Leaderboard

Howdy, So, did my first games as a linesman this past weekend. Some kinda U18 showcase thing* here in Youngstown, OH. Full four man system. 17 minute periods, ice cut between each, etc. Pretty neat. Took me a while to reprogram all my "automatic" moves... I'm so used to leading the play (ideally) or trailing the play (because I'm old and slow) into the zone to establish position in the Golden Triangle. I'd catch myself unconsciously doing that and then stop and get back to the line where I was supposed to be. Also had issues after an in zone faceoff, where I would naturally back towards the corner and just watch. Again, I'd catch myself doing that, and have to get back out up to the line. The other weird thing was being at the line calling icings, vs. being deeper in the zone. Lots of times I would have to remind myself that I was still the "low guy" even though I was even with or even ahead of where the pass / dump was originating. Also different with a referee controlling the line change. I've done that once or twice in a 2 man game, but never twigged to "blow the whistle to start the faceoff procedure when the ref drops his arm". Anyway, it was fun. Nice to have four folks out there instead of two. I was quite happy to be lining and have secondary responsibility for penalties / goal & assist rewards, given how fast it was. Also nice to have time between periods to talk, though it makes the games take longer. And that was another interesting thing... These games actually paid a little worse per hour than the lower level stuff does. Sure, it was $75 to $100 (depending on which game I was lining for), but with 17 minute periods and two ice cuts I could almost do two full lower level games at $60 per or whatever. The only other really surprising thing was that with all the $$ they were spending to get there, have lots of ice time, etc. etc. they saved money in really stupid ways... There wasn't an EMT there and they didn't have enough off ice officials / team personal for at least one of the games to run the penalty box. The EMT thing is just ridiculously stupid... This is a showcase deal with kids trying to impress actual scouts going 100 miles an hour. Stuff happens. At one point a coach asked us to see if there was an EMT in the building because a kid that had been involved in a collision was having head pain. None to be found. At least you don't die quickly from a concussion, but who knows about skate cuts, etc. etc. The "nobody to run the box" thing bit me in a funny (after the fact) way. I'm doing the right thing, covering my line, helping my partner cover his, etc. etc. I'm on the side of the ice with the timekeeper and penalty boxes. Team benches are on the other side. Suddenly everyone is yelling. I look around for something wrong. Don't see anything. People still yelling. Eventually I figure out they're yelling "Door". Sure enough, penalty box door is open behind me from when a kid came out of the box. As I realize what's happening and turn to get the door, one of the refs has waited enough and blows it dead. I'm pretty sure that I was literally the only person in the damn arena that didn't realize the door was open. 🙂 Mark * This was the first time that there were legitimately scouts in the stands when I was on the ice. They were not looking at me, however. 🙂