Some comrades of mine have always discussed this (note: the "no goal" signal is
best done with your helmet in your hand), and we have also discussed officials we admire in other sports. We always mention Ed Hochuli (even though he goofed in the San Diego game)...no one could signal first down with the big triceps like him.So...
I had to laugh when I saw something that included (a) the NHL, (b) the most dramatic signal you can make, and (c) Ed Hochuli in one spot [read here].
Here's the excerpt here:
Hey Booch,
What's your take on the little football-style speeches the refs do these days after going upstairs to review a play? Personally, I think they should just stick to either pointing to center ice or flashing the "safe" signal.
Dan T.
Lake in the Hills, Ill.
This is an excellent query on two levels.
1. You are right; the simple point and "safe" call has much more of a theatrical result. It's like a silent movie.
2. NHL referees are woefully inept in their explanation of on-ice interpretations. They sound like college sports anchors reading the news. (Boom goes the dynamite!) They all need to go to an Ed Hochuli camp for miked-up officials. Now, I understand that Ed, an NFL referee, made an erroneous call in a Denver Broncos-San Diego Chargers game last season, but that's not important right now. The man is a genius when it comes to explaining calls to the crowd and television viewers. He is the Edward R. Murrow of miked refs.
Go to YouTube and check out some of these performances. One during an Atlanta Falcons game still mesmerizes me. It was flawless! It was like Richard Burton does "Hamlet" does intentional grounding. We could send NHL referees to a weeklong Hochuli camp during the summer. While there, referees also could enjoy the benefits of Hochuli's cutting-edge instruction in biceps and triceps training and arm waxing. There simply is no downside to this. Until this happens, NHL referees should just point or wave off.
PRICELESS!!!{One of the all-time Best Calls}:
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