Sorry, No Posts...Been in the Gym

2012 Spring Treadmill Camp from J.B. Olson on Vimeo.

2012 Spring Treadmill No. 2 from J.B. Olson on Vimeo.

See You at the Next Treadmill Camp (August 6, 2012)?: http://ultimateofficials.com/on-iceoff-ice-camps.html

August 6, 2012

More Playoffs and Post-Season News

Big time props go out to the following playoff assignments for Ultimate Officials Referee Campers that have happened since I last posted:

Duncan Ryhorhcuk - Womens' Division III Frozen Four - including Championship Game

Superior International Junior Hockey League

Adam Shadiow - Game 7 Playoff Championship Game - Spooner, WI

(Joel Omundson, back up for Game 7)

NAHL Junior Hockey Playoffs

Cameron Voss - First and Second Round

Kevin Cassidy - First and Second Round

Joe Millette - First Round

Ryan Szymanski - First Round

ECHL Minor Pro Hockey Playoffs

Jake Brenk - First and Second Round

CCM High School National Invitational Tournament - Plymouth, MN Apr 19-22

Robert Beckl

Nick Bradshaw

Mike Diebold

Tim Ferrel

Jesse Langer

Zach Nelson

Joe Oberg

Glendon Seal

Ryan Szymanski

USA Hockey Western Instructor's Training - Colorado Springs, CO - Apr 19-22

Clayton Smith

UO Off Season Tredmill Camp - May 1- June 14, 2012 - Bloomington, MN

Brendan Cohen

Norm Gaskins

Patrick Murray

Zach Nelson
Glendon Seal

Clayton Smith

Cameron Voss

USA Hockey National Tournaments, et. al.

USA Hockey National Tournaments Mar 28-April 1st

Congratulations goes out to the following Ultimate Officials referees for working the following tournaments:

2012 USA Hockey Tier II 12 & Under Championships - Ashburn, VA

Duncan Ryhorhcuk

Ryan Szymanski

2012 USA Hockey Tier II 14 & Under Championships - Wayne, NJ

Mike Diebold

Tommy Knapp

Joe Oberg

Dave Zulla

2012 USAH Tier II 16 & Under Championships - Green Bay, WI

Aaron Barlow

Nick Bradsahw

Jamie Halverson

2012 USA Hockey Tier I (All Divisions) Championships - Amherst, NY

Nick Biondich

Adam Shadiow

2012 USA Hockey Junior Tier III - Rochester, MN

Tim Ferrel

Mike Kephart (Prospect's Tournament)

Joe Millette

Ted Brill Great 8 - H.S. All Star Festival

2012 Minnesota Hockey "Great 8" Festival - H.S. Seniors - South St. Paul, MN

Eric Arndt
Robert Beckl

Shane Paskey

Clayton Smith

Superior International Junior Hockey League - Playoff Finals

2012 SIJHL - Junior Hockey Playoffs - Finals - Spooner, WI

Joel Omundson

MN Hockey Youth State & Other Playoffs

It's Been a "Great Day for Hockey" for a whole host of Hockey Referees 

in the UO Online Camps.

The following UO boys had assignments in MN Youth Hockey Tournaments March 16-18:

Pee Wee A Tournament (Alexandria, MN):

Zach Nelson

U14 Girls A Tournament (Faribault, MN):

Chad Clark

Cory Effertz

Bantam A Tournament (Cottage Grove, MN):

Terry Lavalle

Jr. Gold Midget U16 Tournament (Plymouth, MN):

Clayton Smith

Jr. Gold Midget B Tournament (Plymouth, MN):

Robert Beckl

Mike Diebold (Championship game)

Darren Glur

Jr. Gold Midget A Tournament (Plymouth, MN):

Joe Oberg

Glendon Seal

Atlantic District Playoffs:

U12AA, U14AA Tier 2 Championships
U12AAA, U16AAA Tier 1 District Championship Finals

Tommy Knapp

U16A Tier 2 District Championships 

U12AAA Tier 1 District Championship Final

Dave Zulla

Semifinal Playoffs (Spooner, WI)

Joel Omundson

Minnesota Junior Hockey League Finals:

Aaron Barlow

Tim Ferrel

North American 3 Hockey League First Round Playoffs:

Joe Millette
Cameron Voss

NCAA Division III Women's Frozen Four (Lake Placid, NY):

Duncan Ryhorchuk (Championship Game)

UO is NOT just a MN Group

Ultimate Officials has No Borders

The following areas have hockey referees currently participating in the Ultimate Officials Online Camps:

Florida (2 guys) - Mick Peterfeso, Mark McGinnis
Illinois - Jeff Hirsch
New Jersey (3 guys) - Ron Hedenberg, Tommy Knapp, Dave Zulla
Nevada - George Smith
North Dakota - Cody Majerus
Ontario, Canada - Chris Long
Pennsylvania - Chris Fair
Wisconsin - Mike Biever

THE FOLLOWING PLAYOFF ASSIGNMENTS ARE FOR NON-MN REFS:


Mike Biever - Wisconsin Bantam 4A quarter finals
Jeff Hirsch -  Bantam A State Championship Game
Dave Zulla - NJ State High School Prep B Championship game Morristown Beard vs Pingry, NJ State High School Semi Final, and Greater Middlesex County Championship
Tommy Knapp - ESHL Play Offs in Brewster, NY, including Championship
Mark McGinnis - Lightning Conference (Boys HS) Quarter Finals, and SAHOF (Statewide Amateur Hockey of Florida) AA Tournament - U16 and U18

___________________________________________________________________________________

Ultimate Officials: An online training and mentoring service for hockey referees who want to become
  Championship Level Hockey Officials.

Recent Testimonials:

"I sent this to JB separately - My dream lives on as I received a NJ State Public B Semi Final game this Wednesday @ 4:30.  It has been an amazing season so far and only my second working High School so as you can imagine, i'm pretty excited.

Going to skate my tail off and have all of UO with me!"

"Thank for you for continuing to motivate and educate!"

Dave Zulla

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"Selected for NCAA Qtr on Men's Side.  Thanks for everything over the past 3 years!"

Adam Shadiow

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"First Round WCHA Playoffs in Duluth! Thanks for everything!"

Nick Bradshaw

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"Got the DVD eval. Great commentary.  First couple of minutes pretty funny."

Patrick Murray

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"Hey Buddy, Diebold and I got the AA Championship game.  I know you have a game but if you make it, I left you a ticket at Will Call!! Boom."

Shane Paskey

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"I will be a linesman at the PeeWee "A" State Tournament this year in Alex. I'm pretty shocked and excited.  Just wanted to let you know and thank you again for the guidance, much appreciated."

Zach Nelson

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"Class A semi-final with Paskey.  Couldn't have done it without you and UO.  May hug you next time I see you."

Mike Diebold

http://www.ultimateofficials.com/online-referee-camps.html

Video is the Best Learning Tool

http://ultimateofficials.blogspot.com/2011/12/video-is-best-learning-tool.html

I Just Took This Pic in my "Situation Room"

Video can serve a hockey official (it's not just for players & coaches) so well; watching yourself, analyzing skating, critiquing penalty calls, using it as a teaching, it is the most powerful and effective medium Ultimate Officials uses.

Here is a testimonial I just received from a subscribing trainee in the Ultimate Officials Online Camp:

 I KNOW for a fact if it weren't for the influence of you and the UO guys (even though I'm not the most "participatory"), there is no way this would have happened.  (in reference to being selected as a junior official) M.M.

My wish is that I could have all the goodies that the NHL has in their "Situation Room".  Check out the following video:

I saw the expanding use of the internet and visioned a "virtual classroom" to help teach and develop on ice officials.  I am working with video on almost a daily basis, editing videos that I have shot myself while supervising games, watching those in junior hockey on FAST hockey online broadcasts to write up game notes, even using NHL videos and examples.  So that picture of me up above is "what I do" for guys in the UO programs.  I was recently interviewed by "Let's Play Hockey" and I talk about this in the article:

http://www.letsplayhockey.com/1051heyref.html

All online members of Ultimate Officials are emailed video situations on a weekly basis, have access to video tutorials, and some even receive DVD's of their game footage.  Below is an example of a video from www.uoteach.blogspot.com

What Happened in November for UO

http://ultimateofficials.blogspot.com/2011/12/what-happened-in-november-for-uo.html

It Wasn't Just All Movember in November!

Highlights From In and Around the Hockey World for Ultimate Officials in November 2011

* Jake Brenk is working out in the ECHL, making him the MN official working the highest level of hockey, besides Brian Mach, who is an NHL linesman (and, yes, I do put the ECHL above the WCHA).

* Cameron Voss, Kevin Cassidy continue to plug away as full time officials in the North American Hockey League.

* Speaking of NAHL and NAH3L, we had Tim Ferrel, Clayton Smith, Mike Diebold (first Jr game!), Nick Dornfeld, Nick Bradshaw, and Ryan Szymanski in action, too.

* Nick Bradshaw (USHL Games, too) also worked his first conference series in the WCHA - UAA at UMD.

* Shane Paskey worked a big series this past month for Women's WCHA - UMD at U of MN

* Nick Biondich continues to work games in the Women's WCHA.

* Mark McGinnis got hired by the Empire/AJHL and ACHA College Hockey.

* Eric Arndt got to work his first Division III Women's game.

* The Division III Season really got rolling for guys like Jamie Halverson, Adam Shadiow, Norm Gaskins, Duncan Ryhorchuk, Shane Paskey (1st ref assignment), and Nick Biondich.

* Joe Millette worked 12 junior games in the MJHL in November.  That's every Fri, Sat, and Sunday!  Must be doing something right, eh?

* Aaron Barlow keeps racking up ref games in the MJHL.

* Mike Diebold, in addition to his first junior game, also has been steady knocking out some Bantam A stripes.

* Clayton Smith got promoted to Bantam A referee, and has been doing a bunch of stripe games.

* I PERSONALLY HEARD WORD THAT ONE OFFICIAL (not listed here) HAS BEEN LOCKED IN FOR A PLAYOFF ASSIGNMENT IN JUNIOR HOCKEY NEXT SPRING! (I've been networking!)

* Other activity included the start of the Girls and Boys High School Seasons.

OVERALL: A SOLID MONTH, PRECEDED BY A LOT OF ADM ACTION, SURE TO BE FOLLOWED UP BY A BUSY AND REWARDING DECEMBER.

Want to Lose Fat and Build Muscle?

Ultimate Officials is running a "Biggest Loser" competition.  Right now there are 9 guys who are pushing themselves to be in top performance shape for the upcoming 2011-12 Season.  And right now someone has the chance to not only shred some fat, build some muscle, BUT ALSO EARN $180 or MORE!

NEED HELP?

J.B. Olson is one test away from his Certified Personal Trainer's certificate.  See the following video:

http://vimeo.com/28954440

http://ultimateofficials.com/hockey-skills--personal-training.html

email for more info: info@ultimateofficials.com

A Call to Arms

I Want You!

All online members of Ultimate Officials have been receiving weekly newsletters on our Summer of 2011 Curriculum Series - "Goal Setting".

Here is a link to a recent newsletter and a challenge for you: Click Here for the Link


Respond to info@ultimateofficials.com  to answer the call.

The UO 2-1 Hockey Skills Camps

The following video is a "highlight" video from the June and July Ultimate Officials 2-1 Hockey Skills Camps.

I call these camps "hockey skills" camps, because I stress that the officials work on hockey skills that can transfer over into any other system...regardless if it is the 1-2 system, the 2 official system, the 2-1 system, or the 4 official system.

Skills like: footwork, first-step speed, getting in the Golden Triangle and working the Golden Triangle, anticipation, and "at-net skills" are the skills that are stressed.  Using summer hockey as a time to work on all of these skating (and mental) skills help ensure an even better performance for the next season.  These camps are designed for those who are looking to continue their climb up the ladder.  I hope you enjoy!


http://vimeo.com/27025329

2011 UO 2-1 Hockey Skills Camps from J.B. Olson on Vimeo.

June 23-24 Camp Officials:

Joe Millette

Mike Diebold

Brian Thul (trainer)

Matt Butchko

Jeff Beckers (trainer)

Robert Beckl

Jamie Halverson

Eric Arndt

Clayton Smith

July 22-24 Camp Officials:

Nick Bradshaw

Brendan Cohen

Jason Olson

Cameron Voss

Clayton Smith

Joe Millette

"On Your Faces, Gentlemen"

Holy Cripes...where do I begin? It's the middle of the summer and there is a lot of hockey training to be had out there to prepare yourself for next season. Here are few opportunities for those who sign up for Ultimate Officials:

1. Ultimate Officials Fall Treadmill Camp (August 2nd through Sept. 15)

Cost: $275, with a $50 discount for meeting a minimum number of sessions.

Days: Tuesday and Thursday nights at Bloomington Ice Gardens Rink 3

UO Treadmill Camp - Spring 2011 from J.B. Olson on Vimeo.

2. Ultimate Officials 2-1 System Skills Camps

Next camp: August 4-7th at the Super Rink in Blaine and surrounding arenas

On Ice Referee Camps from J.B. Olson on Vimeo.

3. Ultimate Officials Online 12 Week Camp - "Goal Setting"

This is an online curriculum that gives "how-to's", including insider information, in regards to setting goals and obtaining a position in a new league or championship game. This camp includes a 6-disc DVD series for those who are part of the Minnesota Development Model. (click link for more details)

Some Stuff

That's Teamwork

Dan Marouelli's Hockey Officiating Insight

Good ol' Dan Marouelli hasn't been on CBC lately.  That sucks.  Oh well, here is Dan's final NHL game:

http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=0&id=65713


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"The Only Easy Day was Yesterday"


Since NHL hockey has been pretty quiet on the Tube lately, I have been watching "The Military Channel" a lot and I have been really into the "Navy SEAL's" stuff.  You know...killing Bin Laden and all.

In fact, my latest newsletter for Ultimate Officials has direct tie-ins with SEALs and even some football stuff.

Click here to start getting UO newsletters: UO Online Camps (only $0.25 for 1st Month)

http://youtu.be/3DeSyl1CGIQ


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The "King of Almost"

I have also been "dialed in" to "The Voice" on NBC.  My latest newsletter also has a bit on perseverance and chasing your goals, with a tie-in to Tim Mahoney and "The Voice".  Tim Mahoney, raised in Minnetonka, MN and Tonka H.S. Alum, (I just saw this guy perform on May 7th at a fundraiser event for my daughter's Minnetonka elementary school) was on the show last week (got eliminated).  Think he is going to give up?  How easy do you give up?

http://youtu.be/-KMKP18En6I


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UO Online Camps: http://ultimateofficials.com/online-referee-camps.html

Summer Camp Updates

UO Has Got the BOOM!

A shout out goes the following boys for the Summer of 2011:

Minnkota Camp Acceptance:

Joel Omundson

Tim Ferrel

Zach Nelson

Robert Beckl

USA Hockey Regional Camp Acceptance:

Aaron Barlow

Jake Brenk

Ryan Szymanski

USA Hcokey National Camp Acceptance:

Nick Bradshaw

Ultimate Officials Spring Treadmill Camp:

Aaron Barlow

Clayton Smith

Nick Bradshaw

Norm Gaskins

Jake Brenk

Neil Missling

Kevin Cassidy

Tim Ferrel

Paul Gallmeier

Zach Nelson

Cameron Voss

What are you doing this summer?  www.UltimateOfficials.com

This summer proves to be better than the last one!

UO Summer 2010 from J.B. Olson on Vimeo.

What People Are Saying

That's the best Commandeered Picture I could Find

I just "commandeered" these posts from Facebook.  It's a testimonial for the "Ultimate Officials Online Referee Camps" [click here] as well as our "Hockey Skills Camps" [click here].

DZ: U.O. - How's it going? How was instructor camp?? I hear you "brought it" Nice Job!!


CF: Hey DZ... camp was awesome.. lots of fun! J.B. is a fantastic ice instructor!


DZ: Indeed he is....exudes "teaching" and great personality as well.


**************


TF: Treadmill training day 1 complete. I need to get in shape quick...


JH: Its okay TF, round is a shape; just not the best one for officials! I'm looking forward to the second round of Etrain.


AM: What's the occasion? Going to minnkota?


TF: AM-Yes going to Minnkota, and also just want to get better.


TF: Im not round haha, just not fit. This is my first time doing it and last night was intense!!


JH: That is why I am getting fit for the later sessions.


TF: I figured it would be good for the summer and for camp


JH: You'll be a rockstar at camp after the treadmill!


http://vimeo.com/15246014

Fall Off Ice Camp 2010 from J.B. Olson on Vimeo.



http://vimeo.com/14619903

UO Summer 2010 from J.B. Olson on Vimeo.

Maybe this one is more appropriate? (LOL)

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