Training Camp Begins on August 2nd

Here are some photos from past treadmill training camps.  You don't need to hear this from me (I can have all these boys vouch for me), but since it is my blog and the training that Ultimate Officials offers, this is *THE BEST* training you can do for skating as a hockey referee.

Whether you are 20 years old, 30, 40, or 50 years old plus...you need to be a part of this special group!

(The link for the following pictures: UO Treadmill Training (August 2009)



(The link for the following pictures: UO Treadmill Training (June 2009)




Contact me for more info: info@ultimateofficials.com

UO Hockey Pick Up Game July 30th

The second ever (not annual, because I think we'll go with the monthly theme, if there's enough interest - dude, there's gotta be enough interest!) Ultimate Officials Pick Up Hockey Game (from now on will be referred to as the UOPU Hockey Game) is scheduled for Friday night July 30th.

Who: Hockey refs who want to "goof around"

What: UOPU Hockey Game

When: Friday July 30th at 10:30pm

Where: Velocity Hockey Center in Eden Prairie, MN (this rink is 135 X 65 = no offsides or icing = no backchecking = you are always in the play = a blast!)

Why: Because we all should get out and skate more often (hockey game skating, that is...).

Why reason number 2:

email me: info@ultimateofficials.com

Be there or be square!

And, just in case you missed this one:

Here's a Sick, Sick Move

It's mid-July, and, yes, I have found some hockey action that is worth watching.  This move was from the MN Wild's Development Camp this past weekend (July 17 and 18, 2010).  BTW, for you local Minnesota boys out there, the referees were Tom Sterns (multiple IIHF World Championships & WCHA Ref) and Brian Thul (5 yr. ECHL ref & WCHA ref).  Check out scrimmage highlights: CLICK HERE

This move is GREAT!:

I Find Insipiration from Ahh-nold

So, I was just kicking back on a Sunday afternoon, surfing the web, looking for inspiration, and I find this gem on youtube...BRILLIANT!

160 Great Arnold Schwarzenegger Quotes:

Koivu, Kovalchuk, and Mauer

Mikko Koivu

Signs the largest contract in history for my boys, the MN Wild (it's not that I have a MN Wild tatoo on my chest or anything.  It's not like I have a deep, deep loyalty to a team that has been around for...well...10 years (only 9 seasons if you don't count the lock out year, and I don't) -- it's just that they are an NHL team in my back yard, which all the news is about, and I get to watch all of their games on the tube.  So, I guess, they are my boys ( but not like the Vikings are *MY BOYS!*).

Anyway, back to Koivu.  That guy is one tuff sonofabitch.  I love the way he plays.  He plays all 200 X 85 feet of the rink, never takes a night off, is a workout fiend, and definitely earns the "C" he wears on his jersey.

So, with his 7 years $47 million contract extension...I say, "Good on him."

SIDE HOCKEY REFEREE NOTE: Watch Koivu play a game in person if you can.  He "chirps" at the refs all the time and has drawn a few 10 Min. MISC.  

SIDE HOCKEY REFEREE PERSONAL NOTE: When I went to the USA Hockey Elite Officiating Experience, which is a tryout to get an IIHF license, it was 2001.  This is at Lake Placid, NY and it is the U20 World Junior Camp for the USA.  Each year USAH invites European teams to come over and play a series of games with the two USA teams.  In 2001, it was Finland who was there and their captain was the MN Wild's first round draft pick, Mikko Koivu.  One of the games I was working turned into a swordfight.  The referee was Jonathan Morrison, who knew, like, two Finnish phrases, one of which was "eff you".  Johnny Mo-town tells us it is "Hi-stoo Vee-too".  So...during one of the "melee's" Motown is at the referee's crease, dividing up the penalties, and Koivu is there.  Mikko hears that Finland is going to be short-handed in this situation and he mutters something.  Motown flips on him, "WHAT DID YOU SAY?!?  I KNOW HOW TO SAY F**K YOU IN FINNISH! WHAT DID YOU SAY?!?"  Koivu responds, "I said 'Hi-stoo'...you know... like, "Fuck-in-eh".  Motown said, "OK! I thought you said Eff You!"

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(have you ever noticed I use parentheses a lot?  I even used a parenthesis inside another one earlier in this blog = (wow)).

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Ilya Kovulchuk

Ever notice that he wears the number 17 for the Thrashers...I mean, the Kings...I mean...oh yeah...he was supposed to make a decision right after the 4th of July, wasn't he?

Anyway, he wears the number 17 to honor Valeri Kharlamov.  Go check him out...another warrior.

Ever notice that Geno Malkin wears 71 for the Penguins?  Once again, Kharlamov.

Ever notice that Kovulchuk wears 71 for Team Russia?  Nobody can wear 17 for the "Reds"...it's retired.

** SIDE NOTE: Kharlamov and one other Soviet are the *ONLY* two players inducted to the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame, who have never played in the NHL.  Who is the other player?

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Have you ever noticed that I like...to use...the "three dots" a lot?  Useless trivia = the three dots are called "Ellipsis".

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Joe Mauer

The guy is batting .298 one game after the All Star game.  The guy was just given the largest contract in MN Twins history - $184 million.  

The dude looks like he gets beaten like a rented mule.  What's going on Joe?  New Target Field not all it's cracked up to be?  Dude, you have got 4 home runs...once again, Target Field?  You have no homers in Target Field, what's up?  

Joe has got some natural talent.  Some people kid that he is the second best quarterback in the state, after Brett Favre (are you coming back?).  I know the guy tries real hard but he is not inspiring to me like Koivu inspires me.  Why? Because I can't imagine being that talented.  

I can imagine working like my life depended up it.

And, considering I have a torn MCL and a bad bone bruise on my tibia, I know what it feels like to be beat on like a rented mule:

 

2010 Zebra Open - Breaking Out the Oldies

7th Annual Zebra Open –

Referee’s Take a Swing at Cancer

Benefit for the “Zebra Foundation” & Hockey Fights Cancer

Friday August 20^th   , 2010

9:00 am (registration starts at 8:00am)

Stonebrooke Golf Club

2693 County Road 79
Shakopee, MN  55379

(www.stonebrooke.com)

 

Who: Hockey referee’s and officials who are interested in having fun and donating money to fight

          cancer.

What:  4 person scramble – Teams of four will compete for prizes and awards. May choose a

              partner/group to register with, or may be assigned to a group.

When:  Friday August 20^th  , 2010

            9:00 am

$75.00 Registration Fee, includes 18 holes golf, range balls, motorized cart, plus a barbecue picnic afterwards

Where: Stonebrooke Golf Club, Shakopee, MN

Why: 

• Because we have raised over $10,250 in the past 6 years, all for a worthy cause...
• Because we have donated to fellow hockey people who have been affected by the realities of cancer...
• Because we gave $1760 to "Hockey Fights Cancer" last year...
• Because I lost my mother and grandmother to cancer, and you may know someone who has been affected by cancer...
• Because I have now had 13 spots on my body removed that have either been melanoma or were pre-cancerous...
• Because you want to have a blast with fellow hockey people...

2009 Photos: CLICK HERE TO SEE SLIDE SHOW OF GROUPS



Now for some old videos I produced (please keep in mind viewer, that the dates, times, fees are all different from what is in the video -- pay attention to the text above, please):












And one more Cancer Awareness Video for good measure (my 'stache is coming in November, too!  "Watch out honey...yes I am growing one...it will be there for Thanksgiving Dinner, too" hahahaha)

I Just Love it When I Get Feedback

Ultimate Officials is going through a bit of an overhaul right now...give me some time and I will rock the house (at least I have been told that I "rock the house" with power skating for hockey referees).

For anyone who cares, I am approaching the end of my first year with a "secret investor"...I think they did me a world of good to get going and they also think I am ready to "go it alone".  We'll see...

ANYWAY, I have been asking for a lot of feedback from my UO boys, all it an effort to train, develop, and mentor even more hockey referees in better ways.  That's why I like the feedback.

EXCEPT FOR THIS: I love it when Chinese people comment on here (go visit the Treadmill post and click on the comments -- there are 7 of them)...it really makes me feel special.  So...all you Chinese guys, the "Subscribe" button is to your right.