Wanted: Finishers -- Those Who Go ALL THE WAY

Seems like there is a trend going on out there in hockey playoff land -- one team plays the full 60 minutes, and the other team pulls up short. I can't remember a time in the playoffs, including the NCAA's and the Stanley Cup Playoffs, where a team has done something totally dramatic in that LAST FEW SECONDS.

Exhibit A:

Game 7 Carolina vs. New Jersey

Officiating Crew:
Referees - Paul Devorski (#10) and Kevin Pollock (#33)
Linesmen -- Jean Morin (#97) and Brian Murphy (#93 - USA Boy!)


This all reminds of a story of the Moorhead Spuds H.S. hockey team. I learned that when Terry Cullen was the coach of the team, they were ADAMANT about finishing drills. You never gave up on a drill in practice.

Why finish all the time?

(A) Practice makes PERMANENT

(B) Excellence is a Habit.

I think about that all the time...are you finishing your exercise workouts, or do you quit? Do you do drills all the way to the end, or do you quit? Do you follow an extreme nutrition and ftness regiment, or do you quit? How you do those things is how you do everything.

Be a finisher. Go the full 60 minutes. Practice like you play. Do the opposite of the 2009 USA World Sr.'s team [read here]. Do what the 1980 Olympic Team did.

You've Got To Be Kidding Me!?! (ala Common Man Style)

Sorry, I couldn't find an audio clip from the Common Man Dan Cole's "you've got to be kidding me!" clip (proprietary maybe?...he doesn't want any copy cats?...when you only got so much schtick, youve' got to protect it?).

Anyway...

Flames...extinguished!



Game Preparation:

Never, ever go into a game thinking its going to be a cake walk. Always go into a hockey game with the referee mentality that you are ready to call a major from the first drop of the puck. Thankfully, I learned this lesson vicariously through my Dad (those of you who have asked for homework know what vicariously means).

My dad talks about a game he was going to ref between Bemidji HS and Columbia Heights, way back in the day. His two really good friends were coaching each team, Bryan Grand for Bemidji and Elly Froiland for Columbia Heights. It was a game right before Christmas break, so all were in a good mood. My dad went into the game, thinking, "This is going to be a great game and a lot of fun!" He wasn't prepared for the hockey game that transpired.

The game was a nightmare. He wasn't ready for it, and the game got away from him in a hurry. He left the arena with his tail between his legs, both coaches (and good friends) totally pissed off at him.

NEVER AGAIN.

And...never for me either. Well, 99% never. I have had my head "somewhere else" and it bit me in the ass as I refereed that hockey game.

Kind of like it bit the Calgary Flames in the ass...

(p.s. Sorry for the "inside joke" Comman Man references -- Common Man Talks Hockey --)

Assignors are Like Jacques Lemaire

Watch this recap of Game 5 of Rangers vs. Captials first...

Officiating Crew:
Referees - Don Vanmassenhoven (#21 - Darren Glur's boy!) and Mike Hasenfrantz (#30 )

Linesmen - Brian Murphy (#93 - USA!) and Steve Barton (#59)

{{Watch Sports Center Clip Here}}

There is so much that I can love about this recap from a great hockey game last night. First of all, I do love John Buccigross and Barry Melrose (yep! even the mullet). I love John for his witty writing and his OBVIOUS love for the game of hockey. I enjoy listening to Barry, because he has great insight into pro hockey (not so sure about college hockey).

I love the grit of the playoff game. If some kids wish every day was Christmas (or even some old dudes in bad jumpsuits), I wish hockey could always be like playoff hockey..."what a wonderful world this would be."

Lastly, confidence. Jacques Lemaire always talked about confidence, much to the same way that Barry was talking about the confidence that the Capitals can gain from last night's game. Whatever you think about ol' Jacques and the job he did as coach for the Minnesota Wild, he did what he thought was in the best interest of the team, not the individual. AND, in doing that, he also was very aware of what he thought was best for the individual. HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE HE PUT PLAYERS IN SITUATIONS WHERE THEY COULD SUCCEED AND BE CONFIDENT, BECAUSE CONFIDENCE (or lack thereof) IS POWERFUL. Like I said, love it or leave it with JL, but this was a method to his madness.

I think assignors/supervisors/RIC's (let's just call him the referee boss) are like Lemaire, too. They want to put you positions where you can succeed and gain confidence. I have seen other guys work a big hockey game, only to see them go down in flames with their confidence. A lot of people, and I mean hockey people, don't understand that an official can take a bad call or missed judgment and carry that call with them for the next week OR MORE. The referee's who really, really care about the job the do, and want to protect the integrity of the hockey game, will internalize bad calls, and in some cases, these calls just eat away at their insides.

A referee boss wants what is best for you and the team. They are never out to screw you over, put you in a game where you would screw up, or hope you go up in flames. The referee boss wouldn't do that because he/she would then have to answer the phone calls. And...he/she wants you to succeed. Remember that.

MMA and Hockey -- SWAT Team and DU Team

I was surfing the web, checking out some of my favorite blogs to read and I came across an article about the fact that the Denver University Hockey Team is going to train using Mixed Martial Arts training [Read post here].

These are exactly the types of exercises that I have been personally using and the one's that the SWAT Team for Ultimate Officials will be using as well.

Here are a few reasons why MMA training is beneficial for the game of hockey AND hockey officials:

1. emphasis on quickness, speed, and power

2. teaches you to master your body weight, and officials are never battling with someone else, so mastering your body weight is more specific than pushing on some resistance. (However, any resistance that does happen is when linesmen are "grappling" with some combatants. Therefore, I would rather be Royce Gracie than Bryant McKinnie).

3. MMA training is anaerobic training. You do these workouts, YOU WILL BE GASPING FOR AIR. Running sucks. Plain and simple. Tell me how running two miles helps you train for hockey. I haven't had anyone convince me yet.

If you want to know more than that, you'd better sign up for our SWAT Team. I know of some guys who are SERIOUSLY Bringing It! And they are fighting for the same spots in the same big games you are!

email me -- info@ultimateofficials.com ---- say "I Want In"

Takes Stones to Call These Games

Is Phil Kessel offsides? My video slow-mo is inconclusive (gut feel on watching it was he was good). This goal made it 4-1.

Who's Got More Grit? Owen Nolan of Jarome Iginla?

I love them both. Tough, gritty, team players, wear-their-heart-on-their-sleeve kind of guys. True embodiment of the game.

Definitely throw back, too. I could see these two playing along side Maurice Richard in the old days of the Original Six.

The game last night was entertaining in a more pure hockey playoff way -- no shenanigans like Game 3. Gotta love the skill, determination, and grit being displayed in the greatest game on earth.

My comment about last night's game is stolen from Pierre McGuire (I think he's great, too). Pierre talked about the fact that in the "old standard", a team like Chicago never would have been able to come back from a 4-1 deficit. A team like the Flames would have slowed the game down to a miserable crawl. That's why I love NHL hockey. It drives me absolutely nuts when I hear people cry and moan about tighter penalty standards, ESPECIALLY THAT INVOLVE OPEN ICE SKILL-TYPE PLAY, like you heard at the beginning of this WCHA. Now...I can't prove it, but I would say that a main reason you saw such great hockey action in this year's NCAA Tournament is because of the new standard.

Don't people realize what a great product that college hockey, high school hockey, youth, and NHL could have if we let the skilled players play and penalize the guys who want to clutch, grab, and make it the slowest game on earth?

Game 5 is gonna be a treat as well. I know my tivo is set!

Ever Feel Like a Kid in a Candy Store???

Linkorama:

The Flames and the Blackhawks clash in Game 4 tonight. The fur is going to {be flying}. From my perspective, I will be really curious to see who is working this game, because you bet they'll be bringing their "A" game.

Games like this have a certain type of "air" about them. The officials need to react to what happens. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if they are allowed to bang each other really hard. The worst thing a referee can do is come in and try to lay the law down from the outset. See what they are going to do...see how they are going to react. This is NHL Stanley Cup hockey. I can guarantee you that the standard will be there when it comes to open ice stuff...restraining fouls, etc. But I will also bet that when it comes to battling along the boards or in front of the net, there will be some leniency.

"You saw what happened in the end of the game yesterday," said Burish, who has escaped official censure for his run at Bourque. "Ten guys on the ice acting like wild animals.

I'm expecting an awesome, awesome game. You guys are all going to be in for a treat. I know the fans are going to be in for a treat.

It's going to a blast. It's going to be a war. It's going to be nasty. And that's what I love."

The Fur is Flying - Attache le tuque

Strap that chin strap on tight for Wednesday night!

Blackhawks at Flames - Game 4 on VS.

For those of you who have not done your homework assignment yet, consider watching this game (I know my tivo will be running!) I was pumped to see our local boy Thor Nelson working the lines and working his kiester off! If you wanted to see what it was like to hustle at stoppages in play, Thor and fellow linesman Brad Lazorowich put on quite a display.

Here's a few game worthy notes:

• There were 86 pims in this hotly-contested game

• There were some noteable ex-WCHA'ers in the game - Curtis Glencross (CAL -Anchorage), Jordan Leopold (CAL - Minn), Johnathan Toews (CHI - UND), Patrick Sharp (CHI -DU), and Adam Burrish (CHI - Wisc)

• Speaking of Adam Burrish, he was chirping Jarome Iginla all game long, being a pest, and broke his stick cross checking Rene Borque in the last seconds of the game!

• Awareness of all officials was at an all-time high. This is one reason I love watching the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The officials are fighting for their lives EVERY TIME they step on the ice for a playoff game. One mis-step, and they are done, sent home, left to think about what-might-have-been until next season. This is "game-by-merit" only...the best move on. No political mumbo-jumbo you see in some other leagues or championships.
  

• When you check out the video link below from TSN (by the way, do any of you remember Chris Cuthbert, the play-by-play guy who has worked Hockey Night in Canada and used to do the Minnesota High School Tournament when WCCO had the rights?? He's awesome.), you will see Burrish make that late game cross check (never mind the no call - oops), you will see who referee, Chris Rooney (#5 - American) goes after to get out of the melee = AWARENESS.

Check out the [TSN Highlights] and get ready for Game 4!!!

Excuses are like Armpits...

Everyone has them and they stink!

I substitute teach just about 3-4 days a week. Last week I taught in a 2nd grade Spanish Immersion class. These kids speak Spanish all day long. No excuses. It's called IMMERSION. (I don't speak Spanish, so the rule was they had to speak Spanish to each other and could only speak English if they were asking me a question).

They had an Oops! chart where if they slipped up and spoke English when they weren't supposed to, they had to mark a tally by their name. They also had a big "EXCUSE" chart, where they had to make a check mark and write their name if they gave some lame excuse why they couldn't get their work done in Spanish, etc.

These kids were awesome. They own up to their shortcomings WAYYYY better than some officials. The title of this blog is "Hockey is Life" and there are lessons to be learned on the playing field that also play out in real life.

Here are some lame excuses I here ALL the time!:

• I'm too busy (I f**ing hate that one!)
• I'm going to do it next week.
• I've got too much on my plate right now (yeah, but you still probably watch some lame reality TV show every night, too).
• It's someone else's fault.
• I'm OK how I'm doing right now (that's a tough one to recover from -- start of the downward slide).

So...is there something you were supposed to do? Is there some way to make yourself better today? Are you owning up to your excuses OR do yours stink?

Did you follow me on twitter and seesmic yet?

You're Gonna Eat that Koho!

Seeing the next clip made me think of this Herb Brook's comment.

I don't know anything more about this clip other than Maxim Laperierre is one gritty, hard-nosed, you-love-him-on-team-hate-him-on-the-other team, kind of guy (I personally love the guy because, like the Wild's Cal Clutterbuck, he wears his heart on his sleeve.

Officiating Crew:

Refs -Mike Leggo #3 and Tim Peel #20
Lines - Tony Sericolo (#84 - YES, OUR BOY, AN AMERICAN!) and Pierre Racicot #65
TEACHABLE MOMENT: When shenanigans break out on the ice, the linsemen should always get the original combatants. You will see instances where linesmen will try to get 'everybody' involved, and I think that is a natural instinct because you are there to "put out fires". DON'T DO THAT. Notice how well Sericolo and Racicot stay with the original combatants = CLUTCH!!

It's in the Blood -- Wear the Heart on the Sleeve

As I sit here and watch USA vs. Canada at the Under 18 World Championships, I am proud of the USA team and the accomplishments they have done since the inception of the National Development Program (6 medals since 1999 - 3 Golds, 2 Silvers, 1 bronze - AND - 1 Gold and 1 Bronze in World Jr.'s). I also like the fact that USA hockey on the international scene is on the upswing. I see a new tradition and culture developing around the teams.

However...

This is about Canada.

I honestly have to admit there is something special about watching a Canadian hockey team. I mean a team that wears the Maple Leaf for it's nation. I have had the fortunate opportunity to see three Canadian teams up-front-and-close:

1. 2005 World Jr. Team (Sidney Crosby, Dion Phaneuf, Ryan Getzlaff, etc.)
2. 2007 World University Team
3. 2009 U18 Team

There was a tangible aspect to (A) how hard they work, (B) their pride in their job, and (C) how they sacrifice for the team. I have read a few articles that sum up this mindset the best. I found one here from 1999.

Here's a snipet:

There is no analogue in the U.S. for the almost chromosomal role hockey plays in Canada's national life. It is omnipresent--everywhere and in everyone--at such a molecular level that even Canadians who hate the game (and there are a few) understand its nuances. In a nation with so much winter and so much ice, hockey is an inevitability; it is as inexorable as the weather. In Canada hockey is the manufacturer of good character. It is myth and science. It is a kind of national dream state. Baseball, the only fitting point of comparison in America, has always been optional, no matter what George Will says. Hockey is to Canada what capitalism is to America: a functioning ideology.

*****************************
UltimateOfficials.com is going after that mindset. I am proud to say our SWAT Team is starting that pride, honor, and tradition that hockey officiating deserves.

If you haven't signed up yet for the SWAT Team, your missing out on a truly elite and special group of officials. If you really want more, want to be something special, play/work with the pride that Canada displays whenever they pull over the Maple Leaf Sweater, then get ahold of me ASAP.

I've posted this before, but I think it is so impressive that it warrants watching over and over again:

Linkorama: Got Grit? Check It Out Right Now!

I was surfing along the great world wide web when I came across [this piece] on the first round of the playoffs. Without being able to speak as eloquently as Justin Bourne (this is a hockey player, not a movie guy...I remember reffing him when he played for U. of Anchorage Alaska), he sums up my feelings about the first couple rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

I see the grit on the players' faces. I see the heroism in sacrificing your body for the team. I see the will to do anything to win. I see the same characteristics I see in those who are now a part of the [Ultimate Officials SWAT Team]. I am very, very proud of these men and women (see below).

Here's a snippet from the Bourne Blog on the Hockey News:

Following these 16 teams’ epic quest is like watching Lord of the Rings: it’s one chaotic thing after the next; the odds of succeeding look thinner all the time and they both take forever to reach the end. But to get to the fires of Mordor (OK, dropping the analogy) – aka, to get to the final – is a journey unlike any other. The NBA isn't as physical; the NFL playoffs are four games total; and at the peak of the biggest moments, in the biggest games in baseball, 95 percent of the team can be seen eating sunflower seeds. The Stanley Cup is clearly the hardest trophy to win.

Game ON!

The Real Season Begins -- Work for the Puck/Angles

Game 1 - Rangers at Capitals

Those who accepted my offer for homework will understand some of the comments I will make. Those who haven't accepted the homework offered in the previous post can still get in on the action.

Here are a few observations:

1. Ovechkin is one great player. Body checks, goals, assists...take away his goofy behavior and persona and I say he is just like an old school player.

2. Watch the referees...watch the linesmen...see how they work for the puck, get an angle, get in position to best see the play, stay out of play, and give them the best opportunity for success. [[Video on this coming soon -- Tell me, "I want to work for the puck!"]]

3. Just listen to the crowd -- this is hockey AT IT'S BEST!

Officiating Crew:
Referees - #3 Mike Leggo and #20 Tim Peel
Linesmen - #97 Jean Morin and #71 Brad Kovachik


email me -- info@ultimateofficials.com -"I want to work for the puck"

You've Got Homework!

Ever listened to Dan "the Common Man" Cole on KFAN? If so, you then understand the youtube clip I have posted below.

It is the Most Wonderful Time of the Year! It's Stanley Cup Playoff time. I am going to be doing my homework by charting work to rest ratios, exertion graphs, and transition movements of the officials working the best and most intense hockey in the entire world.

You need to watch the games to help bring yourself to a new level. Don't believe it's true? Then you'd better not respond by email, saying, "I really want homework". You will get a response that gives you more detail on how watching other hockey will help your game. Don't want that??? Don't respond!

email: info@ultimateofficials.com

ask "I really want homework"

MN Boy, Ballard, Smokes Malkin & Crosby

Keith Ballard, from Lake of the Woods, throws a hip check on Gene Malkin, and then gets a few good pops on Crosby on Sunday April 5 action.

Ref Crew:

Referees - Paul Devorski (#10) and Dean Morton (#36)
Linesmen - Scott Cherey (#50) and Our Local MN BOY, Brian Mach (#78)

This is Just Plain Stupid

I have seen this a number of times this past week. I just had to put it up, from a pure hockey fan perspective (and I always like seeing hometown boys do well):