AHL Officials Gather In Rochester Before Oct. 2 Puck Drop
More than 90 referees, linespeople and coaches went through the AHL's officiating training camp in Rochester ahead of a season that opens Oct. 2.
The AHL's officials had their own training camp this month, and more than 90 referees, linespeople and coaches came through Rochester for it ahead of a regular season that opens Oct. 2.
The work covered skating, physical fitness, rule changes and league directives over a couple of packed days. Stephen Thomson, the AHL's vice president of operations, described the officiating group as the league's 33rd team.
"I think that most of our officials have a playing background. You come from a team, and you do not really realize that our officials are a team," Thomson told Spectrum News. "The landscape of officiating has changed a lot, and it takes a special person to want to go out there and get ridiculed at every decision they make."
Thomson said the league has a partnership with the NHL to source former players who want to stay in the game in a different capacity.
The travel is its own test. "We are as far west as Abbotsford, British Columbia, and as far east as Charlotte, North Carolina, so we are pretty spread out throughout North America," Thomson said.
Among the officials in Rochester was Adam Tobias, who grew up playing in Buffalo, began officiating young and worked his way to the AHL.
"It is really fun to be out there. I just love the game and I miss it when I am not doing it," Tobias said.
Twelve of the AHL's referees are from New York state.
