. We nattered that if we lost in overtime, we would play Russia in the quarter-finals. Dangerous. I’ve been to many international tournaments and the quarters are deadly and there’s always an upset. You win you stay; you lose you go home. When Drew Doughty scored his second goal to win the game in OT, coaches, managers and family members (who had flown a long way), breathed a sigh of relief. After the game, over drinks, people wrote on scraps of paper trying to figure out the next set of games and who Canada could end up playing in quarters. We’d escaped the qualification round. I’m sure, back home in Canada the sports shows were doing the same thing and also hashing and rehashing. Word trickled; we would play the winner of Swiss-Latvia. The defensive Swiss team could be a challenge. Latvia might be easier but the Swiss would probably take them. The first upset happened. Latvia beat the Swiss. Had Canada drawn an easy card? Think again. The NHL players had flown over on chartered flights and one plane was leaving Sochi the morning after the quarters. Family members received the memo under the door before the game that included instructions on where to drop bags in case of a loss. No one wanted to be on that plane. The game started and I think many of us were shocked. Latvia came out fighting. They held our guys along the boards, tugged at jerseys and smothered Canada. The Canadian players tried to make space to move. When Patrick Sharp scored, I breathed. Would we run away with the game? But then Latvia scored. The Russian fans (Russia had lost earlier to Finland) cheered loudly for Latvia! Now the game could be won or lost on a bad bounce. Marie-Philip Poulin is now the female Paul Henderson. Will this game become that “talked” about women’s game? Hope so! Now, let’s move on to our men. Canada’s first game was against Norway. We all thought Canada would thump them. But Norway played tough along the boards and physical. They hustled and buzzed and kept Canada from running up the score. In the end a win is a win. Next up was Austria and that proved to be a much easier game with a 6-0 win. Still, everyone was thinking that we hadn’t had much competition yet. Canada’s third and final round-robin game was against Finland. I sat in the stands knowing this was their first big test. Canada took to the ice with confidence. But the Fins played strategic hockey and didn’t give Canada many scoring opportunities. We scored first. Then they scored to tie it up. I kept waiting for more. When the game

The second period was scoreless. Family and friends were worried. Over halfway through the period Shea Weber scored on a power play. The game ended 2-1. I ran into Jonathon Toews’ mother after the game and she said if we had of lost to the 11th ranked Latvia she was going directly to her cottage. She didn’t want to hear negative comments about her son and the team. Canada’s coaches, however, said the Canadian bench wasn’t nervous. For them, another goal was just a matter of time. The situation is always different from the stands. Team Canada was now heading into the semi-final against the US as the underdogs. This game was a spectacular show. The pace was fast, the skill unbelievable, and the goaltending outstanding. To see this game played live, with such precision, was mesmerizing. Canada clearly dominated and played an almost flawless game. With a 1-0 victory Canada was in the gold medal game.

Hockey Magazine

NHL referees Brad Meier and Kelly Sutherland were chosen to officiate in Canada’s final two games at the Sochi Olympics. Meier was born in the U.S., but raised in Saskatchewan, and calls Calgary home, so there was some controversy when the selections were announced for the gold medal final which featured Canada vs. Sweden. When catching up with Meier after he returned home from the Olympics, he pointed out the differences between officiating games in the NHL and at the Olympics. He had this to say about Sochi: “Probably the biggest differences between the Olympic or International game and the NHL is twofold. The size of the ice surface definitely stresses the importance of skill. Secondly, all four lines of all teams need to be skilled. There is no such thing as energy lines that have to be monitored.” Okay, I want to add a few things here. After the OT Finland game Sidney Crosby was randomly selected to drug test. Because of this he was late to leave. We gave him a ride to the hotel so he could quickly meet up with his family. When he got in the van, wearing his Canada hat and sweats, he talked a little about the game. “We’ll be all right,” he said with confidence. Then the conversation veered to his mother’s recent arrival. He was excited to see her. At our destination, he got out of the van and apologized for the wait and thanked us for the ride. Really? No need to apologize. So polite. Team Canada’s staff said that this team was an amazing group of quality guys who were appreciative and supportive and that the leadership in the dressing room was special. Winning takes a team effort. As you already know, they did win. They beat Sweden 3-0 with brilliant execution. Oh, and Canada only let in three goals all tournament; so much for goaltending being a weakness. There was quantity in medals and quality in character. The Gold medals make Canadians proud. And they mean more than we think.

(Freelance writer and author Lorna Schultz-Nicholson accompanied husband Bob Nicholson to the Olympics. Bob is president and CEO of Hockey Canada.)

As for the gold medal game, Meier commented that the semi-final game between Canada and the U.S. seemed just as big as the gold medal final. “Both games were hyped around the world, so it was a rewarding experience to be part of both games.” As for playing a part in the game, officials take a lot of pride in not being part of the result, and this held true through the Olympics, and in the gold medal game itself. While some members of the Swedish team expressed concern about the nationality of the officials chosen for the gold medal game, it was much adieu about nothing. Meier and Sutherland called a great game – officiating did not play a role in the result. And similar to what took place when Canadian-born Bill McCreary called the final game at the 2002 Olympics (a game played between Canada and the U.S.), players from the losing side came up to congratulate them for a job well done. As Meier reported “The Swedish players were all class following their loss. To a man, they all came over to say thanks for working a “good game” and also to congratulate us for our selection to work the game. It was a very nice gesture that was appreciated by the four of us after a long journey to get to that point in our careers.”

NOMINATE A HOCKEY COACH FOR THEIR CHANCE TO

WIN

A SPOT AT THE OLD DUTCH

COACHING ACADEMY

PLUS! YOU COULD

WIN

a 2014 DODGE JOURNEY

Enter UPC at:

olddutchfoods.ca

BUY any 270 g O ld UPC at olddutc Dutch Potato Chips and enter your hfoods.ca for your chance to WIN! 速

/olddutch

* See olddutchfoods.ca for complete contest rules, details, full prize descriptions and contest eligibility requirements. No purchase necessary. Enter UPC found on, or copied from, specially marked packages of 270g Old Dutch Potato Chips. Eighteen (18) "Coaching Academy" entries will be judged and selected based on the content of their essay: six (6) from BC, AB, SK, MB and the Territories combined; six (6) from ON; and six (6) from QC, NS, NB, PE and NL combined. The estimated value of each Coaching Academy prize trip is approximately $5,000. One (1) entry from all eligible entries will be randomly selected to win the bonus prize, a 2014 Dodge Journey, having an approximate retail value of $20,700. Contest is open to residents of Canada who have reached the age of majority in the province or territory in which they reside. Some restrictions apply. The odds of winning a prize in this contest depend upon the total number of eligible entries received in each region. Entrants must correctly answer a skill-testing question to win. Contest ends 11:59 pm (MT) on April 27, 2014. Contest Draw Date: May 1, 2014.

Hockey Magazine