The Atlantic District Officiating Development Camp Celebrates Its Fifth Anniversary
One of the unique opportunities that a few up-and-coming Atlantic District officials get each year is to participate in The Atlantic District Officiating Development Camp. This is a program that was launched in June 2004 by NHL Referee Ian Walsh. Ian grew up in the Atlantic District Officiating Program, lives in Philadelphia, and has been a member of the Atlantic District and USA Hockey instructional staffs for a long time.
Ian says that the goal of the Atlantic District Officiating Development Camp is simply, "to get male and female officials ready for USA Hockey Eastern Regional Camp."
Following the Example Set By Minnesota
The idea for the development camp came to Ian six seasons ago when he was working on the staff of the USA Hockey Western Regional Camp. At that camp, he was impressed with how well the officials from Minnesota performed. Ian said.
It wasn't like the kids from Minnesota were more physically talented than others, they were just well prepared. They came to camp in shape. {The men} were always clean shaven. They were never late for class. They did well on their runs. They all made a great first impression.
Participants in regional camps typically only get to attend once. Lots of officials have arrived in the past with great potential and some significant local experience, but little knowledge of what to expect at the camp. The officials from Minnesota all looked like they knew what to expect and how to behave in every part of the program-- as if they had been there before.
Ian did some investigation and found out that all of the officials nominated by the Minnesota District attended a pre-camp run by senior instructors from that area. The specific goal of this pre-camp was to inform Regional Camp nominees of what to expect, how to behave, and how to prepare to do well at the Western Regional Camp if they were selected.
Getting the Camp Off the Ground
Ian approached Atlantic District Referee-in-Chief Tony Mariconda with the idea of organizing a similar camp for Atlantic District officials, and Tony enthusiastically approved it. Ian worked on the camp concept during the 2003-2004 season and held the first Atlantic District Officiating Development Camp in June 2004. This year marked the fifth anniversary.
Ian worked on the development camp concept during the 2003-2004 season and the first camp took place in June 2004. This June marked the fifth year that the Atlantic District Officiating Development Camp was held. It took place from June 12 to 15 at Lawrenceville Prep School in Lawrenceville, NJ.
This Year's Participants
This year, the Atlantic District Officiating Program chose 10 men and 2 women to attend the District Officiating Development Camp. Two of these officials, Lorraine Adkisson and Madeline Weeks attended the USA Hockey Women's Eastern Regional Camp. The other officials did not go to a Regional camp this season, but are ideal candidates for regional camps next year and beyond.
Many of the men chosen for the District Development Camp this season are under the minimum age that USA Hockey sets for participation in the Eastern Regional Camp. Ian said, "Normally the Atlantic District sends four or five officials to the Eastern Regional Camps. This year are a little short, but we have a great pipeline set up for the coming years."
The District Officiating Development Camp Staff
The officials that Ian asked to join his staff are among the best officials in the District, with many years of pro, college varsity, and international experience. The original staff members who have made the greatest contribution to the program are:
- Leo Boylan: AHL and ECHL linesman, member of the ECAC Division I Men's Hockey Staff, and instructor at many USA Hockey and Atlantic District camps and seminars.
- Dave Brown: International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) linesman, AHL and ECHL linesman, member of the ECAC Division I Men's Officiating Staff, and instructor for the USA Hockey Officiating Junior Development Program Camp.
- Mike McDevitt: IIHF linesman, AHL and ECHL linesman, member of the ECAC West Division III Men's and Women's, and Atlantic District Officiating Evaluation Coordinator.
Other members of the staff include: Danielle Buggé, Kate Connolly, Dan Taggart, Tom Steinel, Jr., Bob Walter, and Andrea Weissman.
Camp Alumni Already Succeeding at Elite Levels
The officials who attended the first few District Officiating Development Camps have already advanced to elite levels of officiating as a result of their success in USA Hockey camps at the regional and national levels:
- Tom Steinel, Jr. attended during the first and second years. He signed a contract for this season to referee in the Central Hockey League. This summer Tom became the first Atlantic District official to attend the prestigious North American Officiating Program of Merit at St. Cloud, Minnesota.
- Andrea Weissman attended the second year. She worked the Women's World Championships for the IIHF this past season.
- Brett Sheva attended in 2005 and 2006. He worked in the USA Hockey Junior National Championships this past year.
- Kate Connoly attended the 2006 year. She received an IIHF license and is assigned to officiate the USA / Canada Under-20 Women's Tournament in Lake Placid in August.