Category: Announcements

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We are all missing the game! Here is your opportunity to connect with leaders in officiating to discuss their path, connect with others and see how we can all support each other. Attendees are encouraged to ask our panelists questions. Plus, each panelist has a Massachusetts connection! Submit questions before the webinar by email to seminars@mahockey.org

Chris Rooney (current NHL official) will be joins Ryan Daisy(current NHL Official), Kevin Donovan (USA Hockey Referee-in-Chief), Katie Guay (first female official for a D1 NCAA Men’s game, Olympic official & one of four women to officiate at the NHL level), Brian Murphy (retired NHL official & new Hockey East Supervisor of Men’s officials) & Scott Zelkin (USAH Manager of Junior Officiating Development Program).

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Written By Brad Lohmeier – posted on Facebook.

To the hockey parents I’ve witnessed,

You may not realize it but the “worst referee ever” and the ref who “sucks” just happens to belong to the person standing beside you. He’s my son.

The “crappy” ref is 13 years old and has officiated over 50 games. He has taken on everything from Atom House to Championship games in Pee Wee Rep tournaments.

He would rather be sleeping in but because of his passion for the game, he gets up at 4:45am to ref your child at their 6:15am game on a Saturday morning.

He can often hear your voice, he knows what is being said….yet he does his job in a responsible, professional manner and somehow manages to not take it personally.

The “ref who shouldn’t be out there” has spent hours studying, writing tests, going to classroom and on ice sessions to be certified by Hockey Canada. He has been recognized by his local hockey association and has worked hard to earn the right to be on the ice. He’s had multiple coaches from other towns compliment him for doing a great job. He most likely knows the rules of the game better than you.

Yet, he SUCKS!

He’s had parents “boo” at him as he walks to the change room after a game. He’s even been followed into the change room by a pissed off coach. Yet he keeps officiating.

So….if the referees decided not to show up because of the abuse from the parents and coaches – then what? Do you have the courage to jump on the ice? I guess you just cancel the game and go home. How does that sound?

Parents, coaches, players and everyone in that rink must answer to the ref. He didn’t make the rules, he is simply enforcing them. If anyone in that rink is out of line….that 13 yr old has the power to throw them out of the rink. Guess what?….he has thrown out a coach who was in his 40’s because the coach took it too far. Could you do that? Perhaps, but perhaps not.

They call the game as best as they can and it’s truly remarkable how few mistakes they make.

When your player clearly tripped a kid then scored, you were fine with that. Turn the tables and now it’s a different story.

Who do I cheer for? The black and white stripes. They keep the game fair and they keep the players safe.

I’m beyond proud of my “worst ref ever.” He takes on more than you will ever know….and he loves every second.

As for me, I feel sorry for what your kid must go through on the ride home after the game. Hockey is supposed to be fun….I’m guessing for your kid it’s not.

And for the penalty that was called at 3:25 in the third period – it was too many men, and you probably didn’t notice….but the ref did.

The USA officials registration season has been in swing for a month and a half.. Please note and spread the word to anybody who might be interested in becoming an official…

With that – All registration requirements now must be completed by March 15 the following year, although your current card/crest is still good until November 30.

Here are the seminar dates and they are all posted on https://usahockey.com/officialseminars

Aug. 1 – Level 3 – Canton
Aug. 10 – Level 1 & 2 – Canton
Aug. 20 – Level 3 – Shrewsbury
Aug. 24 – Level 1 & 2 – Shrewsbury
Aug. 25 – Level 1, 2 & 3 – Agawam
Sept. 7 – Level 1 & 2 – Andover
Sept. 10 – Level 3 – Andover
Sept. 18 – Level 4 – Marlboro
Sept. 21 – Level 1, 2 & 3 – Hyannis

Note that Hyannis is the last seminar so if you miss it there is no make up. Canton is early and easy to get to if you want to get everything out of the way early.

You must register with USAHockey as an official (https://usahockeyregistration.com) before you can register for a seminar!

If you have any questions about registration of the upcoming season please reach out, and again if you know of anybody who might be interested in becoming an official please pass this along. With the early seminar dates we can not wait until hockey season starts to start recruiting officials.

As part of Hockey Week Across America, 18 NHL games in American cities will offer two young officials the chance to meet the NHL officials working the particular contest prior to the game and then stay to watch those NHL officials in action.

Special thanks to the Boston Bruins and the NHLOA for hosting Jack Hudson from MA and Dean Simpson from the NE District at the Bruins game on February 28th.

Pictured: Scott Driscoll, Mike Leggo, Marc Joannette, Kiel Murchison
Dean Simpson NE district Jack Hudson Ma district

• Act in a professional and businesslike manner at all times and take your role seriously.
• Strive to provide a safe and sportsmanlike environment in which players can properly display their hockey skills.
• Know all playing rules, their interpretations and their proper application.
• Remember that officials are teachers. Set a good example.
• Make your calls with quiet confidence; never with arrogance.
• Manage and help to control games in cooperation with the coaches to provide a positive and safe experience for all participants.
• Violence must never be tolerated.
• Be fair and impartial at all times.
• Answer all reasonable questions and requests.
• Adopt a “zero tolerance” attitude toward verbal or physical abuse.
• Never use foul or vulgar language when speaking with a player, coach or parent.
• Use honesty and integrity when answering questions.
• Admit your mistakes when you make them.
• Never openly criticize a coach, player or fellow official.
• Keep your emotions under control.
• Use only USA Hockey-approved officiating techniques and policies.
• Maintain your health through a physical conditioning program.
• Dedicate yourself to personal improvement and maintenance of officiating skills.
• Respect your supervisor and his/her critique of your performance.

Goals And Assists 

A player is skating toward the opposing net, takes a shot and falls down sliding toward the net. His momentum carries him in to the goal keeper, knocking the puck loose and in to the net. The goal keeper did not have possession long enough for the play to be blown dead. Is this a good goal?

No – Rule 617(c)2

“A goal shall not be allowed if the following occurs:

(2)The puck has been thrown or deliberately directed into the goal by any means other than a stick, even if subsequently deflecting off any player, including goalkeeper, prior to entering the goal.”

The general rule is a puck must be propelled into the goal by a stick. Which means a player may not knock the puck into the goal by making contact with the goalkeeper after he/she makes a save.

Basic Manual

In a squirt game the puck is next to the goalie’s leg pad and the other team is trying to hit it in but instead of hitting the puck they are hitting the goalie. Do you blow the whistle even though the puck is not covered?

The officials should stop play if they determine that the goalkeeper has control of the puck (or has covered the puck) while the attacking team is applying direct offensive pressure. If the puck is loose, play should be allowed to continue.

However,attacking players may not slash or make any type of illegal stick-contact with the goalkeeper just because they are “trying to play the puck”. Players are expected to control their sticks at all times, and any type of dangerous,reckless, or illegal stick contact with goalkeepers should be penalized.

Penalties

A player (Youth, Girls’ or High School) is assessed a minor plus a misconduct penalty. Does this infraction count as one or two penalties toward the cumulative penalty rule?

Two. Rule Reference 401(b). Even though there has been only one infraction of the rules, there are two penalties assessed for this infraction that both count towards the cumulative penalty rule.

** REMINDER RETURNING OFFICIALS **

You need to have the new Crest on your sweater! If it’s not blue, no games for you!

BOARDING
What degree of force is necessary in order to be considered to be thrown dangerously into the boards?

For USA Hockey youth games, the onus is on the player delivering the check to do so in a manner that does not place the opponent in danger. Rule Reference 603(Note).
The purpose of a body check is to separate the opponent from the puck. Anytime a player delivers a check for the purpose of intimidating or punishing the opponent, and therefore causes the opponent to be driven excessively into the boards (uses the boards to punish the opponent), a boarding penalty must be assessed.

The degree of force with the boards is certainly subject to discretion and a more practical question may be “was the check necessary and/or what was the vulnerability of the player being checked?” For example, a boarding penalty may be assessed when a player was not necessarily hit that hard,but was in a vulnerable position when unnecessarily hit with a degree of force that caused them to be thrown into the boards excessively.

In contrast, a penalty may not be warranted when a player is hit much harder, but his preparedness for the hit causes him to go only mildly into the boards.

USA Hockey is not eliminating a good, hard and clean check. However, players must be aware of the situation when delivering a check and then held accountable for taking “liberties” and therefore endangering an opponent.

BOARDING
A player is skating behind an opponent as they head towards the end boards. At the bottom of end zone face-off circle, the trailing player trips the opponent and causes him to lose control and crash into the end boards. May a boarding penalty be called in this instance?

Yes. Rule Reference 603(a).

The boarding rule covers all potential illegal actions that causes an opponent to dangerously contact the boards. Even though a tripping penalty may also be appropriate, the boarding call is preferred to draw attention to the more aggressive infraction.

ROUGHING

What is the USA Hockey interpretation of illegal body checking to a player who is no longer in possession and control of the puck?

Any avoidable check delivered to a player who is no longer in possession and control of the puck. Rule Reference 640(b).

A player is considered to still be in possession of the puck after he releases it up until the point the puck is next played by another player. An avoidable check delivered to a player after he has released the puck must be penalized under this rule.

An avoidable check is when the player delivering the check has an opportunity to avoid contact once it is realized the opponent no longer has possession and control of the puck.
The concept of “finishing the check” is one that is meant to intimidate or punish the opponent and has no place in youth hockey. Provided this check is avoidable, it must be penalized in every instance.

**NOTE** Roughing is NOT a substitute for a Boarding call, please make the proper call!