Hockey – 2009

Well the Hockey Season in Canada has begun. So without further ado, you are true Canadian if get a real laugh out of this:

TOP TEN REASONS HOCKEY IS BETTER THAN SEX
10. It’s legal to play hockey professionally.
9. The puck is always hard.
8. The protective equipment is reusable, and you don’t even have to wash it.
7. It lasts a full hour.
6. You know you’re finished when the buzzer goes off.
5. Your parents cheer when you score.
4. A two-on-one or three-on-one is not uncommon.
3. Periods last only 20 minutes.
2. You can count on it at least twice a week.
1. You can tell all of your friends about it afterward.

On a similar note, the beginning of the hockey season also means that I will be busy assisting the Kamloops Minor Hockey Officials. Check out the Web Page Kamloops Referees. This year, as in the past few years I help with the on ice development of the New and Level 1 Officials. What this involves is an on ice shdaow and then a written report/evaluation to help them improve their skills as officials. We work on the basic positions and procedures toi be an effective referee. For the most part these are very positive experiences for the new official and myself…… it’s great fun to watch the young ref’s improve after a little bit of coaching and support. I always remember my very first game and my first on ice evaluation. My first hockey game was an Inititation “D” at Brock Arena and the other referee was Nick Swaine who is now a linesman in the WHL. I expect Nick will one day be an NHL Official, he’s a very good hockey official. My first on ice shadow/evaluation was done my Steve Kozari. At that time Steve was a WHL referee and now he is a full time referee in the NHL. Actually I ran into Steve in the Vancouver Air Canada lounge and we reminisced about the on ice shadow/evaluation and our time together in the Kamloops Minor Hockey system. The really cool part is that the invited me to visit the officials room if I was ever at an NHL game where he is officiating. More about refereeing and hockey as the season goes on.