Tony Mariconda wrote, "Last season NHL officials began using a redesigned official's sweater. Please be advised that this new sweater (as was the previous version of NHL sweater) is not acceptable for use in USA Hockey games. We continue to use the traditional black-and white officiating sweater."

See the illustration below for further clarification.

Sources: Illustration of NHL Style officiating sweaters courtesy of Reebok / CCM.  USA Hockey 2009-2011 Official Rules of Ice Hockey cover illustration courtesy of USA Hockey, Inc.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 9:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Recently two articles have appeared on ProHockeyNews.com that illustrate the progress that some of the Atlantic District's young officials have made through the USA Hockey Officiating Development Program.

One article tells the story of Peter Schlittenhardt from East Brunswick, NJ. Peter was initially rejected by the ODP but underwent an intense training and nutrition program that resulted in his addition to the staff for the next season. Schlittenhardt said:

"I left my first camp devastated but on the ride home decided that if my goal of staying involved in hockey through officiating was to be realized I needed a major change. The change needed to be complete both on and off the ice...."

The second article talks about the leagues to which the Officiating Development Program supplies officials, and the kinds of opportunities that young Atlantic District officials get in them. Tim Lyons from Princeton, NJ, Sam Sufler from Huntington Valley, PA, Pat Cunningham from Newtown, PA, and Andrew Mortensen from Chatham, N.J. are each interviewed in that article.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 5:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)