The Atlantic District Officiating program will host USA Hockey Officiating Seminars for new and returning officials beginning on Saturday, August 13 and continuing through Sunday, November 6, 2011 at arenas throughout the District.

Starting on August 1, new and returning officials must first go to http://www.usahockeyregistration.com/ with a credit card to register as an official with USA Hockey and the Atlantic District (even if you are already registered as a player and/or coach). Once you have registered with USA Hockey, you must wait at least 24 hours before registering for an Atlantic District Seminar.

Through the USA Hockey registration process, you will be provided with a USA Hockey Officials Number.

Once you have received your USA Hockey Officials Number and waited at least 24 hours, you can go to http://www.aaharefs.org/seminar_schedule.php to select a seminar.

On-line registration is required for all officiating seminars run by the Atlantic District Officiating Program. That registration process will begin on August 2.

If you have any questions, please contact USA Hockey Atlantic District Referee-in-Chief Tony Mariconda at tonyrefx3 [at] aol.com or Seminar Coordinator Marty Maglio at marty.maglio [at] verizon.net.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 12:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On July 5, the AAHA Officiating Program page debuted on Facebook. The page, which is located at http://facebook.com/aaharefs, provides news and information about USA Hockey officiating in the Atlantic District.

The AAHA Officiating Program page on Facebook as it appeared on July 13,
2011.

The AAHA Officiating Program Facebook Page is not intended to be a mirror image of the content that you see here on the AAHArefs.org web site. The District staff intends the Facebook page to be updated more frequently and to be more interactive. We welcome comments on our Wall posts as well as new posts from the officiating community.

We would also like to hear from members of the ice hockey community who are considering becoming involved in officiating. Please consider joining the conversation with us on Facebook today.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 9:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Each year the Atlantic District Officiating Program selects an official to receive its Official of the Year Award. The award recognizes an official who has made significant contributions to the District Officiating Program during the just-concluded season, often going 'above and beyond' what is expected of an official. The presentation is made at the Atlantic Amateur Hockey Association's annual meeting in June. This year's winner is David Zulla.

David Zulla is an experienced on-ice official in our District. In addition, David is an Officiating Seminar Instructor, an Officiating Evaluator and someone who has helped out at various Tournaments. This year he took on the additional task of serving as the Chair of a committee that has produced the first Atlantic District Officiating Program Newsletter. This electronic newsletter, "Tightening the Laces," is sent to all our officials at regular intervals during the season. Information in the newsletter keeps them up-to-date on officiating matters during the year. This is quite an undertaking, and under David's leadership the newsletter had gotten off to a great start.

Congratulations Dave!

Previous winners include Philip Mariconda, Jay Watson, Shane Hanlon, Marty Maglio, Vince Scriboni, Bill Maurer and Ryan Honig.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 12:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Several years ago, the Atlantic Amateur Hockey Association (AAHA) started a Hall of Fame to recognize people who have made significant contributions to our District over many years. These people are recognized with a plaque at the AAHA headquarters in Voorhees, NJ and each receives an individual plaque at the AAHA Annual Meeting in June. This year there were two new inductees into the AAHA Hall of Fame who are closely associated with the District Officiating Program: Joan and Tony Mariconda.

Joan Mariconda has been involved with the AAHA and USA Hockey since the mid 1980's. She has served as a Team Mother, Team Manager, Vice-President of Tournaments, the first District Risk Manager and Junior Council member. She is currently a member of the USAH Youth Council, USAH Safety & Protective Equipment Committee and the Executive Committee of the Mayo Clinic Concussion Study group. She is also an Atlantic District Director on USA Hockey's Board of Directors and the Executive Director of the Atlantic Metropolitan Hockey League.

Tony Mariconda has been involved with the AAHA and USA Hockey (formerly known as AHAUS) since the early 70's. He has served as a House League and Youth Coach, a High School club hockey coach, the District Treasurer as well as an on-ice official, an officiating assignor and an officiating administrator. On the National level, he has served on several officiating committees: helping to produce the original Seminar Instructors Program, helping to produce the original Official Evaluation Program as well as serving as Camp Director at multiple USA Hockey Camps for youth officials, female officials and seminar instructors. He is the Chair of the USAH Officiating Testing Committee, a member of the USAH Safety & Protective Equipment Committee, as well as a member of various committees dealing with writing and editing USAH publications. He has served as an Off-Ice Official with the National Hockey League for the New Jersey Devils since the team moved to NJ in 1982. He volunteered as an Off-Ice Official at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. Since 1999, he has served as the Atlantic District Referee-in-Chief.

Congratulations to Joan and Tony!

Posted by Dave Aiello at 12:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)