MacDougall finds second career as official

COLUMBUS, GA – For the past two seasons, Peter MacDougall had an important job. He was a center and one of the enforcers for the Columbus Cottonmouths. Last season, he lived every players’ dream when Columbus swept the Pensacola Ice Flyers for their second President’s Cup Championship.
During the off-season, MacDougall had a decision to make – continue his playing career or hang up the skates. Like all players at that crossroad, giving up the game is a difficult one even coming off of a championship. MacDougall figured out he wasn’t quite ready to leave the ice yet so he decided to trade in his jersey for stripes.

MacDougall entered this season as a rookie once again, working his first season as an official for USA Hockey, which provides the game officials for the SPHL. In doing so, he joins Jason Schulz as the second former Snake to join the officiating ranks of the SPHL.
“I had been considering officiating and had spoken with Jason Schulz,” MacDougall said. “I got a few pointers from him and decided to make the change.”
Much like every official who works games at any level, MacDougall had to go through an extensive training process. In Peter’s case, he had an interest in being both a linesman and a referee so he had to know the ins and outs of both jobs.
“As a Linesman you have a different set of duties. Watch the blue line, watch for icing,” MacDougall said. “As a Referee, you have to watch everything. I’m confident in myself.”
Having a feel for the game itself can be very helpful for an official. According to Columbus general manager and head coach Jerome Bechard, MacDougall’s years as a player will help him to be a better official.
“He can skate and being a former player, he understands the speed of the game,” Bechard said about his former player.
Past experience on the ice however is not a guarantee that a former player can make the grade as an official. SPHL President Jim Combs, a one-time on-ice official himself, said that he has seen cases where being a former player was a negative.
“We had a guy who was a former player. He tried to be an official and was horrible,” he said. “Being a former player helps, but it’s not everything.”
One of MacDougall’s early season games was at the site of arguably his greatest accomplishment. On November 3rd, he worked as a linesman at the Pensacola Bay Center when the Ice Flyers hosted Louisiana. Three days later, he made his first trip back to Columbus when the Cottonmouths hosted Knoxville. Although one would expect MacDougall’s emotions on both nights to have been high, he said that wanting to perform his new job well took over.
“You have to be professional, I knew I’d be going there, but once you hit the ice it all goes away.” he said. “Coming back to Columbus was nice, seeing all my former teammates, but in the end, you have to be professional. Some guys may say things, but in the end, they all know I won’t give anyone an advantage.”
Some, especially the fans of teams facing Columbus, might feel that having a former player as a game official could give the Cottonmouths an unfair advantage. When asked about that aspect of the game, Combs said that the league doesn’t see it as an issue.
“Our officials are professional. They have the integrity to be impartial,” Combs said. “Peter is a good young man and has the dedication we look for in our officials.”
Only time will tell if Peter MacDougall will be as good a game official as he was a player. If heart and determination are worth anything, there’s no reason why he can’t be just as successful in his new career.
Contact the author at lee.marion@prohockeynews.com
Contact the photographer at tonia.hill@prohockeynews.com