This post is dedicated to all of the fans/parents out there who see us as the reason that their team loses any given game. It's a very easy position to find yourself sitting behind the glass or in front of a television screen constantly criticizing what we do. You scream, yell, and even come up with crowd involved chants to hurl at us for the most miniscule perceived slight against your team. Guess what. We aren't there I any way to ruin the game. We are there to be impartial and to make sure the game is played fairly and safely. We don't care about the outcome or even what team is on the ice. What you don't realize is that we are fans as well. However, we are not fans of a team, but of the game itself. If we were to go into a game with the conscious decision that we were going to determine the outcome no official would be able to live with themselves for doing that. Not because we cheated a team, but because we cheated our game. We all love this game and I'll let you in on a little secret. We probably love it more than you. You don't think so? Let me ask you this. How many hours a week do you spend at the gym or reading up on the rulebook to prepare for the next time your team plays? How many nights a week do you spend away from your family to be at an arena for the next game? I already know your answer; "well its your job". No its not. For the most part we all have day jobs. We go to work just like you then we get to go do what we love. Other than the very few Full-time Officials we all have other careers. We officiate hockey because it is our passion not because we get a paycheck.
Night after night we step out onto the ice to have everything from insults to beer bottles thrown at us, yet night after night we continue to do it. Countless times we have had to be escorted out of rinks, yet we continue to go out there. Why? Because every time we do we are living our dream. We get to be involved in the greatest game on the planet. We get to lace up our skates and be a part of something we love. Do you think we would jeopardize this for the outcome of a game? We pride ourselves on our integrity. Frankly, that is all we have. Every official asks themselves "How can I make myself better?" We all may have a different answer to this question, but we all strive to find it. It doesn't matter if we are working House League, the NHL, the Olympics, or anywhere in between we all want one thing, the perfect game. It's the most elusive, possibly unattainable goal in officiating, but it is what we are all working so hard to achieve. So, do you really think we'd throw all of this away to wave off a game winning goal? This brings me to Brad Meier. Mr. Meier may be the most hated person in all of Russia and barring a minor miracle will probably continue to be for some time. Regardless the hatred and protests are unjust. If you're reading this and don't know what I'm referring to you must live under a rock, but in the USA/Russia game Meier, an American, waved off what was potentially the game winning goal for the Russians. The net was dislodged by Jonathan Quick, the American goaltender. I can see the frustration of the Russian fans, but by IIHF rule if it becomes dislodged in any way no goal shall be allowed. This differs from the NHL rule. Had it been an NHL game the goal would have counted. The call went to review and was upheld by the IIHF's Off-ice Officials. Once it went under review Meier and his decisions are no longer a factor. He has no say in the outcome of what they decide. So why the hatred for Meier? Because it's what's common practice. Blame the Officials even if they have made the right call. Does Russia really believe that he is involved in some deep rooted, Cold War Era international conspiracy? I'd have to say surely not, but this type reaction is becoming more and more prevalent in our sport. It's far more convenient to blame the Officials for a loss than it is to accept the fact that your team was beaten. What's so wrong with admitting defeat, or that your player may have broken the rules? You are creating an environment that the only people held accountable are the Officials. In other words you are making us scapegoats. This is detrimental to the game because like it or not without us there is no game. I hear or read lots of complaints about competent officiating and how so few officials are up to the task. Why do you think that is? It's because the constant and unrelenting abuse forces the young ones out before they get a chance to learn and makes the experienced ones jaded. You yell, berate, and intimidate these young officials into quitting before they can even get started. Where do you think our game will be in 10 years of this trend continues? It's time for the abuse to stop. I challenge you to hold yourself accountable. Lay off the Officials because it's you that is killing the joy of the game, not us.
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