Calgary Hockey Magazine Winter Edition 2018

WINTER 2018

MORGAN KLIMCHUK

Hometown Boy Strives to Make Flames Lineup

TRAVELLING JAGRS Honour the Career of Favourite Player

WILLIE DESJARDINS Chosen Coach of the Men’s

Olympic Hockey Team

S ' IT L L A OD O G GOOD HOCKEY GOOD TIMES GOOD PRICE

$

12

99 KIDS

$

STARTING AT

19

99

ADULTS

PLUS APPLICABLE FEES + TA XES

| SCORE TICKETS

CALGARY HOCKEY MAGAZINE | WINTER 2018

CONTENTS 6

MORGAN KLIMCHUK Hometown Boy Strives to Make Flames Lineup

5

Message from the Publisher of the Calgary Hockey Magazine

14

Arena Locator Map

22

8

Alberta’s Contribution to the 2018 World Junior Championship

12

Peter Loubardias

16

The Travelling Jagrs

Honour the Career of Favourite Player

Willie Desjardins

Chosen Coach for the Canadian National Men’s Hockey Team in the 2018 Winter Olympics

21

Gold Medal Winners Feature 2017 Esso Calgary Minor Hockey Week Gold Medal Winners

Sportsnet FAN960 Broadcaster

24 Advice from the Pros

Top NHL Referees Share Their Advice for Minor Hockey Officials

To those who

believe in pre-game rituals,

YOU ARE

ŠTim Hortons, 2016.

Message From

The Publisher Welcome to the Winter Edition of the Calgary Hockey Magazine.

In this edition, we feature Morgan Klimchuk, who was drafted by the Calgary Flames in the first round (their 3rd pick) at the NHL entry draft in 2013. Klimchuk grew up in Calgary, and played in Midnapore and Shaw Meadows in his early years, before moving on to the Calgary Bisons (Bantam AAA) and Calgary Buffaloes (Midget AAA). Klimchuk went on to play for the Regina Pats and Brandon Wheat Kings in the WHL, and was part of the U-18 Team Canada squad, which won a gold medal at the World U-18 Hockey Championships in 2013. Klimchuk currently plays for the Stockton Heat, the Calgary Flames farm team in the AHL. We are pleased to feature Willie Desjardins who will coach our men at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. This team will not include the best players in the NHL, but if hockey fans can remember pre-Nagano Olympic hockey, our country always competed well. (Silver medals at Albertville in 1992, and Lillehammer in 1994.) Desjardins has roots in Calgary, spending nine seasons with the University of Calgary Dinos, from 1985 to 1994, before landing his first job in the NHL as assistant coach for the Minnesota North Stars, and later on, the first head coach for the San Jose Sharks. Desjardins has fond memories of his time in Calgary, where he helped lead the Dinos to two Canada West Championships, in 1988 and 1990.

We have also included a review on five members of the Canadian WJC team, all five players with Alberta roots. (At the time of press, Canada was headed to the medal round, so final tournament result was not known.)

Our senior writer Jeremy Freeborn met up with Sportsnet hockey commentator and analyst Peter Loubardias to chat about his broadcasting career. Loubardias arrived in Calgary in 2008 to do play-by-play for the Calgary Flames, but switched over to do colour commentary in 2013, where the Sportsnet FAN 960 broadcaster provides his observations and insight on Calgary Flames games.

Loubardias is known for his encyclopedia of knowledge and passion for the game of hockey.

We have a special feature on NHL officials, quotes gathered from interviews we conducted in past issues of the magazine.

We asked these pro officials to offer their advice to young minor hockey officials, guidance coming from retired officials like Kerry Fraser and Bill McCreary, and current NHL referees including Brad Watson, Wes McCauley and, Calgary native, Dan O’Rourke.

Wrapping up this issue, we have two mini-features on young minor hockey players who won gold at last year’s Esso Minor Hockey Week. If you have a nomination for a future “Spotlight” feature, whether it’s a player or team who won gold at this year’s Minor Hockey Week, check out page 19 for details. And if you have any ideas or suggestions for a story about the Calgary hockey scene, please pass it along for consideration in our next edition of the Calgary Hockey Magazine which comes out in early March.

CREDITS President and Publisher // Rob Suggitt Art Director // Christine Kucher Graphic Designer Katelyn Suggitt Contributing Writers Jeremy Freeborn // Rob Suggitt Cover Photo Provided By Jack Lima - Stockton Heat Hockey Club Copy Editing Shari Narine Photography Credits Andy Devlin - Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club Brad Watson - Calgary Flames Hockey Club Gerry Thomas - Calgary Flames Hockey Club Jack Lima - Stockton Heat Hockey Club Juha Saastamoinen - Hockey Canada Images Lance Doucet - Calgary Dinos Hockey Club Marko Ditkun - Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club Matthew Murnaghan - Hockey Canada Images Sportsnet Sales Associate Lynn Schuster Administration Amber Grmek The Hockey Magazine is a product of Playhouse Publications Ltd. - an affiliate of Suggitt Ltd. President & CEO // Tom Suggitt President & CFO // Rob Suggitt 10177 - 105 Street, Edmonton AB T5J 1E2 Ph: 780.423.5834 // Fax: 780.413.6185 All Rights Reserved. The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed within do not necessarily represent the opinions of the publisher or Calgary Hockey. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means, ie. electronic, mechanical, photocopied or otherwise recorded without the prior written permission of the publisher - www.suggitt.com Printed By R.R. Donnelley

Sincerely,

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook

Rob Suggitt Publisher of the

Calgary Hockey Magazine Calgary Hockey Magazine | 5

MORGAN KLIMCHUK Hometown Boy Strives to Make Flames Lineup

BY JEREMY FREEBORN

The Calgary Flames had three first round draft picks in the 2013 National Hockey League Entry Draft. When Flames General Manager Jay Feaster made his selections, the Flames ended up having representation from each of the three junior hockey leagues in Canada—one from the Ontario Hockey League, one from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and one from the Western Hockey League.

With their first pick, sixth overall, the Flames selected future first line centre Sean Monahan from the Ottawa 67’s. With their second pick, 22nd overall, they selected left winger Emile Poirier from the Gatineau Olympiques. With their third pick, 28th overall, the Flames decided to go with homegrown talent in selecting Calgary-raised Morgan Klimchuk from the Regina Pats.

The Flames had the extra two first round draft picks because of trades Feaster made the previous season. On April 1, 2013, the Flames acquired the St. Louis Blues first round draft pick when they traded Jay Bouwmeester and on March 28, 2013, the

6 | Calgary Hockey Magazine

PHOTO PROVIDED BY JACK LIMA Flames acquired the Pittsburgh Penguins first round draft pick when they traded one of the most popular Flames in franchise history, Jarome Iginla.

This past fall, I spoke with Klimchuk, who currently is a regular for the Stockton Heat, the Flames’ top affiliate. Klimchuk was born in Regina, and moved to Calgary before he was one month old. He grew up cheering for the Calgary Flames and has fond memories of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft in New Jersey.

“It was a dream come true,” he said.

“Obviously everyone wants to get drafted and get drafted as high as possible. Being at the draft and hearing my name called not only in the first round, but by my hometown team, is something everyone dreams of

growing up. There are not a lot of words to describe it. It was one of the best feelings I have ever had in my life.”

Klimchuk tries not to dwell on the fact he was traded for Iginla, who is the Flames alltime leading goal scorer with 525 and point producer with 1,095.

“I think there is pressure whenever you are drafted in a spot like that,” he said. “I was traded for a player I grew up idolizing and watching. I try not to focus on the pressure other people are putting on me.”

Morgan’s father Kade was a huge hockey fan, and got his son skating around the time Morgan was first walking. Morgan really enjoyed his early years playing minor hockey in Calgary. He began playing

in Midnapore, and then for Shaw Meadows when Hockey Calgary rezoned the minor hockey organizations in south Calgary. Klimchuk thoroughly enjoyed his minor hockey experience in Calgary, especially the tournaments.

“Whether it was going to a local tournament or going with your team somewhere else. I remember Esso Minor Hockey Week and a Timbits tournament, where all the players were each assigned a country. Our team got lucky and we were Team Canada. We got stickers and it was something we were clearly excited about. Those were things that you don’t forget. It is tough to pick just one.”

Playing spring hockey in 2006 at the age of 11 was a memorable experience for Klimchuk. In addition to playing with fellow first round draft pick Josh Morrissey of the Winnipeg Jets on the Calgary Junior Flames, Klimchuk was coached by former National Hockey League players Pat Elynuik and Dennis Polonich.

Elynuik and Polonich are both originally from Foam Lake, Saskatchewan, and are now living in Calgary. Elynuik had backto-back 30 plus goal seasons for the Jets in 1989-90 and 1990-91, while Polonich played eight years for the Detroit Red Wings from 1974 to 1983, and was the Red Wings captain in 1976-77.

“To have two guys who have been around the game that much kind of helped mould me,” he said. “They helped me not just as a person, but as a player. They helped develop my skills and showed me what it takes to be a professional hockey player.”

Klimchuk then went on to play for the Calgary Bisons in Bantam AAA and then the Calgary Buffaloes in Midget AAA. In his final year in Bantam, in 2009-10, he had 33 goals and 19 assists for 52 points in only 28 games. Then in the 2010 playoffs, he had 18 goals and 13 assists for 31 points in 13 games. A year later with the Buffaloes, he continued his strong offensive production my notching 27 goals and 23 assists for 50 points in only 32 games.

In 2011, Klimchuk was on Team Alberta at the Canada Winter Games in Halifax, winning the bronze medal.

“That was an unbelievable experience,” he said. “To represent the province and then go there and win a medal was unbelievable. The whole experience was so well done and was mind blowing. Everything from the opening ceremonies to the competition. I got to play against the best players in the country and it is something I will never forget.”

In 2011-12, Klimchuk played his first of five seasons with the Regina Pats. After his rookie season in the WHL, he represented Canada at the 2012 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and was part of the Canadian team that won the gold medal. Klimchuk was part of a Canadian dynasty. He helped Team Canada win

their fifth consecutive gold medal as the Canadian squad won eight consecutive Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournaments from 2008 to 2015. Then in April of 2013, Klimchuk won a gold medal with Team Canada at the World Under-18 Hockey Championship in Sochi, Russia. Canada beat the United States 3-2 in the final.

“That was probably my fondest hockey memory,” he said. “I remember standing on the blueline after what was a hard fought game and a hard fought tournament.

Everybody was beaten up, tired and exhausted. It was all worth it. It was a very rewarding experience and something I take a lot of pride in. That will be an experience that will be hard to replace.”

During the World Under-18’s, Klimchuk got to play on the same line as Connor McDavid and Sam Reinhart. He tied for second in scoring on Team Canada with three goals and five assists for eight points.

Klimchuk said playing with McDavid was “easy. I just had to skate around with my stick on the ice and he does the work.

Connor is the best player in the world in my eyes. He was great. He was a couple of years younger than us and was by far the best player on the ice. I have a lot of appreciation for him. He’s not only a really great player, but a really great guy.”

In his final season in the WHL, he was traded from Regina to Brandon. He helped the Wheat Kings advance to the 2015 WHL championship before losing to the Kelowna Rockets.

In 2015-16, Klimchuk played his first year in the American Hockey League and has been a regular for the Stockton Heat ever since.

“The AHL is a good league,” he said.

“There are a lot of guys who have been to the NHL or are going there. Everybody is fighting to get out of here and playing for a job in the NHL. There is a lot of stiff competition. The games are tough.”

Klimchuk appreciates the loyal fan base that has developed in Stockton over the years. Even though he realizes hockey is not as big in California as other places in North America, he is grateful that core fans show their support.

Klimchuk is trying to work on his consistency. He is also trying to help the Heat win hockey games because he believes teams like having winners on their roster.

Klimchuk’s future goal is to play for the Calgary Flames. He does not want to be a part of any other NHL organization and it is the Flames where he wants to be.

Calgary Hockey Magazine | 7

ALBERTA’S CONTRIBUTION

TO THE 2018 WORLD JUNIOR

HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP

BY JEREMY FREEBORN

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY MATTHEW MURNAGHAN | HOCKEY CANADA IMAGES [ *Editor’s Note: This article was completed before the conclusion of the 2018 WJC championships. Final results not known ]

When Team Canada took to the ice in early January for the 2018 World Junior Hockey Championship in Buffalo, there was a strong Calgary and Edmonton connection. Three players on the team were from Calgary (center Dillon Dube and defensemen Jake Bean and Cale Makar) and two players were from Edmonton (goaltender Carter Hart and center Sam Steel).

All five Albertans have either been profiled in Hockey Magazine Calgary or Hockey Magazine Edmonton in the past. It came as no surprise that all five players were chosen to represent Team Canada at the most significant junior hockey tournament on the globe.

Bean, Hart and Dube won a silver medal with Canada at the 2017 World Junior Hockey Championship in Montreal and Toronto. Dube had three assists, was a +6 and had eight shots on goal. Bean had two assists, was a +1 and had 14 shots on goal. Hart had a record of three wins and one loss, with a goals against average of 2.38.

Bean was drafted in the first round, 13th overall, by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2016 National Hockey League Entry Draft. So far this season, he has provided the Calgary Hitmen with plenty of offense as he has five goals and 22 assists for 27 points in 25 games. It is the first time in his four seasons with the Hitmen that he has averaged more than a point per game.

“To make Team Canada once is a great accomplishment,” said Calgary Hitmen General Manager Jeff Chynoweth in a press release on December 16. “To make it twice, showcases how elite of a player he is.”

Bean became the third Hitmen player to represent Team Canada twice at the World Junior Hockey Championship. He followed in the footsteps of Ryan Getzlaf and Karl Alzner. Bean is also one of two Hitmen players who participated at the 2018 World Junior Hockey Championship. The other was Vladislav Yeryomenko who represented Belarus for the second straight year.

8 | Calgary Hockey Magazine

JAKE BEAN

Hart, who was raised in Sherwood Park, was drafted in the second round, 48th overall, by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He was also the highest ranked goaltender selected as well.

CARTER HART

“Stick to the process. It is a long process.

You don’t want to get too ahead of yourself. You have to worry about getting better every day. If you come to the rink and are wanting to get better, then you’re going to get better. You always have to have that mindset for whatever you’re doing. That goes for your stretching, workouts and skating.

You have to be 100 per cent dialed in to what you are doing and worrying about getting better every day.”

Staying in the moment has helped Hart reach his hockey goals. The Flyers management should be very pleased with the high level of maturity of their young goaltending prospect.

Dube was drafted in the second round, 56th overall, by the Calgary Flames in the 2016 National Hockey League Entry Draft. Raised in Cochrane, Dube continues to provide the Kelowna Rockets with significant scoring from the center position. In 27 games this season, he has 18 goals and 21 assists for 39 points. Over the last three seasons with the Rockets, Dube has 64 goals and 96 assists for 160 points in 132 games. However he has also been reliable defensively throughout his WHL career. Since joining the Rockets for the regular season in 2014-15, Dube has been a +50 in 177 games.

Calgary Hockey Magazine | 9

What Team Canada Head Coach Dominique Ducharme liked the most about Dube was his quickness on the ice.

“Speed. Lots of speed,” he told John Chidley-Hill of the Canadian Press.

“He’s a versatile player. He can do the penalty kill, has lots of skills and can be put on the power play.”

Steel, who like Hart is also from Sherwood Park, has the potential to be a National Hockey League superstar. He was drafted in the first round, 30th overall, by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2016 National Hockey League Entry Draft. In 27 games this season with the Regina Pats, Steel has 14 goals and 21 assists for 35 points and is a +7.

However, it is Steel’s 2016-17 Western Hockey League regular season, which remains very notable. He led the Western Hockey League in scoring with 131 points. Steel registered 50 goals and 81 assists and was a +49 in only 66 games.

SAM STEEL

With those type of numbers, one must ask why wasn’t Steel selected for Team Canada at the 2017 World Junior Hockey Championship in Montreal and Toronto? He was a final cut despite leading the WHL in scoring at the time.

DILLON DUBE

10 | Calgary Hockey Magazine

When Steel was not selected, Team Canada received a significant amount of criticism from not only hockey fans on Twitter, but Don Cherry on Hockey Night in Canada.

CALE MAKAR

“How do you miss a guy like that?” asked Cherry at the time. “There is no doubt that Team Canada missed a sniper like Steel on their 2017 roster to accommodate Dylan Strome and Matt Barzal.”

Even though Canada led the 2017 World Junior Hockey Championship with 35 goals, the absence of Steel was extremely evident. There is no doubt Team Canada could have Steel in their 3-1 loss to the United States on New Year’s Eve 2016, in the pool portion of the tournament, and in the gold medal game which was won by the United States 5-4 in a shootout. During the shootout, all five Canadian players were unable to score on American goaltender Tyler Parsons, who was the Calgary Flames’s second round draft pick, 54th overall, in the 2016 National Hockey League Entry Draft.

Makar was notable for two reasons.

First, he is the only one of the five who had an outstanding career in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

(Steel also played in the AJHL, but only one game with the Sherwood Park Crusaders). Makar, who was the first round pick, fourth overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2017 National Hockey League Entry Draft, was the RBC Cup Most Valuable Player in back-to-back seasons with the Brooks Bandits.

Makar was also one of two defensemen on Team Canada who decided to play in the National Collegiate Athletics Association in the United States rather than the Canadian Hockey League.

Best sign of the 2018 WJC!

Makar currently plays for the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. He was joined by Dante Fabbro, a native of Coquitlam, British Columbia, who currently plays for Boston University.

So far this season for the University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen, Makar has one goal and eight assists for nine points. However do not expect Makar to be with the Minutemen for more than two years. Minutemen head coach Greg Carvel believes Makar has the potential to be the next Erik Karlsson. That is high praise, indeed.

Calgary Hockey Magazine | 11

WILLIE

DESJARDINS Chosen Coach for the Canadian

National Men’s Hockey Team

in the 2018 Winter Olympics

BY JEREMY FREEBORN

PHOTO PROVIDED BY JUHA SAASTAMOINEN | HOCKEY CANADA IMAGES

Willie Desjardins will coach the Canadian National Men’s Hockey Team at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang this February. That team, for the first time since the 1994 Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer, will not include the best players from the National Hockey League.

Desjardins has a wealth of coaching experience as a head coach. He spent three years at the helm of the Vancouver Canucks before being replaced by Travis Green on April 26, 2017. He has also been head coach with the Saskatoon Blades and Medicine Hat Tigers in the Western Hockey League and the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League. The native of Climax, Saskatchewan, has also spent two years as an associate coach with the Dallas Stars under the guidance of head coaches Marc Crawford and Glenn Gulutzan.

Before Desjardins coached in the WHL, he spent nine seasons with the University of Calgary Dinos. Desjardins was an assistant coach with the Dinos for three years from 1985-1988 and worked under Dinos head coach George Kingston, who went on to be an assistant coach for the Minnesota North Stars and later the first head coach of the San Jose Sharks. When Kingston left the University of Calgary, Desjardins was the Dinos head coach from 1988 to 1994.

In 168 games with the Dinos as their head coach, Desjardins had a record of 113-44-11 for winning percentage of .705.

While with the University of Calgary, he got his bachelor and masters degree in social work.

Looking back at his time with the Dinos, Desjardins has fond memories.

“Calgary will always be special,” he said in an interview with Hockey Magazine after a press conference when the Canadian Olympic men’s hockey coaching staff was named. “I am still good friends with lots of the guys I coached. That was one of the dreams I always had was to win a championship with Calgary (won the 1988 and 1990 Canada West Championship but never the University Cup). One of the hardest decisions I ever had was to leave that program. If you have a tough time leaving, then obviously it means you enjoyed it and you had lots of good memories.”

CALGARY DINOS 1991 WITH COACH DESJARDINS | PHOTO PROVIDED BY LANCE DOUCET

12 | Calgary Hockey Magazine

Luckily for Team Canada, Desjardins also has a wealth of international hockey coaching experience. He was the head coach for Canada at the 2010 World Junior Hockey Championship in Saskatoon, when Canada won the silver medal, and was an assistant coach for the gold medal winning Team Canada at the 2009 World Junior Hockey Championship in Ottawa.

The Canadian coaching staff in 2009 for the national junior team had many recognizable names. The head coach was the late Pat Quinn, and the other two assistants were current Calgary Flames assistant coach Dave Cameron and current Ottawa Senators head coach Guy Boucher.

Desjardins discusses what he learned from his World Junior Hockey Championship experiences.

“What you learn there is that it is such a big setting. The Canadian fans are so proud and they want the team to do well. They are there and they are cheering. It is part of them. You feel that, and you know that you can’t let your country down. This is your country and you have a job to do. I think there is a big responsibility that goes with that and I think that is what you learn.”

The challenge for Desjardins this season will be extremely lofty. Team Canada has won the last two gold medals at the Olympic Winter Games. Now Desjardins has to work with players who play in different leagues throughout Europe. Some have National Hockey League experience, while others may not be household names to Canadian hockey fans, but have been able to make a solid living by playing professional hockey overseas.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY JUHA SAASTAMOINEN | HOCKEY CANADA IMAGES

Desjardins is looking forward to his February challenge.

It will be Desjardins’s task to beat what could be an explosive OAR squad.

The Olympic Athletes of Russia are expected to have former NHL all-stars Ilya Kovalchuk and Pavel Datsyuk on their roster.

“It’s amazing,” he said. “I have always dreamed about being part of an Olympic program. I always have. But I didn’t know if I would ever have the chance. There are two things that are special. Number one, this is Canada and Canada is the best country. Number two is the Olympics, which is such a big sporting event. You have a combination of two things which is such a high level. For me, it is amazing.”

Desjardins will be celebrating his 62nd birthday in South Korea, three days before the Olympic men’s hockey tournament, which is set to begin on Feb.14.

Like the 2009 World Junior Hockey Championship, the Canadian coaching staff that has been assembled is a recognizable cast. The most notable assistant who will work with Desjardins is the legendary Dave King, who was the head coach for Team Canada at the 1984 Olympic Winter Games in Sarajevo, the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, and helped Canada strike silver at the 1992 Olympic Winter Games in Albertville.

The other assistants will be former Vancouver Canucks right winger Scott Walker and former St. Louis Blues assistant coach Craig Woodcroft.

Due to political unrest, Russia was known as the Unified Team at the 1992 Olympic Winter Games in Albertville and beat Team Canada 3-1 in the gold medal game. In 2018, due to Russia’s suspension by the International Olympic Committee for “the systematic manipulation of the anti-doping rules” during the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia will be known in Pyeongchang as the Olympic Athletes of Russia (OAR).

At the last two Olympic Winter Games, Mike Babcock instituted a strong defensive structure. It appears Desjardins will have a similar coaching philosophy.

“We have to be good defensively,” he said. “For us we have to make sure we are willing to work hard and have speed to our game. We are going to have to play well defensively to give us an opportunity.”

Team Canada is currently in a pool with the Czech Republic, Switzerland and South Korea. All 12 teams from the Olympic men’s hockey tournament qualify for the playoffs with the top four seeded teams from the qualification round advancing directly to the quarterfinals. The semi-finals take place Feb. 23 and the gold medal game is Feb. 25.

In an interesting note, Desjardins and King have a strong hockey connection from the past. Desjardins played for King for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies from 1979 to 1983. In their final year together in Saskatoon, in 1982-83, Desjardins and King won the University Cup as the Huskies beat the University of Concordia Stingers 6-2 in the final at Moncton, New Brunswick.

There will be a strong similarity between the hockey tournaments King coached at the 1992 Olympic Winter Games in Albertville and the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. In both Olympic hockey tournaments, not only were NHL stars absent, but the Russians were not known as Russia.

Calgary Hockey Magazine | 13

ARENA ADDRESSES 1.

Acadia Rec. Centre 240 - 90th Avenue SE

9.

17.

SAIT Arena 1301 - 16th Avenue NW

2.

Bowness Sportsplex 7904 - 43rd Avenue NW

10.

Frank McCool Arena 1900 Lake Bonavista Drive SE

18.

Sarcee Seven Chiefs Sportsplex 3700 Anderson Road SW

3.

Brentwood Sportsplex 1520 Northmount Drive NW

11.

Jack Setters Arena 2020 - 69th Avenue SE

19.

Shouldice Arena 1515 Home Road NW

4.

Cardel Recreation Centre South 333 Shawville Blvd SE #100

12.

Max Bell Centre 1001 Barlow Trail SE

20.

Stew Hendry / Henry Viney Arena 814 - 13 Avenue NE

5.

Don Hartman North East Sportsplex 5206 - 68th Street NE

13.

Mount Pleasant Sportsplex 610 - 23rd Avenue NW

21.

Stu Peppard Arena 5300 - 19th Street SW

6.

East Calgary Twin Arena Society 299 Erin Woods Drive SE

14.

Father David Bauer Olympic Arena 2424 University Drive NW

22.

Trico Centre 11150 Bonaventure Drive SE

7.

Ed Whalen / Joseph Kryczka Arenas 2000 Southland Drive SW

15.

Optimist / George Blundun Arena 5020 - 26th Avenue SW

23.

Village Square Leisure Centre 2623 - 56th Street NE

8.

Ernie Starr Arena 4808 - 14th Avenue SE

16.

Rose Kohn / Jimmie Condon Arena 502 Heritage Drive SW

24.

Westside Regional Rec. Centre 2000 - 69th Street SW

14 | Calgary Hockey Magazine

Flames Community Arenas 2390 - 47th Avenue SW

g A C T O O L R A MAP N E R A

Calgary Hockey Magazine | 15

the

TRAVELLING JAGRS JAGRS TRAVELLING

need travel no more, JAGR COMES TO CALGARY

BY JEREMY FREEBORN On October 2, the lives of a group of passionate Calgary

Jagr’s debut with the Dallas Stars was delayed, but on February 13, 2013, a large group came together and cheered for Jagr. The Flames beat the Stars that night 7-4, but the Jagr fans went home happy because Jagr notched two assists on a pair of goals by Stars captain Brenden Morrow.

The story about the Travelling Jagrs started in 2009 when Tylor Keller won $3500 on a $2 Sports Select ticket. When he was a child, Tylor told his friends and family, that if anyone from their group won $1000, they would go to Las Vegas. At Halloween in 2009 they went to the Sin City dressed as “sexy” NFL referees. Everyone had a great time, and returned back to Las Vegas for Halloween two years later.

As the group evolved and they started to watch Jagr more, rules were developed. They include the following:

hockey fans changed. They would no longer have to travel throughout North America or wait for their favourite hockey player to make one or two trips a season to the Scotiabank Saddledome. On this date, Jaromir Jagr signed a one year contract with the Calgary Flames for the 2017-18 season.

This time the costumes changed and the group went with a hockey theme. The group idolized NHL superstar Jaromir Jagr and wore different Jagr jerseys worn by one of the greatest players in the history of the National Hockey League. As the captain, Tylor wore the New York Rangers jersey, the team Jagr played for from 2003-04 and again from 2005-08. At that moment, the friends who grew up in the community of Bowness in northwest Calgary, became known as The Travelling Jagrs.

“The best part about all of this is the camaraderie and the ability to be with my friends and family all the time,” explains Tylor’s cousin Trevor Freeman, simply known today as the Dallas Stars Travelling Jagr. “We are just watching a hockey game, goofing around and having fun. It snowballed from there.”

A few of the group saw Jagr play in Edmonton and got a popular response. In the 2012-13 NHL season, there was the lockout and the season did not begin until January.

16 | Calgary Hockey Magazine

Warmups - Everyone is expected to be in attendance for pre-game warmups. The Travelling Jagrs stand and cheer for him once he gets on the ice and do not sit down until he leaves the ice.

Take off your mullets during the national anthems - It is very important to be respectful.

Only cheer for Jagr - The group does not get up to cheer for either team. They only cheer for plays Jagr makes on the ice.

Don’t bug Jagr - The Travelling Jagrs are not expected to ask Jagr for an autograph, interrupt his personal routine and interfere in his personal affairs. However on one night during the 2015-16 season when the Travelling Jagrs saw him play in Florida, Jagr’s girlfriend approached them in the stands. A model from the Czech Republic, Veronika Koprivova told the Travelling Jagrs that Jagr wanted to meet them. When the Travelling Jagrs’ dream came true, Jaromir Jagr was very pleased to meet the group, and was good natured. He had one question for the group which he answered himself in humour. “I just came to see which one of you is going home with my girlfriend? The answer is none of you.”

Never refuse a picture with a fan - The Travelling Jagrs feel it is very important to respect all fans and be polite to them in attendance.

We don’t matter, Jagr matters - Even though the Travelling Jagrs all wear crazy mullets, they all say the focus needs to be on Jagr and not them. It is also important to relish the opportunities and accept Jaromir when he wants to be a part of what the Travelling Jagrs do.

Not a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs - This group is based in Calgary, don’t forget.

At 45 years of age, Jagr is in his 24th National Hockey League season. He is fourth all-time in NHL games (behind Gordie Howe, Mark Messier and Ron Francis), third all-time in NHL goals (behind Wayne Gretzky and Howe), fifth all-time in NHL assists (behind Gretzky, Francis, Messier and Ray Bourque) and second all-time in points behind Gretzky. Jagr’s 1995-96 season with the Pittsburgh Penguins was historic. He set the NHL records for the most assists in a season by a right winger (87) and points by a right winger (149) in a regular season.

Jagr’s best NHL seasons in his career were with the Penguins.

In his first two NHL seasons in 1990-91 and 1991-92, Jagr helped the Pittsburgh Penguins win the Stanley Cup. Jagr also won the Hart Trophy in 1999 and five Art Ross Trophies (1995, 1998-2001). After his time in Pittsburgh which ended in 2000-01, Jagr has played for the Washington Capitals, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Dallas Stars, Boston Bruins, New Jersey Devils, Florida Panthers and now the Calgary Flames.

The Travelling Jagrs wear more than NHL jerseys worn by Jagr.

Members also wear his team’s jerseys while playing in Kladno in the Czech Republic, the Czech National team and Avangard Omsk in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League. While with the Czech Republic National Team, Jagr won a gold medal at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano and two World Hockey Championships—2005 in Vienna and in 2010 in Cologne.

CURRENT TRAVELLING JAGR ROSTER NAME

TEAM REPRESENTED

Rhett Bagnall

Pittsburgh

Matt Besplug

Calgary

Billy Christian

Philadelphia

Trevor Freeman

Dallas

Adam George

Czech Republic

Nick Golden

New Jersey

Malcom Graham

Kladno

Tylor Keller

New York Rangers

Shayne Kuzek

Boston

Chris Richter

Washington

Dustin Seguin

Omsk

Ryan Sellers

Florida

Freeman is currently trying to track down a jersey that Jagr wore while playing with Schalke in the German second division. In his one game with Schalke during the 1994-95 NHL lockout, Jagr had one goal and 10 assists for 11 points! Even though Jagr saw limited action in Schalke, there was a hockey card made of him. During that same lockout, Jagr also played six games for HC Bolzano in Italy.

To date, the Travelling Jagrs have seen Jagr play numerous times in Calgary and Edmonton, and have taken road trips to see him play in Vancouver, Florida, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, Pittsburgh and New York.

In recent years the group have formed a bond with Panthers ownership who have treated the Travelling Jagrs like royalty, and given them unlimited access to their arena. The Travelling Jagrs have also played shinny with the Panthers season ticket holders and also former Panthers winger Bill Lindsay. The Travelling Jagrs have received so much recognition, Panthers ownership believes the group can be a huge asset in helping grow hockey in south Florida.

In addition to the Panthers, the Travelling Jagrs have received great support from the Calgary Flames and the media. The group has connections with TSN, and Freeman was first notified that Jagr would be joining the Flames when he got a phone call from Roger Millions of Sportsnet. Then during the first intermission on October 7 against the Winnipeg Jets in a surprise, Jagr skipped to the group as they were being interviewed by Ryan Leslie of Flames TV. The Travelling Jagrs were then celebrity judges on October 18 for Eric Francis’s Pizza Pigout at Cowboys.

When asked why they honour Jagr over other NHL players, Freeman offered the following response.

Calgary Hockey Magazine | 17

The Kidney Foundation of Canada, WHL and REMAX have joined together to promote organ donation in Canada.

Your WHL team is suiting up with Don Cherry to promote organ donation. Check out the Don Cherry Bobbleheads, a special Upper Deck hockey card, and Don Cherry team sweater auction. Learn more about what your team is planning and organ donation at CanadaDonates.ca

Edmonton Oil Kings Friday March 2, 2018

Victoria Royals Friday March 9, 2018

Kamloops Blazers Friday March 2, 2018

Kelowna Rockets Saturday March 10, 2018

Medicine Hat Tigers Saturday March 3, 2018

Red Deer Rebels Saturday March 10, 2018

Prince George Cougars Saturday March 3, 2018

Saskatoon Blades Saturday March 10, 2018

Swift Current Broncos Saturday March 3, 2018

LEARN MORE VISIT:

CanadaDonates.ca

“When he came back (to the NHL from the KHL in 2011), he had such a passion for the game, and I think that is what drew us to him,” said Freeman.

Another quality that the Travelling Jagrs are in awe of Jaromir Jagr is his work ethic. After pre-game skates, Jagr goes through a heavy workout to get himself into game shape.

Freeman does not know all of Jagr’s latest statistics at the top of his head, even though they are regularly updated on www.thetravellingjagrs.com. For the group it is just about having fun and praising Jagr’s intangible qualities as a hockey player and a person.

The Travelling Jagrs know how special a player Connor McDavid currently is. However, Freeman says fans need to appreciate and give high praise to Jagr, who at age 45, is still playing hockey at a high level.

“For three decades, Jagr has been an impact player,” says Freeman. “It is a pretty special ability to play in multigenerations of the NHL itself.”

Prior to coming to Calgary, Jagr had a huge impact in Florida while playing on the same line as Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov. Freeman believes Jagr can have the same impact if given the chance to play regularly with Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan. However, at the present time Jagr is making a huge impact while playing with Sam Bennett (age 21) and rookie Mark Jankowski (age 23).

In conclusion, the primary focus of the Travelling Jagrs is to pay tribute to a hockey legend. Trying to increase the spotlight on Jagr is at the root of the Travelling Jagr’s agenda. Freeman says, “people really should be paying attention to how great a player he actually is.” The impressions of Jagr are generated with genuine respect and admiration of his athleticism and longevity in the National Hockey League.

Be sure to follow the Travelling Jagrs on Twitter: @68isgr8

PHOTO BY GERRY THOMAS | CALGARY FLAMES HOCKEY CLUB

Calling Al l

GOLD MEDAL WINNERS If your child won a gold medal at the 2018 Esso Calgary Minor Hockey Week, we want to hear from you! Please complete the following questionnaire and send it in by Monday February 28th, 2018, and your child could be featured in the next issue of the Official Calgary Hockey Magazine!

Name:

Age:

Current Team: Number of Years Played:

School Grade:

Usual Position: Favourite Hockey Team: Favourite Hockey Player: Who is your Role Model: Other Hobbies / Interests:

Send in completed entries, along with a photo (preferably in a hockey uniform) to:

Favourite Hockey Memory:

publisher@hockeymagazine.net

Calgary Hockey Magazine | 19

Here’s to over one million hockey dreams.

Proud supporter of one million kids. And counting.

Through our support of community hockey, we’ve given over a million kids the chance to play our nation’s game. That’s a million kids dreaming big hockey dreams. And it’s only the beginning. www.scotiabank.com

® Registered trademarks of The Bank of Nova Scotia.

NHL and the NHL Shield are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League. © NHL 2017. All Rights Reserved.

GOLD MEDAL WINNERS From 2017 ESSO Minor Hockey Week LYNDENSCHALL Lynden Schall, eight years old, has been playing hockey for three years. He currently plays defence for the Saints Novice 2 Hawks. His favourite hockey team is the Pittsburgh Penguins and his favourite player is Sidney Crosby. Lynden’s role model is his dad and he enjoys math and playing with his friends. His favourite hockey memory is winning Esso Minor Hockey Week with his friends and having his dad as his coach!

TAZLUNTHILL Tazlun “Taz” Thill, eight years old, has been playing hockey for three years. He played defence for the Trails West Novice 3 White last year and won gold in the 2017 Esso Minor Hockey Week. This year he is playing on Trails West Novice 1 White.

His favourite hockey team is the Calgary Flames and his all time favourite hockey player is Lanny McDonald. He also idolizes Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks. In his spare time, he enjoys mountain biking and his fondest hockey memory is attending his first NHL game with his dad.

Calgary Hockey Magazine | 21

PETER

LOUBARDIAS

SPORTSNET FAN960 BROADCASTER One word comes to mind that best describes Peter

Loubardias’ interest in the game of hockey: passionate. Even though Loubardias is the current radio analyst for the Calgary Flames on Sportsnet 960 The Fan, his passion for the game of hockey is at all levels, including the Western Hockey League, hockey in university sports, and women’s hockey.

A native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Loubardias’ only life interest has been in sports broadcasting. At age six, he knew what he wanted to do and got his first broadcasting job at 13 years old doing high school football for Telecable 10 in Saskatoon. From there Loubardias went to the Western Academy Broadcasting College in Saskatoon when he was 18, and soon after, would get a broadcasting job in Estevan.

Prior to coming to Calgary in 2008, Loubardias was the play-byplay man for the Estevan Bruins of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, the radio voice for the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League, and a sports reporter in Saskatoon, Edmonton, Regina and Winnipeg. He joined Sportsnet in 2000 and was a beat reporter for the Toronto Maple Leafs. By the 2003-04 season, Loubardias got a dream job as Sportsnet’s voice of the Canadian Hockey League.

Loubardias remained Sportsnet’s voice of the CHL for four years, and filled in for Kevin Quinn a handful of times a year during Edmonton Oilers broadcasts. In 2008-09, Loubardias was hired as the play-by-play voice of the Calgary Flames on Sportsnet and fulfilled those duties for the next three NHL seasons. He also continued broadcasting the Memorial Cup, in addition to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, and the University Cup.

However after the 2010-11 season, Loubardias was shocked to be fired by Sportsnet.

“The new bosses there, by and large, thought I wasn’t that great at calling hockey,” said Loubardias in an exclusive interview prior to a Calgary Flames practice on Oct. 31. “For me it was like a death. I got to work with one of my best friends in Sam Cosentino for six years. For me in my world, it was a death, and it is a death to this day. I am still not completely over it, but what I learned from it was a few things. I put so much stock and so much value in my job, it changed my focus. I learned to grow up… and am blessed that I was able to bounce back. I love hockey with all of my heart and soul. I am more appreciative of what I have and the ability to continue to live out a lifelong hope and dream.”

Loubardias bounced back with the FAN 960 for the 2013-14 Calgary Flames season as a colour-commentator and worked alongside Peter Maher for his final season as the voice of the Flames.

22 | Calgary Hockey Magazine

BY JEREMY FREEBORN | PHOTOS PROVIDED BY SPORTSNET “Peter Maher is the absolute consummate professional,” said Loubardias. “He was as consistent in his work on a dayto-day business as anybody I have been around. He was a true veteran in his craft right up until his last game. There is no proper way through words to describe the kind of respect I have for him. He is a legend. I am so thankful for that year.

When you can learn from the best and see why they are the best, it is a very lucky situation.”

Over the last few seasons Loubardias worked for Shaw’s WHL playoff broadcasts and currently works alongside Derek Wills and Pat Steinberg on the Flames broadcasts as an analyst on Sportsnet 960 The FAN. There is no doubt that the three work excellently together in the broadcast booth.

“The three of us come from different generations. Pat is the 30, Derek is the 40 and I am the 50,” said Loubardias. “With that we all bring something different to the table. As much as they can take from my experience and learn from me, I learn a lot from them. It is not unlike a defensive pairing. I think we work well together because we have developed a really good chemistry and know what the other persons bring to the table.

Everybody has their own niche and their own way about going about their business. I think the three of us bring different strengths to the broadcast and I think it will get better as we have more time together.”

to the rink an hour and a half earlier than I normally do. I was by myself in the booth. I stood there, saw the logo, and went, ‘Today, that’s you who gets the honour and privilege to call this tournament.’”

Even though Loubardias has reached the NHL level in broadcasting, it is junior hockey that he has always had the most appreciation for.

Growing up in Saskatoon, he was a huge fan of the Saskatoon Blades and attended games regularly at the old Saskatoon Arena with his friends and family.

On a personal note, I have seen Loubardias call hundreds of hockey games over the years, and there is one game that stands out more than all of the rest. On Jan. 4, 2007, the Dallas Stars had a 5-4 lead on the Edmonton Oilers.

Then the unthinkable happened as Stars centre Patrick Stefan missed a wide open net with 11 seconds left.

“I say this a lot. To me that level is like family,” he said. “The people you deal with are awesome. The kids are fantastic. For whatever reason I love to watch young people grow into great players at that level and great players at the next level.”

Of all the players Loubardias has seen play in the WHL, the player who surprised him the most and had an impact in the NHL was defenseman Lyle Odelein. At the junior level, everyone expected it would be Lyle’s older brother Selmar that would have an impact in the NHL. Selmar was taken in the first round of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft by the Edmonton Oilers, while Lyle was only taken in the seventh round of the 1986 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens. To the surprise of many it was Lyle who had the biggest impact, and went on to play 1,056 NHL games.

Loubardias’s favourite broadcasting moment was broadcasting the 2004 Memorial Cup in Kelowna.

“I got emotional talking about this,” said Loubardias. “I remember Kelowna in 2004. It was my first Memorial Cup. I watched every Memorial Cup on television since 1973. It is an event I never miss. I remember getting

After Stefan fell, Jarret Stoll passed the puck up to Ryan Smyth, who found Ales Hemsky, and he scored on an unbelievable breakaway with two seconds left. The Stars won the game 6-5 in a shootout, but the following call, would be etched in the memory of many hockey fans. “(Marc-Andre) Bergeron fans on a pass, Stefan steals and he is going to ice it (the victory for Dallas). Or at least I thought he was going to, until he blew it! That is unbelievable. Here come the Oilers the other way. Hemsky is loose. Hemsky, he scores! Can you believe what we just saw?”

“It gives me goosebumps every time I watch it,” recalled Loubardias. “I feel very fortunate that one of those moments came up in one of the eight games I did for the Oilers that season. I have never said this to him personally, but sometimes I feel bad for Kevin Quinn, who has been the long-time voice of the team. I got lucky that moment was in a game that I did. That game was beyond memorable for me.”

Being at the live sporting event is what Loubardias loves the most.

“I got into the business for one reason. I love sports. I love being at games,” he beamed. “Without that, it would never be the same.”

Loubardias would like to see more media attention provided to hockey at the university level.

Don’t throw it away, Keep it in play!

COMPOSITE

STICK REPAIR

CONTACT: MICHAEL FARMER

Integral Hockey Calgary SE & Foothills

Phone: 403-465-2032

mfarmer@integralhockey.com

www.integralhockeySEcalgary.com

A REVOLUTIONARY HOLLOW CARBON FIBRE PROCESS UTILIZING AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGY

Drop Off Locations Oilfields Arena (@ Diamond Edge Sharpening), Black Diamond: 403-933-5511

IS MY STICK REPAIRABLE?

Max Bell Arena, Calgary: 403-204-9013

U PPER S HAFT M ID S HAFT L OWER S HAFT T OE D AMAGE H EEL D AMAGE B LADE IN 2 P IECES

Or contact Mike for other arrangements NEW AND RESTORED PRO STOCK STICKS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE! LIFETIME WARRANTY ON OUR REPAIR! ENDORSED BY HOCKEY CANADA!

“University hockey in this country is one of the best kept secrets,” he said. “There are a lot of fabulous players and fabulous people. I went to a lot of University of Saskatchewan Huskies’ hockey games as a kid. There is so much attention to hockey at the highest level, it is unfortunate that nobody sees it. It is a great product.”

For those who have dreams of being a hockey broadcaster, Loubardias has the following message.

“We spend a lot of time in our lives working. I am one in a very small percentile who gets paid for my hobby and my true love, and that is to go to games, to be at the rink and to learn. For anyone who wants to be a hockey broadcaster, if you love it and if it is what you want to do, I would always encourage people to get practical experience along the way. You can never research enough and prepare enough, but if you really love it, amazing things can happen.”

Loubardias would like his listeners to know his passion for hockey is real and genuine.

“I want people to know I have never done this for the money. I have never done it for the stardom or the prestige. I do it because I love sports.”

The passion is obvious and Flames fans are fortunate to have Loubardias in the broadcast booth.

Calgary Hockey Magazine | 23

ADVICE from the PROS

Over the past ten years, the Calgary Hockey Magazine has had the opportunity and privlege to chat with some of the top referees in the NHL. These referees have offered up their advice to minor hockey officials, from how to deal with players and coaches, handling criticism, and learning from your mistakes.

COMPILED BY ROB SUGGITT

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ANDY DEVLIN & MARKO DITKUN | EOHC

BILLMCCREARY Career: 1984~2011 First of all, you have to be able to skate. But if you’ve played the game of hockey as a player to a fairly high level, I really believe that helps you a lot in making the transition to refereeing. It gives you a better understanding of the game which others may not have. You know how players will react. How coaches react. Tough situations where things have happened in a hockey game. Playing the game is quite an asset to have in your toolbox. You also have to be able to communicate, to admit to any mistakes made on the ice.

Being honest at all times is the number one priority. You’re a human being, just like the players, so you will make mistakes, and let them be a teaching tool to you as well. And last but not least, treat people the way you like to be treated.

I think they should be very restrictive on how they (fans) express themselves in arenas. I’ve been to many minor hockey games, and moms and dads, and even myself, have let their emotions get the best of them. I think it’s imperative today to keep your emotions in check, go to support your son or daughter first, their team second, and the game of hockey third of all. I think it’s vital as a parent to do that, and show nothing but positive encouragement, because there are too many variables kids have to deal with today. They don’t need extra pressure from mom or dad hollering how they’re playing. Just give them positive encouragement and stay in the background.

DANMAROUELLI Career: 1984~2010 You either have that ability to handle criticism or you don’t. It’s got a lot to do with your upbringing. Being able to remain calm under some very hectic times, especially with minor hockey nowadays. It’s the biggest thing I see in the rinks. It’s been like this forever. The officials have to deal with not just players and coaches, but quite often, the parents. There isn’t alot of training on how to deal with criticism. You learn how to deal with it at a young age, and you either have it or you don’t.

It’s also the ability to gain the acceptance of the coaches, the players, and the managers. That’s the tough part about our business. You’ve got to work hard at it every night. I talk as much as I can with the players and coaches. I believe you get what you give, so you have to give them the respect, and hopefully, you get it back in return. That’s been the rule of thumb with my career.

Whether your aspiration is to go to the National Hockey League or not, or to be the best in the amateur program, the best advice I can give is that you get out of it what you put into it. It’s all about maintaining a positive attitude, and strive to get better, whether it’s the certification programs or through clinics that are offered. I was fortunate to go to the Olympics and work with the top officials from some other countries, including Canada. Every night you step out onto the ice, be the best that you can be, whether you’re working novice, peewee or up to the higher levels of junior hockey.

24 | Calgary Hockey Magazine

BRADWATSON Career: 1996~Present I can really appreciate what the younger guys do, especially when I’m back watching minor hockey and see how some of the parents act. You have to enjoy it, but you also have to give effort and be prepared. When I was a young kid working in Regina and worked a bantam or a midget game, that was like the highest level I worked. That used to be my Stanley Cup. I worked hard and I believed in showing effort, and when you give effort, people will usually work with you (rather than complain) because they see you working hard.

Hey, I’ve made a lot of mistakes and that’s the nature of this business.

You get further ahead by respecting the game, and working your hardest.

And kids need to be open-minded and learn from their mistakes. That’s the best thing I got out of the job when I was working the juniors. I learned so much when I was doing junior hockey. By being around good coaches and mentors in the officiating business, I became a student of the game.

And I love it. I go into work and I look forward to it. I love seeing some of these kids play, because they’re so good. It’s a great sport.

DONHENDERSON Career: 1994~2016 LINESMAN “If you’re a 13-year-old kid and you have a 40-year-old dad hollering at you, it’s very intimidating. And it’s very very wrong. I have a huge problem with it. I was lucky enough that when I did it, I was 21-years-old. I played major junior hockey. I was a young man, so if a 40-something guy was yapping at me, I could deal with it. It’s a lot different than dealing with it as a kid. I think the fans have to understand that everybody’s learning, and they have to realize that the boy or girl who’s officiating that game, they’re just a kid, too. None of us are perfect, and they learn from their mistakes.

There’s only one way to learn, and that’s to make a mistake, especially in our game.

I was told a long, long time ago when I started working in the NHL, when you make a mistake, say to them ‘I made a mistake,’ because there’s nothing else they can say to you. All they can say is ‘keep working hard – you gotta get better.’

It’s all they can say. They can’t berate you any more. I think some of the coaches and some of the parents take it out of context. They forget they were 13 once, and they made mistakes when they were kids, too. I strongly disagree with parents or coaches screaming at kids. It’s a real problem in our game, especially in minor hockey.

I get paid to take abuse – I have no problem with it – I’ll take abuse. But for a kid that’s making 10 bucks a game or 12 bucks a game, that’s bull.

DANO’ROURKE Career: 1999~Present It’s a tough job to do if it isn’t part of your makeup. One of the things I can remember, I was 12 or 13, and I was doing a novice or atom game in Summerland, and I had three dads who were able to get down to ice level. There was no glass separating them from the ice, and they were yelling and screaming at the kids. It had nothing to do with them yelling at the officials, but I finally heard enough of them yelling at the kids that I stopped the game, and kicked them out. They said, ‘You can’t kick us out,’ and I said, ‘Well, you tell everyone else why we’re not playing anymore, because we’re not starting until you guys leave.’ I think it’s that sort of make-up that you need to be able to survive officiating.

One of the things I’ve always asked when I go to the camps or seminars is who plays hockey. One piece of advice I always offer officials is to play hockey as long as you can, so that when you do officiate, you’re going to be one, a better skater, which is paramount to officiating, because if you can’t move and be in the right spots, you can’t make the appropriate call, and two, by playing hockey, you have an appreciation for what the players are going through.

It doesn’t mean you have to play it at a high level, just play the game. It will give you a good foundation for how the game works. Understanding the rules gives you a lot of tools and lot of options. And just enjoy it. Don’t take yourself too seriously.

Calgary Hockey Magazine | 25

KERRYFRASER Career: 1980~2010 Everybody copies what’s successful. Intimidation was the rule of the day, and of course taking my little man’s syndrome mentality into it, I wasn’t going to be intimidated. I had to learn that my best ally, aside from my knowledge of the game as a player, and my skating ability, was the ability to get players to play on my terms. And to develop respect and rapport. And it wasn’t by being a nice guy necessarily, it was by being fair and consistent.

It was my first year in the NHL, and I wanted to let on that I was a veteran, that I belonged. It was a one-goal game with Toronto winning late in the third period. I missed a call or decided not to call something that Guy Lapointe thought was a penalty. Guy came over to me complaining about what he thought was a missed call. Wanting to let on Iike I knew who he was, I said, ‘Relax Serge,’ (probably thinking about Serge Savard who was on the ice at the same time). He looked at me and said, ‘My name is Guy, you rookie.’ And he stormed off. A couple of nights later I had to go to Montreal. I sent my skates in to get sharpened, and I’m waiting, when finally the attendant delivers my skates just as the anthem is about to be sung. I jam my foot in, and shaving cream oozes out. I go on to the ice, just before the national anthem, and there’s Guy Lapointe standing on the blue line with a big smile on his face. When my feet hit the ice, my left skate went one way, and my right skate went the other way.

(The attendant also doctored up my skates.) I’m holding onto the boards during the national anthem, and afterwards, Lapointe comes over to me and says, ‘Hey rookie, how’re your skates tonight?’ And I said, ‘Guy, they’re perfect, just the way I like them.’

He laughed and I laughed, and it was a reminder to also not take yourself too seriously.

KYLEREHMAN Career: 2008~Present It’s the greatest game in the world. We’re just a small cog in the game, but we’re the necessary evil if you want to say it that way. Just to be out there with those players, and see what they can do, and watch their skill, it’s truly an honour and privilege to be out there.

Work on your skating. For me, skating’s always been one of my bigger strengths. I’ve been lucky that way. That goes back to when I was a little kid. My dad always said if you want to play hockey, you have to go to power skating. I didn’t like it at the time, but I thank him now.

You also need good communication skills. You can’t just go out there and referee and not have the ability to talk to anyone. I went to watch the Rebels play, and afterward, I went down to talk to the officials. I said to one of them that some of your best calls are your non-calls, but they’re also a verbal penalty, a warning. I said I’m not seeing enough verbal penalties with young officials. It’s either just a penalty or it’s not. But sometimes you can say to a player, ‘You know what, it’s close, but the game doesn’t need it right now.’ It’s not going to hurt us if we don’t call it. But you make sure that player knows that he’s right there on the edge, and if he goes any further, you’re going to have to make the call. And you’re not giving them a break, the game just doesn’t need that call at that particular time, in that particular moment. That’s managing the game. I’m not seeing that enough from younger officials. They need to do this more, and at the right time in the game.

WESMCCAULEY Career: 2003~Present Obviously you have to know the rules, how to skate, positioning, your mannerisms. The biggest thing is take care of the things you can control. Officiating sometimes requires a bit of a split personality, too. Sometimes you need to be tough, and sometimes you need to be a bit of a hugger.

At the youth level, the hardest thing is the parents. A youth hockey player has a coach and gets to practice, but there’s really no practice for being an official, it’s just game experience. It’s hard, but you have to have a lot of self-evaluation. You have to be able to ask your peers how they would handle or call certain situations. Part of it is that you might not know you even made a mistake. You may not have a mentor or supervisor at every one of your games to give you guidance.

The best advice I got early on, and because there was no video replay, was to get the goals (or non-goals) called right. Everyone wants to see goals. Get yourself in position behind the goal line to make the right call. If I’m waiving it off at the top of the circle, I’m probably catching the wrath of the players or coaches. I was always told early in my career, ‘Get to the line, get to the net, and make the right call.’

26 | Calgary Hockey Magazine

CALGARYFLAMES.COM/TICKETS