BENSENVILLE, Ill – The American Collegiate Hockey Association women’s game between Robert Morris of Illinois and Lindenwood University at the Edge Ice Arena provided the perfect background for the wedding of Kathleen Jaster and long-time hockey referee Joseph Prescott on November 13, 2010 in this Chicago suburb. Prescott is an amateur official in the Chicago Metro area and a member of the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame. After the wedding he worked the ACHA game as part of the on-ice officiating crew. Both hockey teams after completion of their warm-ups served as unofficial witnesses as they lined-up along their respective blue lines for the exchange of vows at center ice. Once the ceremony was completed the new bride conducted a ceremonial faceoff while the groom and the rest of his crew prepared for the actual puck drop to start the game. Instead of wearing the traditional striped sweaters the crew wore green sweaters complete with the ACHA crest. Early NHL referees wore white sweaters before the current traditional black and white striped sweaters were adopted. Prescott and best man Peter Tarnaris, who is a full-time member of the Officiating Development Program sponsored by USA Hockey, served as referees. Tarnaris is in his second year of working professional hockey.
They were joined by linesmen Cyndi Robertson and Jack Raslawski. All were also members of the wedding party. Raslawski is currently the Referee-in-Chief for the Illinois Ice Hockey Officials Association. Robertson works NCAA D-1 women’s hockey in the Western Collegiate Hockey League. All of the crew members were mentored by Prescott in their officiating careers. Tom Robertson, Director of Women’s hockey for Robert Morris helped facilitate the event by hosting the wedding as part of pre game festivities and assigning Prescott and other members of the wedding party as on-ice officials for the game. There were only nine penalties assessed in the game so the new couple didn’t have to delay their honeymoon too long as the game ended in regulation time with a Lindenwood win. Lindenwood is the number one ranked team in Women’s Division One in the ACHA. T he ACHA has over 7,500 hundred players skating on 390 men’s and 50 women’s teams across the USA. They skate in three men’s divisions D-1, D-2 and D-3 while 50 women’s teams skate in two divisions. Approximately 10,000 men and women playing collegiate hockey in the US and 75% play in the ACHA.” Contact the author at Phil.Brand@prohockeynews.com
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