Hockey Magazine Calgary Spring 2012 edition by Suggitt Publishers

THE ULTIMATE HOCKEY MEGASTORE CROSSIRON MILLS 261055 Crossiron Blvd (Entry #6) (403) 274-7596

CALGARY

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EDMONTON

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WINNIPEG

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KITCHENER

SHEPARD REGIONAL CENTRE 4916 130th Ave SE (Deerfoot & 130th Ave SE) (403) 236-2962 •

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HALIFAX

TABLE OF

CONTENTS 8

22 5.

Publisher’s Message

Scotiabank Skaters Program By Jeremy Freeborn

11.

18. Referees Losing Control of Amateur Hockey Games: Study Article courtesy of The National Post - By Tom Blackwell

13.

Controlling the Ice Not Just Responsibility of the Ref By Shari Narine

14. Wendy’s Arena Locator Map

16. Can Biomechanics Improve My Hockey Performance? By Brian Shackel Dan O’Rourke - A Former Pugilist Becomes One of the Top Officials in the NHL By Rob Suggitt

22. Scholarship and Education in the Western Hockey League By Jon Hagan 24. Spotlight on an Official Michael Stinn By Rob Suggitt

Pictured on the cover is Lucas Gartner who won the chance to be the Scotiabank Skater for the Feb.14 Calgary Flames Game. Read more about it on page 8. Cover photo (and photo above) - courtesy of Gerry Thomas / Calgary Flames Hockey Club Photo to left - courtesy of Janette Ahrens / Calgary Flames Hockey Club

Hockey Calgary Magazine

Pre-game ritual.

ÂŠ Tim Hortons, 2008

PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE Welcome to our final edition of the Hockey Magazine for the 2011-2012 season. In this edition of the magazine, we have a great feature on a young minor hockey player who was selected to participate in the Flames Scotiaskater program. This is something the Flames do at every home game, so we thought it would be interesting to find out a little bit more about this program, and what it means to be selected. We have another great feature on a young hockey player, and one who also officiates hockey at a minor league level. It takes a lot of ingredients to be a hockey official, including smarts, athletic ability, and thick skin. In this issue, we have reprinted an article which recently ran in the National Post about the challenges involved with attracting and keeping hockey officials. It’s a provocative article, and in this spirit, we took the time to chat with Craig DeCoursey, who is the chairman of the Central Zone Referee’s Committee. We learned that the national experience is not quite the same as the local experience – what takes place in Calgary (or in Alberta) specifically. We appreciate Craig taking the time to give his thoughtful feedback to this important issue in minor hockey. And in wrapping things up, we have a feature article on Dan O’Rourke, who is one of the top referees in the NHL. O’Rourke provides his candid feedback on what it takes to become an NHL referee, and the road he took to get there.

Credits President and Publisher Rob Suggitt Vice President Stephen Kathnelson Art Director Christine Kucher Graphic Designers Terah Jans | Cole Mckelvie

Account Manager Vicki Davis

Contributing Writers

Jeremy Freeborn I Tom Blackwell / National Post Jon Hagan | Shari Narine | Brian Shackel | Rob Suggitt

Copy Editing Shari Narine

Photography Credits

Janette Ahrens / Calgary Flames Hockey Club Andy Devlin / Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club Amber Grmek Photography | Stephen Kathnelson Making Stridz Athlete Development | Mark Rogers Shima Studios | Gerry Thomas / Calgary Flames Hockey Club

Administration

We hope you enjoy this issue of the Hockey Magazine. If you have any story ideas or suggestions (in particular, related to minor hockey), please pass them along! In the meantime, enjoy the balance of the 2011-2012 season, and have a great summer! And see you again in the fall!

Amber Grmek

#950, Bell Tower, 10104 - 103 Ave., Edmonton, AB T5J 0H8 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

Sincerely,

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

Rob Suggitt Publisher,

Printed by: R.R. Donnelley

HOCKEY MAGAZINE CALGARY

DO YOU

HAVE A

MINOR

HOCKEY

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? Hockey Calgary Magazine

If your child won a gold medal at the 2012 ESSO Minor Hockey Week, we want to hear from you! Please complete the following questionnaire and send it in by April 15th, 2012. Your child could be featured in our 2012 - 2013 Yearbook edition of the Hockey Magazine. Send completed entries along with a photograph (preferably in a hockey uniform) to Hockey Magazine #950, Bell Tower, 10104 - 103 Ave., Edmonton, AB T5J 0H8 (If you enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope, we will gladly return your photo.)

or E-Mail to publisher@hockeymagazine.net

Name: Current Team: Gold Medal Winning Team: Age: Number of Years You’ve Played Hockey: Usual Position: Favourite Hockey Team: Favourite Hockey Player: Who is Your Role Model?: Other Sports/Interests: Favourite Hockey Memory:

Current team: McKnight Mustangs Age: 10 School grade: 5 Number of years played: 6 Usual position: Right Wing Favourite hockey team: Washington Capitals Favourite Hockey Player: Alexander Ovechkin Role Model: my cousin Shane who plays on a bantam 2 team. Favourite Hockey Memory: Getting a top shelf goal at a skills demonstration during a period break at a Hitmen game in the Saddledome earlier this season. School: Cambrian Heights Elementary School in NW Calgary Gold Medal Moment: Willy’s team (McKnight Mustangs) beat Bow River 2-0 in a closely fought match to win the Gold!

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Hockey Calgary Magazine

By Jeremy Freeborn

Photo courtesy of Janette Ahrens / Calgary Flames Hockey Club

Since the 2007-08 National Hockey League season, the Scotiabank Skaters Program has been a unique feature at games hosted by the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Prior to each game, one minor hockey league player in the Calgary region has the opportunity of a lifetime to participate in the pre-game warm-up by skating with the team, and then standing on the blue line with the Calgary Flames while the national anthem is being played. The Scotiabank Skaters Program debuted in Calgary, and has expanded nationwide for home games featuring the Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets of the NHL, Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League and St. John’s Ice Caps of the American Hockey League. The overall number of entrants over that time is now in the tens of thousands.

“He looked a little bit nervous out there and excited,” Kostopoulos explained. “I was just trying to joke with him a bit. But he looked good out there. It looked like he was ready to go and be ready to start the game for us. All of the guys on the team and in the organization are great at working with kids. The kids are the future of the game, and we want them around as much as possible.”

Players are chosen to participate prior to every home game through a random draw. Entry forms can be found at www.scotiaskaters.com with youth hockey players aged seven to 14 years old eligible for the experience.

As a national institution, Scotiabank is pleased to be part of a program with such a positive approach to recognizing the importance of hockey at the grassroots level.

At the Flames home game on Feb. 14, seven year-old Lucas Gartner of the Novice 4 Skeletons in the Crowfoot Minor Hockey Association was the chosen player. Gartner, a left winger, was given his own locker (with his name on it) just outside of the Flames dressing room. He was then given a full Flames uniform by Flames marketing promotions co-ordinator Blake Heynen, and then the opportunity to see the Flames practice up close and personal before coming on to the ice. Also on this special night, Gartner had the opportunity to be interviewed by Hockey Magazine. Gartner was very excited to meet Jarome Iginla and just be a part of the overall action. While on the ice, veteran defenceman Tom Kostopoulos took Gartner under his wing.

“Having kids involved is very important to us,” said Scotiabank senior vice-president of the Prairie Region George Marlatte. “The Flames were nice enough so we could be associated with it. We thought it would be a great thrill for a kid to skate with a player like Jarome Iginla.” “Our partnership works so well,” explained Flames vice-president of advertising, sponsorship and marketing, Jim Bagshaw. “It is amazing to see the look on those kids when they’re skating. It is difficult for adults to describe the excitement when the kids actually skate out with their heroes. It doesn’t get any better than that. It’s just spectacular.”

Giving kids a chance to experience fantastic life moments that they will remember forever is at the heart of the Scotiabank Kids Program, and for many youngsters in Calgary, like Lucas, they are simply living an unbelievable dream.

The contest was originally for minor hockey league players aged eight to 11 years, but the Flames and Scotiabank decided to give more hockey players an opportunity this season to spend time with their hockey idols and expanded the age bracket. “We just thought a little broader scope was important,” explained Flames director of sponsorship sales Mark Stiles.

Olympic athlete Kelly Bechard, who won a gold medal with the Canadian national women’s hockey team at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, is now in charge of promotions and sponsorships for Scotiabank.

“To see the youngsters go on the ice with their heroes is a special experience they will cherish for the rest of their lives,” she said. “There are a number of teams we have brought this program to, and I think that just goes to show how much we believe in the Scotiabank Skater Program.” Marlatte believes young hockey players also have an opportunity to learn important life skills that go beyond hockey, by having their name associated with the program. “We think it is very important that people develop banking skills early on by having their own accounts. Handling a bank account is very responsible. This just gives them a little bit more incentive to do that.” Currently there are plans to continue the Scotiabank Skaters Program next season and for years to come. “Our partnership with Scotiabank is ever changing, ever growing and is very unique,” said Bagshaw. “We appreciate it very much.” Stiles agreed with Bagshaw. “When you have a program like that, you want to continue it.”

Photo courtesy of Janette Ahrens / Calgary Flames Hockey Club

“It is difficult for adults to describe the excitement when the kids actually skate out with their heroes. It doesn’t get any better than that. It’s just spectacular.”

Hockey Calgary Magazine

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Article courtesy of the National Post By Tom Blackwell

Photo by Amber Grmek Photography

Article available only in print version. Many amateur hockey referees have been in games where the officials lost control because of aggressive play, suggests a new study that takes a novel look at violence in the sport. Almost half the hundreds of officials surveyed by medical researchers at the University of Toronto said they had been victims of physical violence themselves, from cross-checks to the head, to a fan’s sucker punch, to an attack by an irate parent after the game, according to the just-published paper.

partly because of such challenges, said Garth Loeppky, director of officiating for Hockey Manitoba.

“Has my safety been threatened, on the ice and off the ice? Yes, it has,” he said. “I did remember calling in the police a couple of times. These are situations where players, coaches and fans were threatening my physical well-being, largely because of calls that had to be made.”

Pick up your copy in arenas across Calgary or request a copy: publisher@hockeymagazine.net “Has my safety been threatened, on the ice and

The authors say their study is the first to examine hockey safety from a referee’s perspective, and conclude that officials may need more authority and support to maintain order on the ice and prevent concussions and other injuries. The researchers stopped short, however, of endorsing one respondent’s proposal: banning parents and fans from minor-league games altogether. “Referees suggest that they are both physically and verbally abused,” the paper in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine notes. “This potential lack of respect and hostility for referees from coaches, parents and fans creates an environment that may put all on-ice participants at higher risk for injury.”

One one occasion, a player he was trying to keep out of a fight crosschecked him in the mouth, leaving injuries that required oral surgery. At a Junior A championship two years ago, the losing coach stormed onto the ice, blaming Mr. Loeppky for having assessed a five-minute kneeing penalty.

“He was using a lot of profanity. He was making it seem as if this was personal for me, that I was personally ending their season, and he was going to make it personal for the rest of my life — all those sort of catastrophic comments.”

off the ice? Yes, it has,” he said. “I did remember calling in the police a couple of times.”

The researchers, led by Dr. Alun Ackery, an emergency-medicine resident at the university, acknowledge the applicability of the findings may be limited by the fact that most of the officials who completed the survey were from Ontario, and the voluntary questionnaire might have drawn more responses from those with an axe to grind. A spokesman for Hockey Canada argued, in fact, that its own research indicates most of the country’s 30,000 amateur referees are satisfied with their lot.

The U of T researchers, also including Drs. Charles Tator and Carolyn Snider, convinced nine hockey leagues to distribute the questionnaire to officials, with 632 responding. The NHL would not allow its referees to participate. The officials had worked in a mix of leagues, from children’s recreational and competitive to adult recreational, junior and semi-professional.

The top official in one province, however, said the push-back that refs often encounter from players, coaches, fans and parents can make the job demanding. In fact, about a third of first-time officials end up quitting after their initial season, at least

Hockey Calgary Magazine

About 55% said they had been in games where officials lost control because of aggression on the ice, related to disagreements over penalty calls, excessive body checking or one team seeking retribution against another.

More than half those with more than 10 years’ experience said concussions seemed to be more common in their ranks, though it was unclear if that was because of heightened awareness of the injury.

Close to half reported physical abuse of referees and almost all cited verbal assaults. Specific incidents ranged from a parent breaking an official’s finger, to a slap shot deliberately fired at close range that “shattered [the ref’s] arm,” and a fan threatening “to carve out a linesman’s eye.”

More than 60% said they would favour rule changes and increased enforcement to make the game safer, such as increasing penalties for coaches who abuse officials.

Article available only in print version. Glen McCurdie, a vice-president of Hockey Canada, the sport’s main amateur governing body, said the results of the study did not seem to jibe with what his association found when it surveyed hundreds of officials across the country at the end of the 2009-10 season. More than 90% said their experience had been positive and of those who were quitting, just 5% cited abuse as a reason, he said.

Calgary or request a copy: publisher@hockeymagazine.net

Meanwhile, officials have successfully implemented a new rule outlawing head shots over the last year, he noted. Troy Howatt, head of the Prince Edward Island Hockey Referee Association, said the head-shot rule has generally helped make the sport less violent, and suggested that officials have the rules they need to manage games. Although some players exhibit a lack of respect, they do so toward players and coaches, as well as referees, he suggested. “It’s no tougher than any other job in the game of hockey, whether it’s a coach or manager or whatever.” National Post tblackwell@nationalpost.com

Photo by Amber Grmek Photography

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By Shari Narine

Photo by Stephen Kathnelson

The Alberta experience of refereeing in the minor leagues seems to differ from the experience recounted by the Ontario refs who responded to the survey that is the topic of a recent National Post article. The paper, entitled “Violence in Canadian Amateur Hockey: The Experience of Referees in Ontario” and which appeared in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine, is the result of responses from 632 referees in that province. “Officials aren’t the only ones responsible for losing control of a hockey game,” said Craig DeCoursey in response to the finding that 55 per cent of Ontario refs who completed the survey claimed that they had been involved in games in which officials lost control of the play on the ice. DeCoursey currently serves as chair of the Central Zone Referees Association which totals 1,500 officials including those in Calgary, Banff, Bassano, Drumheller, and Claresholm and has been active in administration of officials for 14 years. He has also been reffing for 26 years, calling penalties in the minor hockey ranks all the way to the university level. “The coaches and players bear responsibility too. In fact coaches have more control over their teams than the officials do. We can assess a minor penalty but (coaches) can bench their players, limit their ice time etc.,” he said. One step Hockey Canada has taken this year to protect players from concussions and to control particularly unsafe hitting is to ban headshots. Players are assessed two-minute penalties, but an additional two minutes can be tagged on if the headshot is deemed intentional. “I don’t think Hockey Canada is done examining this rule and how to best balance safety with the physicality of the game,” said DeCoursey, noting that Hockey Canada is way ahead of the NHL when it comes to protecting hockey players. But it’s not only those on the ice who control the play, he added. “Emotions from the stands have a significant impact on the emotions on the ice for all participants. That is simple human nature but also a part of what makes this game great.” With that in mind, he pointed out that the Respect in Sport program, which was implemented by Hockey Alberta and made mandatory by Hockey Calgary, is one way to help address some of the conduct from the stands and benches.

“The Respect in Sport program will continue to play an important role in changing the culture of hockey long into the future in my opinion,” said DeCoursey. And a program like that may be more important than bringing the hammer down on coaches. DeCoursey noted that very few Alberta officials have advocated for tougher penalties for those behind the bench. “Suspension guidelines are quite tough in my opinion,” said DeCoursey. “Getting young officials to assess game misconducts for verbal abuse is a tougher challenge and a greater necessity than tougher penalties. If we make the penalties too tough, officials will hesitate to assess them knowing the repercussions. A balance is important here.” DeCoursey said that Alberta refs would not argue with their Ontario counterparts that verbal abuse is an all-too-regular experience, but he draws the line at physical abuse. Close to half the Ontario respondents said they experienced physical abuse. There are over 5,000 refs in Alberta and last season 16 cases of physical abuse were reported. “About half of those are related to verbal abuse so intense that the official felt their physical safety was in question,” said DeCoursey. More than half way through this current season, nine cases of physical abuse have been reported. Of the 1,500 refs in his zone, DeCoursey said two have been kept off the ice because of concussions, a figure he indicates is average for each season. But DeCoursey doesn’t believe that verbal or physical abuse is the leading cause of young refs hanging up their whistles. Like Hockey Manitoba, about one-third of Alberta’s young officials quit each season, but it’s not only because they don’t enjoy the pressure and responsibility that comes along with officiating. Reasons for young officials quitting often times involve wanting to spend more time with their girlfriend or boyfriend, finding the arena too cold, leaving home for school, or finding work elsewhere. “As an official it is our job to help ensure the game is fair and safe under those emotional conditions,” said DeCoursey. “However, all participants have a role in that and bear responsibility for their conduct.”

Hockey Calgary Magazine

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Hockey Calgary Magazine

By Brian Shackel

The answer to this question is yes! But what exactly is Biomechanics? When should I consult a biomechanist? How does this relate to the game of hockey? Is this service available in Edmonton? This article will provide more insight into the ever changing field of athlete development and explain the role which Biomechanics plays in the game of hockey!

Biomechanics is one of the fastest growing areas of sports science among elite level athletes. Biomechanics is the study of human movement and describes the forces which cause this movement. More specifically, it helps to explain the what, why, when, where and how our body moves. By knowing how our body moves and through the use of video analysis, we are able to identify and modify an athlete’s technique therefore improving his performance and allowing him to reach his full potential. A recent study conducted following the Vancouver Olympic Games found that 62% of the medals won at the Olympics were won by athlete’s who worked with a biomechanist using Dartfish Video Analysis (www.dartfish.com).

If you are an athlete who is looking to gain a competitive edge it is important to gain a greater understanding of what your body’s strengths and weaknesses are. For a hockey player, this could be improving your forward skating stride, making your tight turns tighter, or working on improving your foot speed during a start, therefore making you a quicker, faster, and stronger hockey player. During a session with a biomechanist, athletes are filmed performing a variety of hockey specific skills (skating, shooting, etc.) followed by a one-on-one consultation to review the video and identify strengths

Images Courtesy of Making Stridz Athlete Development and Greater St. Albert Sports Academy

and weaknesses for each athlete. The athlete will then be provided with specific areas to focus on during skill development sessions and a follow-up session will be set up in order to monitor and track the athlete’s progress. With the off-season just around the corner, this is an ideal time to begin thinking about ways to improve your game over the summer. As a hockey player in the Edmonton area, you have the opportunity to access world class skill development and strength training from many of the great hockey specific companies which our city has to offer. With that being said, it is also a great time of year to allow your body to heal and rehabilitate from any injuries which you might have sustained during the hockey season. A biomechanist is a great resource for this as he will be able to provide the athlete with an office functional movement assessment. This assessment helps to identify specific areas which you will need to target during your off-season training in order to rehabilitate from past injuries or correct bad movement patterns to prevent injuries in the upcoming season. Rehabilitation is achieved through soft tissue work, strength and stability exercises as well as stretching to improve the athlete’s movement quality.

skills during practice, the off-season or any other skill development sessions which they participate in. Most athletes learn a new skill and continue performing the skill the same way throughout their career. However this isn’t always the most efficient and effective way to reach their optimal performance. It is also extremely important for hockey players to learn how to properly “fire” or “contract” their muscles in the proper sequence to become more explosive and powerful on the ice. Correcting biomechanics and technique flaws and retraining your skills can significantly improve your overall athletic performance. Working alongside a biomechanist can help to teach body awareness, improved muscle activation and improved technique! Brian Shackel is the owner of a Biomechanics Consulting company called Making Stridz Athlete Development which is located in Edmonton. Brian works with several hockey academies in the Edmontonarea as a Biomechanics Consultant/ Video Coach and specializes in the use of video for both technical and tactical skill development. Biomechanics sessions are available on both a team and individual basis. For more information on Biomechanics please visit: www.makingstridz.com ; e-mail him at brian@makingstridz.com; call him at 780-932-2903; or follow him on Twitter @MakingStridz

Biomechanics is one of the fastest growing areas of sports science amongst elite level athletes.

Biomechanics is an essential aspect of hockey skill development. The game of hockey requires a wide variety of skills to be performed throughout a game and each of these skills has a specific “optimal technique” which can improve the athlete’s efficiency on the ice. From skating, passing and shooting all the way to goalie-specific movements, using video as a means of providing instant feedback to an athlete can be beneficial in helping to retrain proper movement patterns. It is essential that players and goalies work on these

Hockey Calgary Magazine

Photo (Left) provided by Andy Devlin / EOHC

“I practiced,” he laughingly commented, adding, “I was never a dirty player, but I was always a team player. I always took care of my teammates. I fought plenty enough, but it was rarely out of anger. It was mostly out of principle. If you picked on my teammates, you had to answer to someone.” Well, he was definitely no stranger to the penalty box. In his first pro year (ECHL), O’Rourke tallied 296 minutes in the penalty box. He played four to five years in the minor pros, until good fortune arrived, but it wasn’t a call up to the NHL. It was a call from former NHL referee Andy Van Hellemond asking him if he wanted to be a hockey official.

We met up with Dan O’Rourke on a recent western road swing. Like most NHL officials, his daily regiment before the game included meeting or sharing meals with his game partners, working out, and getting ready for the game that night. NHL officials typically work 73 regular season games in a season. Add the pre-season (they usually work five to seven exhibition games) and the playoffs, and it’s a long season, especially with the travel involved. Dan O’Rourke first started officiating as a linesman in the NHL in 1999 after working in the East Coast Hockey League for three seasons. After one year of “doing the lines,” O’Rourke decided he wanted to be a referee, so he honed his skills in the American Hockey League for three seasons. He made the big jump to the NHL in 2004, where he has remained since. O’Rourke’s hockey beginnings are similar to the road taken by a lot of NHL officials. He played hockey at an early age (on skates at three or four years old), and he started officiating hockey games when he was a young minor hockey player. O’Rourke was born in Calgary, but he grew up in the Penticton/Summerland area, moving there when he was halfway through grade one. When I asked O’Rourke about his playing career, I remarked that he spent a lot of time in the penalty box before becoming a hockey official.

“When I started in the East Coast League as a linesman, it had been a long time since I officiated. Andy Van Hellemond was the boss of the East Coast League at the time, and he worked me with just about everybody there. My comment to everyone at the time was ‘I’m new at this (level), so if I do something goofy or crappy out there, please tell me, and if you have any comments or tips, pass them along. I’m not going to be put off.’ So I took a lot of things in from everyone and tried to figure out what would work for me.” When asked if his playing career helps him understand tempers in the game, O’Rourke was quick to respond. “You see it coming, you really do. You go, ‘If that happened to my teammate, here’s how I would have reacted.’ One of the things that helps me is that I can see it coming, and I can relate to the players because I’ve been there (before). I’ve been chopped, hacked, whacked, and I’ve possibly done it to someone else.” I asked O’Rourke about fighting in the game, and he paused before answering. “That’s an interesting question. I did it. I don’t recall other than one time where I had to miss a game because of a fight.” O’Rourke continues, “It did police the game. Do I want my son doing it? Probably not. But I also understand if he’s going to play this game, the way it’s set up now, he’s going to have to learn how to do it. I think one of the best byproducts of the game today is that we got rid of the guy that just sits at the end of the bench. We got rid of that guy because he can’t keep up anymore. And most of what happens now is pretty spontaneous. It’s not just for the show of it.”

Does this give the game’s agitators a bit of a free ride? “Yeah, a little bit. To a certain extent, I think those guys get a little bit of a free pass. But there are still plenty of guys who are big enough and tough enough to take care of those guys.” O’Rourke has seen a lot of changes to the game in his 13-year officiating career, and one of those changes took place after the lock-out, when the NHL went from the one-man system to the twoman referee system. “It’s an interesting change. We come up doing the one-man referee system, and we do the two-man system when we get here (in the NHL). You learn coming through it – if something went sideways in your game (in the one-man system), you’re the only one out

“Yeah, for sure. I think it will add years to guys’ careers. Also, no different than the players, there’s a real change to how we prepare ourselves in the off-season. It’s become more of a year-round thing. You don’t go to training camp to get in shape, like we used to – you arrive in shape, just like the players do. This, along with having two guys out there, is going to change how long you can stay in the game as a referee.” And there’s no substitute for experience. This is why the NHL asked McCreary to stay on an extra year after he originally provided his retirement notice. “Experience is a big part, but a lot of it is the guys I worked with, especially the senior guys like Billy (McCreary), Don Koharski and Rob Schick (to name a few), I was lucky enough to have those guys around when I was starting out. “Those TV timeouts we get are invaluable, because you have the time to talk with the other officials about where the game is going. They all want to give you advice. And it’s up to you to take that in, decipher it, and see what works for you.” And O’Rourke acknowledges that you have to have thick skin. “It’s a tough job (to do) if it isn’t part of your makeup. One of the things I can remember, I was 12 or 13, and I was doing a mite or atom game in Summerland, and I had three dads who were able to get down to ice level. There was no glass separating them from the ice, and they were yelling and screaming at the kids. It had nothing to do with them yelling at the officials, but I finally heard enough of them yelling at the kids that I stopped the game, and kicked them out. They said, ‘You can’t kick us out,’ and I said, ‘Well, you tell everyone else why we’re not playing anymore, because we’re not starting until you guys leave.’ I think it’s that sort of make-up that you need to be able to survive officiating. As a 13, 14 or 15 year old kid, I don’t know if there are a lot of people out there that would want to go referee a game, and get chased through the rink and out into the parking lot, and have to hustle out of there, for a couple of bucks. The atmosphere where guys have to learn to do this job is not a very friendly one. It’s not so much the coaches or the players, it’s the peripheral, it’s the fans, it’s the parents.” Does it seem that hockey officials get it more than any other officials? “You watch the NFL. The officials can absolutely screw up the game, and it’s not the story. They (the media or commentators) don’t talk about it. They sell the game rather than knock the game down. It’s unfortunate because I think it hurts the casual fan more than anyone.

“Those TV timeouts we get are invaluable, because you have the time to talk with the other officials about where the game is going.”

there. So you better figure out how to pull it back or you just have to ride it out for the rest of the night. Whereas with two of you out there, if you let the rope out too far, it can be a very difficult thing to pull back because there’s two of you. You may have realized that you have to pull this thing back in, but your partner may not, or vice versa. There’s got to be a real trust in the guys you work with. “You try too hard to see everything, as if you’re by yourself, and you end up not seeing anything.” In past Hockey Magazine interviews with retired NHL referees Bill McCreary and Kerry Fraser, they noted that the two-man system allowed them to elongate their careers, taking them into their mid to late 50s. Does O’Rourke envision this for his career?

If someone’s flipping through the channels, and all they hear about is how bad a job we’re doing, why would you ever watch the hockey if you’re a casual fan? People will think it’s like wrestling. That’s what we have to understand as people who make a living on this game, don’t screw it up.” In making his comments, O’Rourke isn’t complaining. He is very matter of fact about things, and like most professionals in the game, he is thankful to be doing what he does for a living. “I always wanted to be part of hockey for as long as I can remember, and getting here as an official wasn’t my first choice. But now that I’m here, I can’t think of a better way to make a living in the game.”

*Photo provided by Andy Devlin / EOHC

Hockey Calgary Magazine

O’Rourke has moved up the ranks of officials, and the biggest feather in the cap worn by officials is to work the playoffs. It’s a merit-based system (and there are financial rewards which come with working each round of the playoffs), and O’Rourke reached this pinnacle of this success last season when he officiated the Stanley Cup Final between Boston and Vancouver. “Last season was the first season I was selected for the finals. I worked the third round the year before.” On getting selected: “One, I think it’s a trust factor from everybody that’s involved in the game. The players trust you, the coaches start to trust you. Your bosses start to trust you. Two years ago was (kinda) my audition (to do the finals). I did two game sixes – the first and second

“I always wanted to be part of hockey for as long as I can remember, and getting here as an official wasn’t my first choice. But now that I’m here, I can’t think of a better way to make a living in the game.”

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round in Montreal.” (Montreal vs. Washington in the first round and Montreal vs. Pittsburgh in the second round.) “I don’t know if there’s going to be a louder building to work in then that game six at the Bell Centre in Montreal. The guys came down and said the decibel level in the building was 140 plus, and that was the year it was Philly and Chicago in the final, and they were talking about how loud it was in Chicago, where it was 115 (decibels there at its loudest).”

O’Rourke was on the road for over 150 days last season. His airline miles amounted to 165,000, and this doesn’t include the final where the officials chartered back and forth between Vancouver and Boston. “And it’s all commercial travel. Whenever we’re traveling with somebody, we laugh and say, ‘Man, we spend a lot of time in lines.’ We’re in a line to check in, we’re in a line to go through customs and security. We wait in a line to get a taxi, and when we get to the hotel, you’re waiting in line to check in.

O’Rourke passed this test and went on to officiate in stages later in the playoffs.

“That’s the toughest part of the job. The traveling part and being away from your family.”

“My timing as an official has been great. My timing as a hockey player, not so good.”

In wrapping things up, I asked if he had some advice for young aspiring hockey officials.

O’Rourke beams when talking about the best part of his job.

“One of the things I’ve always said when I go to the camps or seminars – I always ask who plays hockey. One piece of advice I always offer is for officials to play hockey as long as you can, so that when you do officiate, you’re going to be one, a better skater, which is paramount to officiating, because if you can’t move and be in the right spots, you can’t make the appropriate call.

“The best part for me is the camaraderie of the guys. It’s a real team atmosphere for our group. And just being out there, being part of the game is great. I’ve been lucky enough where hockey’s been part of my life since I was three or four years old, and hopefully, it will be there for quite a bit longer When asked about the toughest part of the job, O’Rourke didn’t hesitate. “The toughest part is the travel.” There are no homes games for officials.

“And two (by playing hockey), you have an appreciation for what the players are going through. Play the game, and it doesn’t mean you have to play it at a high level. It will give you a good foundation for how the game works. “And understand the rules. It gives you a lot of tools, a lot of options. “And just enjoy it. Don’t take yourself too seriously.”

Photo provided by Andy Devlin / EOHC

Hockey Calgary Magazine

By Jon Hagan

You wouldn’t be alone if you thought that by choosing to play in the Western Hockey League rather than college hockey in the NCAA, a player might be choosing sport over education. You would, however, be wrong. It goes without saying that the WHL is hugely successful when it comes to producing top calibre players, but something not all fans know is that the WHL has a program in place, which offers a guaranteed post-secondary scholarship to all its players that puts a focus on helping them prepare for the future. “For each season played in the WHL, a player receives one year of scholarship funding to a post-secondary institution of his choice,” said the league’s manager of recruitment, Tyler Boldt. “This scholarship includes tuition, compulsory fees, and textbooks. This program applies to every single player in the WHL. For a player who only plays one or two season, he is awarded the scholarship he earned while playing those seasons.” But that’s not all. The teams don’t just provide money for education. Each of them provides guidance in the form of an advisor on staff that helps each player navigate his way through high school and into post secondary, if desired.

get him there did because failing a course was not an option. Another objective Bajnok describes is to help these young men take advantage of an alternative plan should their hockey careers not take off beyond junior. “High school graduates are encouraged to take post-secondary courses for at least one semester,” he said. “We want them to take a post-secondary option in order to get a taste of college, so they’re prepared when they get out.” In order to facilitate this, the league recently partnered with Athabasca University to offer fully accredited university courses, through online and other distance education vehicles, to any WHL player interested in further pursuing post-secondary studies while playing in the WHL. After playing four seasons in Kamloops, Brock Nixon was traded to Calgary in his last season. Transitioning into university after wrapping up his junior career was seamless thanks in part to some of the undergraduate courses he took while in Kamloops. Currently working on his education degree at the University of Calgary as well as playing for the university hockey team, Nixon has a keen appreciation for what the WHL scholarship program has provided him.

“You really start to see the magnitude of the scholarship program when you meet other students having to work while they’re going to school,”

“I really am the plan B guy,” said Bernie Bajnok, education advisor with the Calgary Hitmen. A former high school principal, Bajnok has been involved with the Hitmen in one capacity or another for over 10 years. One objective of his job as advisor is to “try and help every kid graduate high school to the best of their ability” and this is something that he takes quite seriously. In an education bulletin that he produces for Hitmen players, the words “failing a course is not an option” is a bolded statement under the tutorials section.

Case in point, one night a few years back, during a game between provincial rivals the Calgary Hitmen and the Red Deer Rebels, Hitmen forward Ryan Getzlaf lost a few teeth after being laid flat by Rebel defenseman Dion Phaneuf. The loss of teeth and the possibility of a concussion made writing the second part of an English exam the next day a bit more difficult. Enter Bajnok. He worked closely with both Getzlaf and the school’s administration to arrange for a time to rewrite. The rest, as they say, is history. Although, Getzlaf’s current employment doesn’t require a high school degree, the process to help

“You really start to see the magnitude of the scholarship program when you meet other students having to work while they’re going to school,” he said. “The scholarship allows you to study and play varsity hockey without having to worry about money.” The beauty of the program is that it is not restricted to university. Players are able to attend any post-secondary institution anywhere in North America, and this includes any type of school which is, as Boldt describes “career enhancing.” “This could include a college or university, technical college, or any sort of job training (police, fire services or flight school, for example),” said Boldt. “And players are definitely taking advantage of this

flexibility as WHL scholarship recipients are currently attending over 70 different schools.” A recent WHL press release announced that 300 graduates of the league had been awarded scholarships for the 2011-2012 academic year, with the cohort enrolled in 71 different post-secondary institutions across North America. Of this number, just over half are also playing university hockey. In our province, the University of Alberta leads the way with 28 graduates registered in full-time studies followed closely by the University of Calgary with 25 graduates enrolled.

Whether you’re a parent of a young man trying to determine which route to go as far as hockey development is concerned, or you’re a fan and you want to keep abreast of what’s going on in terms of junior development, keep in mind that by choosing the Western Hockey League a player is not sacrificing his education for hockey. He is supporting it.

The WHL scholarship program is administered by the league, but solely funded by each of the teams. If a player plays two years for one team and two years for another, both split the scholarship. According to league officials, this season WHL clubs will contribute $1.6 million to graduates utilizing the WHL scholarship.

“...BY CHOOSING THE WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE A PLAYER IS NOT SACRIFICING HIS EDUCATION FOR HOCKEY. HE IS SUPPORTING IT.”

Brock Nixon - Photos by Mark Rogers

Hockey Calgary Magazine

By Rob Suggitt Photos provided by Shima Studios

What’s with you and the Hawks? :) My favourite player would have to be Jonathan Toews. I have two jerseys with his name on them. Duncan Keith is a close second – I played left defence and wore #2. I also met Keith two summers ago in Penticton when Chicago won the cup. I met him, saw the cup, the Norris Memorial Trophy, his gold medal, and got a picture and autograph from him.

What made you want to become a hockey official? Just like any 13 year-old kid, I wanted to make some extra money. It was probably the main reason for me becoming an official, along with liking hockey so much and knowing the game well.

What level of hockey are you currently officiating? We met up with 18 year-old Michael Stinn near the end of the hockey season, as he was refereeing a peewee game at George Blunden Arena. Michael was about to officiate his 140th game of the season, and he looks to be on track to do (ref or lines) 200 games this season. (He also officiates games during summer hockey.) Michael first laced up the skates at four years of age and played all the way through bantam (second year). Along the way, he made the decision to become a minor hockey official, which he did six years ago. In addition to being a hockey official, Michael enjoys cooking as his favourite year-round activity, and he enjoys golfing in the summer. Michael recently graduated from high school (Bishop Carroll High School), and he’s currently enrolled in the Professional Cooking program at SAIT. His favourite hockey team is the Chicago Blackhawks, and he tries to catch as many games as possible. He’s attended around 10 games in Calgary, and recently caught back-to-back games in Calgary/ Edmonton earlier this season. One day, he hopes to see a live game in Chicago (the Madhouse on Madison) to cheer on his favourite team. In starting off our interview with Michael, our first question is about the team he cheers for (the Chicago Blackhawks), and his favourite players (Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith).

Currently the highest level I officiate is midget division 4 (as a referee), but I have “reffed” a couple midget 1 games so that would be the highest level I have worked as a referee. I also work as a linesman, and for lines, I usually work as high as the midget 1 level.

Do you have any highlights related to big games or tournaments to pass along? Any awards or achievements? Last season I got to work the bantam 1 and 2 provincial final games – that was a pretty big deal. I called the bantam 2 finals for Minor Hockey Week this year. When I started officiating for my community of seven clubs, I received the top rookie referee award and also a veteran award. I also was in a commercial in December for the world junior tournament here, the commercial was about my greatest reffing moment which was calling the bantam 1 provincial final as it was my first time reffing bantam 1. The commercial was a series of “I was there” commercials done by City TV. I was given this opportunity by Darrell Martindale from Hockey Calgary.

What do you enjoy most about officiating hockey games? I don’t think there’s one thing I enjoy the most about officiating but I love getting out on the ice.

What kind of training were you provided? The training that I received is pretty basic. It mostly comes from the clinic which you must attend at the start of every season. In the clinic we go over rules and procedures, and for the first few years you have an on-ice session where you work on positioning. I have also been supervised where I receive feedback on things to improve upon. I also took the initiative and went to Penticton last summer to participate

in an officiating school run by NHL referee Steve Kozari. This week long camp provided me with so much training – I built on my skills, learned knew things, and grew my confidence.

Do you have a role model or mentor who has helped you along the way? I have a couple role models, the first being Don Henderson who is a linesman in the NHL. I met him before I started officiating, at a hockey camp that he and his brother put on. I attended the camp for about five years in the summer. I definitely looked up to him as he is a long-time NHL official who I knew when I was young, I still follow the games that he works. Two other role models that I have are Steve Kozari and also Kyle Rehman, both who are referees in the NHL. I met them last summer in Penticton at Steve Kozari’s officiating school. At this camp I learned so much, gained tons of information, and improved on my skills. These two officials taught me so much that I do look up to them, as Steve is a veteran NHL official, and Kyle is a new young official from Calgary. These two also allow me to come talk to them before games they have if I’m at the game they are at, which is a cool thing.

How have you improved your skills as an official? Improving your skills comes during every game, you should be working on things every game so that you are always improving on something. You have to put the effort into it though, if you want to improve then you have to work on all aspects of your game. Trying new things out in real game situations plays a huge part in improving if it goes well. Like I said before going to the camp in Penticton

helped me improve so much, but again you have to be willing to do such things as attending these camps to improve. You also have to be willing and open to hearing things that you need to work on, how to correct things, and what others do.

What is the toughest part about being a referee? The toughest part of officiating is having to deal with coaches. I’m not big in stature, and being so young, coaches try to run the conversation with me, but through the camp I went to last summer, I learned techniques to deal with coaches which have worked really well. I have way more confidence talking to coaches now. I am able to run conversations with coaches and they don’t rattle me, but it is a part of the game that is very difficult.

How do you handle criticism? Criticism is just a thing that comes with officiating, you have to be able to rub it off and not let it get to you. I’m lucky how I have support from high ranking officials and just others that tell me how good I am so this helps to rub off any criticism that I get from players, coaches, or fans. The biggest thing is you can’t let it get to you ‘cause it can end your career. When officials give you criticism its always constructive criticism, they are never harsh on you and are just helping you improve your game. You almost have to have a bit of cockiness to your game so that you know that you are good and what people on the ice are telling you isn’t true. Confidence in yourself and your abilities is the biggest part.

Do you have comments you wish to share with parents, coaches or anyone watching minor hockey? The biggest thing that I would have to say to anyone that wants to harass an official is that if you want to do this, you should strap on the skates and see how tough it is to do this job.

“I don’t think there’s one thing I enjoy the most about officiating but I love getting out on the ice.”

Hockey Calgary Magazine

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