Off-Ice Officials Serve Vital Role
September 4, 2013 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Port Huron Fighting Falcons News Release
PORT HURON, MI - Most hockey fans understand the importance of referees and linesmen to the game, even those who boo them from the moment they step on the ice to the game's final buzzer. What most don't understand, though, is that there is another group of officials with a task that is just as important to the integrity of the game, the off-ice officials.
The Port Huron Fighting Falcons' off-ice officials are responsible for tracking stats for each player on the ice, including goals, assists, plus/minus, shots and penalty minutes. Some off-ice officials work just a few feet from the ice as goal judges and penalty box attendants, while others sit high above the action tracking statistics.
A goal scored does not become official until the referee gives the goal signal, and the goal judge lights the red lamp. One of those goal judges, Brad Amey, has volunteered as an off-ice official for nearly 30 years, since the early 1980s when the Port Huron Flags called McMorran Arena home.
The referee then sends his or her opinion of who scored the goal in to a pair of off-ice officials who run the scoreboard and communicate with the rest of the crew upstairs. Betty Vargo and Jim Wedge have been that duo since long before the North American Hockey League had a team in the Blue Water Area.
Upstairs, stat keepers like Mike Reilly take note of first and second assists, and the official scorer gives the information to the PA Announcer to read to the crowd.
Vic Frandsen, who also started volunteering as an off-ice official with the Border Cats, or former Supervisor of Off-ice Officials Dan McVety then enters the data into a special software program that updates all stats to the internet so that fans at home can follow the game in real-time.
During intermission, each goal undergoes a video review to ensure that the correct players are credited for goals and assists each period.
"I've been working with the crew about eight years," said Supervisor of Off-ice Officials Gary Temple. "I started out as a substitute, got a position as a full-timer and became the new supervisor when Dan stepped down to be able to follow his son's hockey team.
"It's a great group of guys, and we have a good time working together."
The off-ice officials crew, as well as their substitutes, have brought the same professional approach to the Fighting Falcons as they offered when they worked for professional teams in the past. Though the Fighting Falcons compete at a different level than past professional teams, the crew approaches their work as they always have. They know that accurate statistics are of utmost importance to junior-level players and college scouts.
Many scouts rely on statistics to decide what players to put on their radar, and what teams to see in person.
"What I really appreciate about this league and team is seeing these players develop and move on to college," said Temple. "It's very rewarding to know that as a group we can provide accurate information to the scouts and help make that happen."
Most off-ice officials have full-time jobs during the day, and volunteer their time during game nights to help the games run smoothly. As work schedules change, substitute officials are often needed to help fill all necessary positions.
Temple and the Fighting Falcons are looking for hockey enthusiasts to volunteer for substitute off-ice official positions. Substitutes would be asked to work a handful of games throughout the season as needed, and are given a pair of tickets to each game they work for their friends or families.
If you are interested in volunteering to become an off-ice official, call the Fighting Falcons at (810) 966-3800, or send an e-mail to Mike Reed in the office at dmreedjr@gmail.com.
The Fighting Falcons return to McMorran Arena for their fourth NAHL season this fall. Season ticket packages start at just $175, and the first 25 fans to purchase two or more full season ticket packages will receive a free game-worn Fighting Falcons jersey.
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