Why I love the Stanley Cup Playoffs

Gotta love Ray Bourque

The 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs begin today, and as a referee, I am excited as can be (I might be a little bit more pumped if the MN Wild were in, because (a) the Minneapolis Star Tribune would pay A LOT more attention to the great hockey action, and (b) there would be a lot more refs in this area excited, like I am excited).

Why I am pumped for each year of the Playoffs:

* As a T.V. viewer, I get to watch the best and the brightest work a game, under the most pressure, with the most intensity, that our hockey world would ever get to see.

Here's a link to who's working: http://nhlofficials.com/display_news.asp?articleID=531

(20 referees and 20 linesmen)

A shout out to the USA guys:

REFS - Dennis Larue, Brian Pochmara, Chris Rooney, Ian Walsh

LINES - Brian Murphy, Tim Nowak, Tony Sericolo

* The playoffs tend to "highlight" or put a "spotlight" on rule changes and drive philosophy for the upcoming season (see: headshots, too many men penalties, standard on obstruction, video replay, etc).

* Learning vicariously through others - a couple of years ago I asked a group of trainees in the Ultimate Officials Program to do some "homework" on the game officials and tell me what you learned. 

The reported findings included things like: 

"I watched how the referees communicated with the players and the coaches"*

"I was amazed how good these guys are at getting out of the way of traffic, yet being able to stay in position"*

"The linesmen are just FLYING to the net on stoppages."

"I am amazed at how on top of the net the refs are on close calls."*

 * This year, the Ultimate Officials Program has a "Pick em Challenge".  This is a friendly betting game that is done between hockey referees to foster a new sense of interest in the games.  We are putting "Bragging Rights" on the line to see who can predict the winners and be crowned the next Karnac.*

Did You Know that the Best Referees can be like "Karnac"?

(Note: I picked Boston over Vancouver to win the cup)

* With there being plenty of hockey action to blog about, I going all in with my commentary.  You can check for regular blog updates, including video examples (which have proven to help train and develop referees through my Ultimate Officials Programs.  Yes, there is proof.), and I will be tweeting all about the action as well.

I have been sporadic with posts on this site since the first of the year (really since we had our Movember initiative and raised over $2000 for the NHLOA's Zebra Cares Charity).  I am back and I want you back, too.

My promise: educate, first and foremost, and to entertain.  

Check out my twitter acount: Follow me here

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* = As of this writing, I will be either running or involved in ELEVEN referee camps this off season.  The off season is the time to really develop for the next year.  A lot of guys don't quite get that, because once you are in a season you are really "set" wherever you are in the "pecking order" because of what you did previously.  There ain't a lot of upward mobility during the season.  The hockey season is NOT the time to develop...the off season is the time to develop.

I am running 9 different off season camps, focusing on either Treadmill Training or "The 2-1 System Hockey Skills Camps".

Treadmill training = the best way to improve skating and break old habits.

"2-1 System Hockey Skills Camps" = the best way to improve "skills" (not necessarily perfect the 2-1 system) and get quality reps on ice to prepare for the next winter season.

Ask me about the seven different "Skills Camps" I am running this Spring/Summer/Fall for hockey officials in the Twin Cities, MN area - info@ultimateofficials.com