JOHNS ISLAND, S.C. – The 400 or so ice hockey officials who are in USA Hockey’s Officials Development program no doubt reacted with interest when on the last day of the NHL General Mangers meeting in Florida, GMs voted to urge the American Hockey League to adopt the four man officiating system starting next year. The system features the use of two referees and two linesmen in games. Terry Gregson, Director of Officiating in the National Hockey League, believes its use better prepares players and officials for the NHL. Also in the short-range, it will mean higher level opportunities will open up in professional hockey for on-ice officials. The four man system is currently used in the NHL League on a full-time basis. Additionally, the top level junior leagues in the U.S. such as the tier-one United States Hockey League and the tier-two North American Hockey League have increased the use of this system as part of their player and officials’ development. Players in these two leagues routinely move on to play NCAA college hockey where the four man system is generally used. Both leagues have increasingly used the system, especially in the later stages of their playoffs. Professional hockey has also begun the process, albeit slowly, because while many executives favor the use of the system, cost is a factor, especially over the course of a long schedule. Game fees and travel costs would increase conservatively in a range between $200 to $500 dollars per game depending upon the level of the league. In today’s economy cost is and must be a consideration. Despite some increases in cost, Jim Combs, Commissioner of the Southern Professional Hockey League was an early advocate and the SPHL became an early partial adopter of the system. Last season, the SPHLs Board of Governors approved use of the system for about 20 percent of the regular season games and used it exclusively last year in the championship series. It is being used in the SPHL in a similar fashion again this year. Meanwhile, north of the border, the Canadian Major Junior Leagues which are preparatory for pro hockey and geared to the NHL style of play, generally use the four-man system. It is used in at least 80 percent of the games in the Ontario Hockey League, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. Gregson while advocating the use of the four man system at the NHL General Managers meeting earlier this week recommended implementing the two-referee system in the American Hockey League gradually over the next couple of seasons. The AHL now uses a one-referee system, coupled with two linesmen. Gregson appeared today on the NHL’s Center Ice radio station broadcasting on Sirius-XM Satellite Radio to discuss the initiative. He believes that the “use of the two-referee system in the AHL will benefit both officials who later work the NHL and players who move up.” He has a vested interest in that six of the officials who work regularly in the AHL are on NHL officiating development contracts. Thus, on Wednesday, the attendees at the GM meetings passed a recommendation to have a least 40 percent of AHL games next season officiated by two-referees and that the system should be used exclusively for all AHL playoff games. In terms of impact it may be that other lower level professional leagues will follow suit to some extent, although as said earlier cost is a factor. Also there is some argument that the pressure of working as the single referee in a tough ECHL or Central Hockey League game may also add to the development of future officials who eventually move to a four man crew. The good news for a number of officials is they may be signed to work in the AHL next year or may benefit from other opportunities in other leagues. As the NHL and AHL reach down into minor pro hockey leagues, such as the ECHL, CHL, SPHL or various Junior Leagues across North America for talent, slots in those leagues may open up from the ripple effect. Fans may not care. They overwhelmingly simply want the games officiated correctly. However, most people recognize that the speed, size of players and pace of ice hockey may have moved to the point where more eyes on the ice are required. The fan has one request. Get it right, regardless of which system is used, and if the call is missed, make it in favor of their team. Contact the author at Phil.Brand@prohockeynews.com
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