NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. -The 450 men and women, who are part of the USA Hockey Officiating Development Program, mostly range in age from their mid 20s to their mid-30s. The ODP cadre is part of the universe of about 26,500 ice hockey officials registered in the United States.  Launched 13 seasons ago, the ODP has slowly but steadily expanded. Its purpose is to develop on-ice officials to eventually work high level collegiate, professional or international hockey.

Currently the ODP uses assignments in about 15 leagues across the United States as part of the development process. Included are games in the Southern Professional Hockey League, the Central Hockey League, the ECHL and the American Hockey League. Assignments in these leagues, usually come after participants have first worked games at the junior level, in such leagues as the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League, the Atlantic Junior Hockey League, Minnesota Junior Hockey League, Central States Hockey League, and Great Lakes Junior Hockey League. They then may move up to officiate in the Tier II North American Hockey League and the Tier I United States Hockey League before being considered for professional game assignments. They may also work in two ACHA college leagues prior to gaining professional experience.

Part of the ODPs expansion is happening because of the accelerated development of an ever increasing number of young officials, between the ages of 16-20, who are getting the opportunity to work higher level games, earlier in their officiating careers. This comes because USA Hockey has increased its emphasis on officiating development among younger officials.    

Prime examples of the higher level contests, are games in the North American Prospect Development League. In its second season, the NAPHL is made up of 38 teams in Midget Major (18), Midget Minor (14) and Bantam Major (6) teams from 19 programs across the U.S. that compete at the Tier I AAA level. The NAPHL is comprised of five regular-season events, leading up to its Championship Tournament Series in which the top teams at each level compete for a league championship. Another major event is the United States Hockey League Prospects Evaluation Tournament which runs each spring.   

While some older and more experienced officials are used for this level of competition, USA Hockey also assigns newer, less experienced officials to these events, which feature some of the best young player prospects in the U.S. The officiating assignments are under the auspices of the American Development Model (ADM).  While the ADM is more widely known as the approach under which U.S. hockey players below the junior age classification are developed, it also concentrates on the development of officials, primarily in the 16-18 year-old age group.

Officials are nominated by their District Referees-in Chief and are assigned to work games at these high level tournaments. In turn, the tournaments have officiating supervisory staffs, who are usually members of the ODP staff.  Thus, the younger or newer officials who may not otherwise get scouted get exposure just like their player counterparts.     

PHN recently had the opportunity to interview four young on-ice officials who are pursuing their development just as hard as many players in the same age group.  All have had the opportunity to work in the above two tournaments, and in addition officiate at various USA Hockey championship tournaments.

The officials interviewed are Tim Lyons, Princeton, N.J., Sam Sufler, Huntington Valley, Pa., both 17 years-old, high school seniors and two college freshmen, Pat Cunningham, 18, of Newtown, Pa., and Andrew Mortensen, of Chatham, N.J., who just turned 19.  Each had exposure partially through their assignments to various prospects tournaments and are now members of the ODP.  

Despite their youth, all have been officiating for six or more seasons. These four young men have worked with each other in various leagues, attended development camps together and have worked on the staff at various national tournaments.

They collectively cite the support of older officials, their peers and friends, in helping with their development. Number one, of course, has been the support of their parents, who have allowed them to travel to work various tournaments across the U.S. and attend a variety of training camps and seminars.

Their personal efforts at development, present a roadmap for other younger or newer officials who may just now be developing a long-range interest in working more competitive levels of ice hockey.   

All four worked their first games in stripes around the age of 12. By the time they had reached 16, they had begun to focus more on officiating, than playing. Secondly, each has used a part of their officiating game fees to finance attendance at various officiating camps during the off-season.  It should be noted that states have varying labor laws and some states do not permit younger people to work games as officials.

They have also used their officiating income to join health clubs, pursue individual power skating lessons and for skating ice time. They and their families, have invested both time and money into their individual officiating futures.   

Importantly, they also worked closely with their respective USA Hockey Referees-in Chief, Scott Perdue and Tony Mariconda. District and state RIC’s are important in the development of younger officials.  They are part of the evaluation and recommendation process that helps determine invitations and assignments at various USA Hockey Officiating development camps and tournament events.  

Andrew Mortensen began officiating at the age of 12, liked it and began to focus on officiating versus playing shortly thereafter, although he still continues to play. He plays on an intramural hockey team at his university.

“My parents may have spent more time ferrying me to games, than the parents of players, as I quickly built a schedule of mite and squirt games, long before I had a driver’s license,” says Mortensen. 

His development efforts were eventually rewarded with assignments at USA Hockey District and National Championship tournaments. Most recently he worked the National Championship Tournament for midget age teams. He was identified by his District Referee in Chief for assignments at the NAPHL and USHL prospects tournament.

A marketing major at Miami University of Ohio, he will get a chance to work in several new leagues this season in the Midwest, as well as working in two ACHA college hockey leagues.

Pat Cunningham is considering studying for a degree in criminal justice in college as he settles in as freshman this fall.  He officiated his first game, a mite contest, at the age of 11. As he grew and gained experience, he used his game fee earnings to attend a number of officiating camps ran by current and former NHL officials. For example, he made it a point to go to NHL referee Don Koharsky’s camps held in Canada. This year he also attended USA Hockey’s Eastern Regional Officiating Camp and attended another camp ran by NHL referee Ian Walsh. He also previously attended seminars led by former NHL linesman Kevin Collins.

After three seasons working junior hockey, including the last National Junior Championship Tournament, Cunningham is about to get a taste of pro hockey.

He has been assigned to work a preseason game in the ECHL as a linesman. If it goes well, he may get additional regular season pro assignments. Cunningham recognizes that education is as important as officiating.

“Both school and officiating are my priorities, as I have established career and life goals that involve both,” he said.

Tim Lyons is in his sixth season of officiating. The high school senior plans to attend college after graduation. Lyons worked at last season’s Junior “B” National Championship Tournament, was assigned to work the USHL prospects camp last spring and has worked several series in the NAPHL. 

He has also used his officiating income to hone his skating, officiating skills and knowledge by attending multiple officiating camps. He is working a schedule this season that will include both junior “B” and junior “A” games. He is in his third year of working junior level hockey.

“What I like best is the travel and experience in working multiple leagues and teams. It keeps the game fresh when you get the chance to work with new teams, players and coaches. Each game and situation is a learning experience and I have seen a lot of the US because of the opportunities afforded me,” said Lyons.

Chances are, if you want to speak with Sam Sufler you better be in motion. An accomplished track athlete, Sufler has the opportunity to attend college on a track scholarship.

“Sometimes I think officiating keeps me in shape for track and sometimes I think track keeps me in shape for officiating.”  

Like other high school seniors, Sufler is busy. He is running cross-country this fall, trying to decide on where to go to college and working a full schedule of hockey games.

He joined the ODP after working two ADM tournaments last season, as well as working in his first junior level games. Sufler has also attended a number of USA Hockey and privately sponsored officiating camps. He is currently working primarily as a linesman in junior games, as younger officials generally are not assigned as referees in the same age group.  

Fortunately for USA Hockey, these four young men are not unique. They are representative of hundreds of promising younger officials across the U.S. Just as U.S. born players are getting the chance to develop and excel through USA Hockey’s ADM, so are younger officials. 

USA Hockey and the ODP are benefiting from the expansion of the complimentary ADM officiating development program that focuses on these younger officials.

Contact the author at Phil.Brand@prohockeynews.com