CCHA: Now hiring officials

Submitted by umich1 on

SIAP.  You heard it right, the CCHA is now hiring officials.  Not sure how much the timing makes sense.

http://www.ccha.com/the_ccha/opportunities.aspx

Your local USA Hockey officials association can assist you further in learning the basic rules, on-ice mechanics, judgment and communication. The training is clear, concise and designed to give you the skills and confidence you need. Our CCHA officials mentoring program will team you up with an experienced official who can answer all of your questions and guide you through your first season. As you progress in skill, advancement can come quickly. Qualified college hoc key officials can advance to officiating challenging, high-caliber games. The CCHA officiating program will prepare you to accept the challenges of officiating more demanding games.

Does this mean the majority of them are leaving for the B1G or is this just a case of the CCHA web design team being just as incompetent as the referees?

On a side note - not sure how hiring former players from CCHA schools supports independence.  I can think of no population that would have more bias during the games, especially against Michigan. 

Brhino

March 16th, 2012 at 10:25 AM ^

My knowledge of hocky rules is rudimentary at best, my skating is not great, and while my vision is fine I am easily distracted. 

So where do I sign up?  I should fit right in.

stephenrjking

March 16th, 2012 at 1:53 PM ^

That chant has been around for at least 10 years. I think it is used because "We want Piotrowski" doesn't roll off the tongue.



Pio was a Ferris guy, by the way, and the best CCHA official I ever watched. Even in Ferris games he worked to be impartial. Most of the refs are good guys that have real lives and on weekends have a tough job trying to ref big-time hockey. I couldn't do better.



Except I wouldn't let people run Hunwick.

justingoblue

March 16th, 2012 at 11:55 AM ^

while their on-ice performance isn't always stellar (to say the least), education isn't the lacking part here. USA Hockey has a wonderful development process that's much more organized and rigorous than any other sport I can think of.

These guys have to be outstanding at pretty much every stage of the USA Hockey process (which includes week-long camps that former NHL players have struggled physically at) to be invited to camp, and then excel at camp to be brought on for a few games, and then they need to be evaluated above a certain level to get games regularly. After that (and before, but let me go with this), every period they're on the ice is viewed by at least one supervisor, and they're doing games knowing that there are ECHL/AHL/NHL officiating scouts in the stands. If a supervisor dislikes something, it quickly gets fixed or the official finds a different employer.

For all the jokes we make, I would conservatively estimate that a random CCHA official is top 1-2% of on-ice officials in every category. That doesn't mean they make good calls all the time or that they don't deserve criticism, but they are highly educated and put in a ton of time for the non-rewards they're given.

justingoblue

March 16th, 2012 at 11:14 AM ^

I wish I had some more time on my hands (and kept up with my level four). If they're doing camps, it would be amazing to try out, even given the reputation CCHA referees have. I gave up aiming for the top levels basically right when I got to college, and this is one of the first "regrets" (not really regret, but thought at least) that I have with that decision.

As for hiring former players, the pool of people with the skating skill to officiate CCHA-level hockey is a small one in the population, to say the least. The easiest path to becoming an NHL official is as a former player, and I'm sure they're emulating that.

kdhoffma

March 16th, 2012 at 11:51 AM ^

I'll tell you, reffing hockey is one of the toughest things.  I played hockey my entire life, and decided to ref some intramural games while at Michigan to make some extra money.  It was the worst experience.  I had not taken any of the USA hockey ref clinics, and the IM office offered no training.  I figured since I knew the rules so well, it would be easy... I was very wrong.

It gave me a new level of respect for officials.  Although I still sometimes get upset in the heat of the moment when I'm helping coach one of my kids teams... I almost always give the official the benefit of the doubt.

justingoblue

March 16th, 2012 at 12:05 PM ^

if you don't mind me asking.

If any of them are ten or older and enjoy the sport, I would definitely recommend taking a look at USA Hockey level one seminars in your area next fall. It's a thirty dollar registration fee (and then the Michigan district might have a small fee on top of that, it varies by district and I've never registered there) and you go through the basics of refereeing and get an on-ice session. Level one certification isn't difficult, it's an open book exam.

The best part is, it sets up the possibility that you and your kid(s) could do some games together, and while it won't pay the mortgage, the pay is great for the kids, even at the silver mite level. Later in HS, I made a good deal more money than my classmates by advancing through the USA Hockey system.

Elise

March 16th, 2012 at 12:43 PM ^

I totally second this.  One of the most eye-opening days of my hockey career was the day I took my first seminar.  I've since given it up for the time being to fiollow other pursuits, but the experience is totally worth it.

Second-most eye-opening experience:  when the chippiest game I ever reffed turned out to be a women's league game. 

justingoblue

March 16th, 2012 at 12:54 PM ^

I didn't really touch on the "eye opening" part, so I thought I'd voice my support for that on top of my original comment. I can't tell you how many times I had a coach I was playing for ask me for clarification on a call (from pee-wees to HS varsity/MM tournaments), and that should tell you all you need to know about increased understanding of the intricacies of the game.