Kings at Bruins - 1/30/10
TSN highlight link to the game (you'll see a couple of sweet shoot out goals)
(pay attention to the GREAT organ music - I love that so much more than canned loud stuff)
1:15 - David Brisebois #96 has big-time patience and awareness on line call
2:00 - Mark Stuart, born and bred MN boy, just destroys Anze Kopitar - Brisebois and #95 Jonny Murray right on the scene
3:00 - Murray gets smoked in the back off an end zone drop.
Question: You got any good (or bad) getting hit by the puck stories? Once when I was working a Wisconsin vs. Minnesota game, I took a clearing shot that ricocheted funny off the glass partition and hit me in the helmet, right behind the ear. I got some kind of blood hematoma and right behind my left ear I had this big lump for about 4 days.
How about you?
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
There are Some Getting in a Frenzy Right Now
Some Hockey Refs are doing a "Push for the Playoffs" right now.
To "Bring It" with the only hockey referee-specific workouts anywhere in the world, see here:
(Complimentary Video Workout Series coming Summer 2010)
- They are working out when no one is watching.
- They are busting their butt, imagining there is an NHL supervisor in the crowd while they work a Pee Wee B game.
- They are studying other elite refs, to make themselves better.
The best are bringing it right now. Because...you are only as good as your last game.
To "Bring It" with the only hockey referee-specific workouts anywhere in the world, see here:
(Complimentary Video Workout Series coming Summer 2010)
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Favre, Babe Ruth, and USA Hockey
I am pumped to talk about these three seemingly unrelated topics - Brett Favre, Babe Ruth, and USA Hockey - and the main reason I am pumped is because it just might have to do with you.
Let's talk about USA Hockey first...
The Winter Olympics are coming up in a few weeks. I love the Olympics. I love the hockey tradition of the Olympics. If you were to ask me about the strongest memories of anything hockey related from when I was a young kid in the early 1980's, I definitely list: (a) East Grand Forks' Section 8 Champion Teams and State Tourney Participants in 1980 and 1982 (damn...didn't the State Tourney seem so totally magical back in those days?!?) - never mind that both teams went "O-fer"...(b) the 1980 and 1982 National Championship UND Sioux teams (damn...I loved Howard Walker), and, of course, the 1980 Miracle on Ice.
Wow...those early 1980's....seemed like all of the teams I cheered for and loved...they were all champions. Everybody was a winner! I remember me and all my buddies would pretend to be those guys, playing boot hockey at recess. We had Jim Craig, Mike Eruzione, et. al. It was my slice of Americana...my "Normal Rockwell" times.
The USA Hockey team was prepared, determined, and outworked their competition. And they were highly trained by the master, Herb Brooks.
Next, let's talk about Brett Favre
The guy has one of his best seasons as a 40 year old! The guy is a trained assasin! He's a cold-blooded killer! And I mean all of that in a good way! He has to be included in the arguments of one the best all time clutch players. He has something mentally that pushes him to deliver over and over and over and over again.
Prior to this football season, I was a luke-warm Favre guy. When the Vikings made themselves look like fools, falling all over him to sign him, I was still luke warm. It wasn't until he destroyed his Green Bay buddies that I really fell in love with the guy. His competitive nature, that is.
Favre and the 1980 USA Hockey team and training and competition. Both good things in my eyes.
Lastly, let's talk about Babe Ruth...
Babe Ruth baseball, that is. I played organized ball all the way through my freshman year. Back in little ol' East Grand Forks, we never had Varsity baseball (still don't), we just had summer ball. I played every summer until I got into high school. I stopped because of an ACL injury and wanting to get a summer job.
That last year of playing Babe Ruth, we had the District tournament in Red Lake Falls, MN (for those of you who watch my videos on UO Teaching Videos, may know that Red Lake Falls played "The Final Countdown" by Europe). And they played it at that tournament...over...and over...and over again.
Anyway, I played for the EGF A's, which was the best 15 year olds and a couple 14 year olds. There was one more Babe Ruth team from EGF, which was the EGF Blue Jays, which was the best 14 year olds and a few 15 year olds. The very last game of organized baseball I ever played was my A's team against the Blue Jays, and the Blue Jays beat us (doh!). Knocked us out of double elimination.
What does Jason Hearn, Favre, and the 1980 USA Hockey team have in common?
1. Training
2. Competition
3. The Heart of a Champion
And that's exactly what the camp participants form the [Ultimate Officials Early Season Referee Camp] have in common. I could go on and on, but I think results speak for themselves:
Let's talk about USA Hockey first...
The Winter Olympics are coming up in a few weeks. I love the Olympics. I love the hockey tradition of the Olympics. If you were to ask me about the strongest memories of anything hockey related from when I was a young kid in the early 1980's, I definitely list: (a) East Grand Forks' Section 8 Champion Teams and State Tourney Participants in 1980 and 1982 (damn...didn't the State Tourney seem so totally magical back in those days?!?) - never mind that both teams went "O-fer"...(b) the 1980 and 1982 National Championship UND Sioux teams (damn...I loved Howard Walker), and, of course, the 1980 Miracle on Ice.
Wow...those early 1980's....seemed like all of the teams I cheered for and loved...they were all champions. Everybody was a winner! I remember me and all my buddies would pretend to be those guys, playing boot hockey at recess. We had Jim Craig, Mike Eruzione, et. al. It was my slice of Americana...my "Normal Rockwell" times.
The USA Hockey team was prepared, determined, and outworked their competition. And they were highly trained by the master, Herb Brooks.
Next, let's talk about Brett Favre
The guy has one of his best seasons as a 40 year old! The guy is a trained assasin! He's a cold-blooded killer! And I mean all of that in a good way! He has to be included in the arguments of one the best all time clutch players. He has something mentally that pushes him to deliver over and over and over and over again.
Prior to this football season, I was a luke-warm Favre guy. When the Vikings made themselves look like fools, falling all over him to sign him, I was still luke warm. It wasn't until he destroyed his Green Bay buddies that I really fell in love with the guy. His competitive nature, that is.
Favre and the 1980 USA Hockey team and training and competition. Both good things in my eyes.
Lastly, let's talk about Babe Ruth...
Babe Ruth baseball, that is. I played organized ball all the way through my freshman year. Back in little ol' East Grand Forks, we never had Varsity baseball (still don't), we just had summer ball. I played every summer until I got into high school. I stopped because of an ACL injury and wanting to get a summer job.
That last year of playing Babe Ruth, we had the District tournament in Red Lake Falls, MN (for those of you who watch my videos on UO Teaching Videos, may know that Red Lake Falls played "The Final Countdown" by Europe). And they played it at that tournament...over...and over...and over again.
Anyway, I played for the EGF A's, which was the best 15 year olds and a couple 14 year olds. There was one more Babe Ruth team from EGF, which was the EGF Blue Jays, which was the best 14 year olds and a few 15 year olds. The very last game of organized baseball I ever played was my A's team against the Blue Jays, and the Blue Jays beat us (doh!). Knocked us out of double elimination.
- They beat us because they had more focus.
- They beat us because they had great coaching (we did, too).
- They beat us because they played with more heart that day.
- They beat us because their heart, focus, and coaching put Jason Hearn in centerfield, where he normally played infield, and the mother-effer ran down every bomb we hit into the outfield, including three of mine. I mean, the only reason I had three fly outs is because Hearn ran down all three of my line drives like a gazelle (the guy was an athlete and played like a champ). The only reason he didn't snag my fourth hit is because I hit the outfield fence in mid-air, thus limiting me to a 1 for 4 performance.
What does Jason Hearn, Favre, and the 1980 USA Hockey team have in common?
1. Training
2. Competition
3. The Heart of a Champion
And that's exactly what the camp participants form the [Ultimate Officials Early Season Referee Camp] have in common. I could go on and on, but I think results speak for themselves:
- Helped produce a National Tournament participant and State Tournament participants
- Introduced some guys to influential members within the hockey referee world...established contacts and got a few guys on the "radar" (otherwise, they would be the best officials nobody knew about).
- Helped get some other referees Bigger and Better games (isn't that what it's all about?!?)...quality regular season games.
- Helped some of them make great gains [physically and mentally!]
- Helped coach some guys to make improvements through video and collaboration be actually watching their games, giving them honest feedback, and mapping out a plan for them.
- And, on a satisfying note for me...started to break the "Good Old Boys Club" (see Good Bye 'Old Boy Network' on the right hand side of this page).
(click on the above link)
Or email me: info@ultimateofficials.com -- say, "More Info for Feb Camp!"
The Late Season Referee Camp (Feb through April)
A compare/contrast with Ultimate Officials Camp and a "Garden Variety" Referee Camp:
The Other Guy*
Time: 1 Weekend or 6 Days Maximum
Ultimate Officials
Time: 3 Months, during Your Hockey Season, when You are Working Hockey Games that Matter
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Other Guy
Games to Work: A Select Festival or Nothing
Ultimate Officials
Games to Work: Well...you are working the league you want to conquer, and get playoff/championship assignments.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Other Guy
Information Taught: Lots and In a Short Time, usually with no chance to improve
Ultimate Officials
Information Taught: Well...the same info, BUT with time to work on and master, with LOTS of Feedback
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Other Guy
Instructors: Refs Who Have Been, Done That, but have little or NO teaching background.
Ultimate Officials
Instructor: Teaching techniques from a Ref who has Been There, Done That & a Master's Degree in Teaching
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Other Guy
Curriculum: "One Size Fits All"
Ultimate Officials
Curriculum: Specific to Your Needs and Goals (Ultimate Officials uses a 'one-of-a-kind' Individualized Referee Plan)**
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Other Guy
Feedback: A videotape of games, maybe an eval, and a short 'office hour' where you'll get generic feedback.
Ultimate Officials
Feedback: All of the same feedback PLUS week by week breakdown with DETAILED & SPECIFIC feedback.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Other Guy
Cost: USA Hockey Camp = $80 plus travel
* California Referee School = $335 plus travel
CSHO School = $349 to $475 plus travel
Don Koharski's Camp = $325 plus hotel plus travel
Johnny Murray's Camp = $500 for 1 week/$900 for 2 wks
Ultimate Officials
Cost: $50 per Month -Total of $150, plus you earn your own Game Fees
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Individualized Referee Plan is set up customary for you...your needs, your goals, your gameplan, your desire.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
If I Were John Scott...
I'd be 6' 8"...would maybe have a different profession (you know...something like the guy who changes light bulbs without a ladder - poor humor, sorry), and my hand would hurt, too.
Greg Devorski #54 and Mark Pare #79 (over 3,000 NHL games between these two guys!) get some good face time, and ol' Kevin Gorg gets the front row and center:
Greg Devorski #54 and Mark Pare #79 (over 3,000 NHL games between these two guys!) get some good face time, and ol' Kevin Gorg gets the front row and center:
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