Hockey Thoughts

[Stk004]

So I went to the Seattle Thunderbirds game tonight (WHL), and my official oriented mind got to thinking......

Do linesmen and referees switch from game to game or is a linesman a linesman and a referee a referee? 

Also, I decided to start tracking the puck instead of shaking my head around like a bobble head. Maybe there is something behind this whole still cameras take better pictures thing after all.

[MadMax]

Unlike baseball, where the roles of PU / BU and PU / U1 / U3 and/or U2 are rotated amongst the crew members from game-to-game, hockey adopts a simple classification more akin to football. In the NHL, NCAA (Div I and II), and other European Professional Leagues the crew is comprised of two referees and two linesmen. There is a "crew chief" between the two, but while on-ice, they are equalitarian in their judgements. In lesser leagues, there is typically 1 referee and 2 linesmen. Junior and amateur leagues may have a 2-ref-only system (in which each referee covers an end and the correlating blue line as a linesman) or a 1-&-1 with a linesman skating from blue line to blue line. Referees are solely responsible for the judging and assessment of penalties, and indeed are the only ones who can judge a physical penalty, while the linesmen are enabled to call a technical penalty (ie. too many skaters on the ice). Referees indicate where faceoffs are to occur (closest / appropriate spot or circle), while other than the opening faceoff of a period, linesmen conduct all other faceoffs. Linesmen are to observe pass violations (three-line pass, catch-and-pass), onside/offside violations and icing violations. If a scuffle or fight ensues, the linesmen are to interdict and interpose themselves so as to separate the participants; referees are not to get physically involved and are to observe the participants and assess penalties accordingly.

A referee is the only one who may judge the status of the puck (covered up, in the goal net, etc.) and stop play accordingly. A goal is awarded by a referee, a referee acting upon the notification of a goal judge (seated with a direct view of the goal), or by the video goal judge who may or may not overrule a referee and whose decision is final.

Unless advanced directly from a referee position of a minor / lesser league to a referee position of the major / parent league, most advancement is a series of incremental advancements from linesman to referee to linesman to referee. Some linesmen remain as linesmen due to skating ability, knowledge ceiling, or (in most cases) physical stature so as to interdict and break-up fights.

[Stk004]

10 minutes ago, MadMax said:

Unlike baseball, where the roles of PU / BU and PU / U1 / U3 and/or U2 are rotated amongst the crew members from game-to-game, hockey adopts a simple classification more akin to football. In the NHL, NCAA (Div I and II), and other European Professional Leagues the crew is comprised of two referees and two linesmen. There is a "crew chief" between the two, but while on-ice, they are equalitarian in their judgements. In lesser leagues, there is typically 1 referee and 2 linesmen. Junior and amateur leagues may have a 2-ref-only system (in which each referee covers an end and the correlating blue line as a linesman) or a 1-&-1 with a linesman skating from blue line to blue line. Referees are solely responsible for the judging and assessment of penalties, and indeed are the only ones who can judge a physical penalty, while the linesmen are enabled to call a technical penalty (ie. too many skaters on the ice). Referees indicate where faceoffs are to occur (closest / appropriate spot or circle), while other than the opening faceoff of a period, linesmen conduct all other faceoffs. Linesmen are to observe pass violations (three-line pass, catch-and-pass), onside/offside violations and icing violations. If a scuffle or fight ensues, the linesmen are to interdict and interpose themselves so as to separate the participants; referees are not to get physically involved and are to observe the participants and assess penalties accordingly.

A referee is the only one who may judge the status of the puck (covered up, in the goal net, etc.) and stop play accordingly. A goal is awarded by a referee, a referee acting upon the notification of a goal judge (seated with a direct view of the goal), or by the video goal judge who may or may not overrule a referee and whose decision is final.

Unless advanced directly from a referee position of a minor / lesser league to a referee position of the major / parent league, most advancement is a series of incremental advancements from linesman to referee to linesman to referee. Some linesmen remain as linesmen due to skating ability, knowledge ceiling, or (in most cases) physical stature so as to interdict and break-up fights.

I knew there was someone on here who knew a thing or two about hockey. 

Thanks for your response, that should give me some new stuff to look for when I'm at a hockey game. 

[BT_Blue]

15 minutes ago, Stk004 said:

I knew there was someone on here who knew a thing or two about hockey. 

Thanks for your response, that should give me some new stuff to look for when I'm at a hockey game. 

And he lives in Arizona (where they couldn't even support their own hockey team).

And here I was just going to say that linemen are linemen and referees are referees. They don't cross.

Oh and GO WINTERWAKS!!! 

Edited December 31, 2016 by BT_Blue
Cause the Winterhawks are better than the Thunderbirds.

[Stk004]

Just now, BT_Blue said:

And he lives in Arizona (where they couldn't even support their own hockey team).

And here I was just going to say that linemen are linemen and referees are referees. They don't cross.

Oh and GO WINTERWAKS!!!

T-Birds only snagged one off of 41 shots on goal. Lots of good chances at the end. Bad turnover with 4 minutes to play and it cost 'em. 

[MadMax]

22 minutes ago, Stk004 said:

I knew there was someone on here who knew a thing or two about hockey. 

Thanks for your response, that should give me some new stuff to look for when I'm at a hockey game. 

I'm actually considering buying a pair of skates off eBay and lacing them up down here in Arizona and trying to get my edges back so I can become a linesman. I haven't skated since my late 20's. I played on a college-age recreational / intramural club, only as a defenseman or goalie (Sure, I was a catcher... how hard can it be? *HWACK!!!* ) and did so-so. I parlayed that (and a former basketball and football career) into playing soccer, and in the first season of indoor soccer I played in, I led the league in fouls and penalty box minutes (whaddiya mean I can't pin him to the boards??! Well why are the boards even there??!).

7 minutes ago, BT_Blue said:

And he lives in Arizona (where they couldn't even support their own hockey team).

And here I was just going to say that linemen are linemen and referees are referees. They don't cross.

Oh and GO WINTERWAKS!!! 

Oh contraire good sir. I may now live in Arizona, but I'm from Wisconsin, wherein the words of the immortal Bob Johnson "It's a great day for hockey!" were cast. You know, we have two seasons up here – Winter, and Not.

[Stk004]

1 minute ago, MadMax said:

I'm actually considering buying a pair of skates off eBay and lacing them up down here in Arizona and trying to get my edges back so I can become a linesman. I haven't skated since my late 20's. I played on a college-age recreational / intramural club, only as a defenseman or goalie (Sure, I was a catcher... how hard can it be? *HWACK!!!* ) and did so-so. I parlayed that (and a former basketball and football career) into playing soccer, and in the first season of indoor soccer I played in, I led the league in fouls and penalty box minutes (whaddiya mean I can't pin him to the boards??! Well why are the boards even there??!).

Oh contraire good sir. I may now live in Arizona, but I'm from Wisconsin, wherein the words of the immortal Bob Johnson "It's a great day for hockey!" were cast. You know, we have two seasons up here – Winter, and Not.

Gotta be quick to get out of the way of players and the puck. Tonight one of the linesmen was up on the board in front of the bench to get out of the way of the play in front of him and he got knocked heels-over-head into the bench. 

[maineump]

I was a hockey official for a number of seasons. It was my way to stay in shape for baseball. I generally worked a 2 or 3 man crew.

Believe it or not, it really helped my baseball game. You really need to concentrate on the puck and be able to get to spots quickly. There are 12 players on the ice, and you need your head on a swivel to see it all. Not sure if you noticed during the games you watched, a lot of the action happens behind the puck or in front of the net, without the puck.

Understanding your role and responsibilities on the ice or on the field make the game go well. Baseball isn't nearly as fast as hockey, except when you get the shot at you in the B spot, but many of the basics are the same - chest square to puck/ball - follow the puck/ball to the play - head on a swivel to watch for interference away from the puck/ball - delayed calls.

[BT_Blue]

That was one of the hardest things about working football. You don't watch the ball all that much. You watch an area on the field.

Can't count the number of times I caught myself looking up briefly on free and scrimmage kicks.

[maineump]

13 hours ago, Stk004 said:

Gotta be quick to get out of the way of players and the puck. Tonight one of the linesmen was up on the board in front of the bench to get out of the way of the play in front of him and he got knocked heels-over-head into the bench. 

Same in baseball - sort of, hold your spot as long as you can (on the line) and try your best not to bail out. If that linesman would have bailed, he would be giving up his responsibility to the line (I am guessing he was on the blue line).

I have been slammed at the blue line many times - lost mouth piece, whistle the whole works - never got dumped into the bench. He had responsibility to that line, and obviously the players didn't notice him. Yes it hurts, so the next time a shot comes through you while on the inside or on the line - remember that linesman - - stay in and do your job as long as you can without 'getting dumped'.

[BT_Blue]

Now I feel as if I need to go to a Winterhawks game.

[UmpJeff]

On 12/31/2016 at 1:40 AM, Stk004 said:

So I went to the Seattle Thunderbirds game tonight (WHL), and my official oriented mind got to thinking......

Do linesmen and referees switch from game to game or is a linesman a linesman and a referee a referee? 

Also, I decided to start tracking the puck instead of shaking my head around like a bobble head. Maybe there is something behind this whole still cameras take better pictures thing after all.

Typically, at the Junior, College, and Pro (AHL/NHL) levels.  You're either a Linesman or a Referee.  I know in the past when there was only one referee in the NHL, he would travel alone while the linesman traveled together for a few games then hooked up with another linesman a few games later.  Not sure how they do it today with 2 and 2. 

But, to answer your question, no.  They do not switch up.