Who is Teddy Olson and Why am I writing about him?

Let's flashback to the fall of 1995 -- I was a young, hungry official, wanting more than anything the chance to work my way up the "hockey ladder".

Let's point out two key things here:

1) wanting more than anything -- this means I was focused on hockey, hockey, hockey (and finishing up college). I wanted to be the best I could be in officiating. I wanted to ultimately be a college official. That was my choice. I was determined to take a path that would ultimately lead to being a college official.

2) "work my way up the..." -- this means I was willing to work. I was willing to do whatever it took. I was willing to drive from Timbuktu and back to get me on the path to ultimately being a college official.

It was during that fall that I was given the opportunity to work an STP tournament in New Hope, MN. Who cares what STP was/is (it was a USA Hockey Satellite Training Program for bantams). Who cares where New Hope, MN was/is (it was a 4 hour ride from where I lived). I just knew it was an opportunity to be amongst some "sneezers."

Another side note: "Sneezers" This is a term I got from marketing expert, Seth Godin. I stole the following striaght from a wikipedia.org definition:

There are two types of sneezers: the promiscuous sneezers and the powerful sneezers.

The promiscuous can be motivated by money and rewards to sell ideas to a hive.

The powerful sneezers are typically those who have established authority by setting a trend and cannot be bought. A powerful sneezer can be worth many more times a promiscuous sneezer.

The sneezer in this case was Teddy Olson. He was the supervisor of Jr. B. hockey, the MJHA at the time. I wanted to work as much Jr. hockey as possible. I was willing to drive from Bemidji to Minot, ND, to Minneapolis/St. Paul and back. And working the STP tournament gave me the chance to do that.

LONG STORY --> SHORT: I impressed Teddy Olson enough that he had me work a ton of Jr. B. games that season, and dramatically helped me on the path to being a college official.

Better yet!! ---> I became part of a "brotherhood of officials" that was truly special. There were some fantastic guys that Teddy Olson got together and mentored, and supervised, and kicked butt, and encouraged, and became like a father-figure to. Among the guys who were part of that brotherhood included guys who have reffed in the NHL, WCHA, AHL, ECHL, World Sr. and Jr. Championships, many USA Hockey national championships, many MSHSL State Tournaments.

It was a brotherhood. It was a group that pushed each other. It was something that has been missing around here. Until now...

I vow to create a new brotherhood, much like Teddy Olson created in 1995-96 season and beyond.

ARE YOU INTERESTED???