News // AAHArefs

Earn While You Learn as a USA Hockey Official

By Dave Aiello March 29, 2018 2:59 PM

Attention High School and College Students!

This summer, USA Hockey and the Atlantic District Officiating Program are launching a recruiting effort for new officials called Earn While You Learn. Here's how it works:

Seminar Registration-- Now Open!

Only people who have never registered as an official with USA Hockey, and are at least 14 years of age, can participate in this program.

Select one of these 3 New Level 1 Seminars:

June 2 - Ice House - Hackensack, NJ [ Register Here ]
June 3 - Bethlehem / Allentown, PA [ Register Here ]
June 9 - Flyers Northeast Skatezone, Philadelphia, PA [ Register Here ]

Safe Sport

Go to usahockey.com/officials tab and complete the required "Safe Sport Module" BEFORE you attend the seminar.

Bring a Tablet or a Laptop Computer to the Seminar

On the day of your seminar bring a tablet or a laptop computer to the seminar so we can assist with the Open Book test.

Assignments

When you have completed your safe-sport modules and your USA Hockey on-line educational modules, we can assign you games.

CONGRATULATIONS...You are now a referee

Trenton Burton and Andrew Bell Join the NHL Crew for Devils Game

By Dave Aiello March 7, 2018 8:18 AM

Atlantic District officials Trenton Burton (Brick, NJ) and Andrew Bell (Bergenfield, NJ) had a fantastic experience that many officials dream of, when they joined the NHL officiating crew before the Devils game against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday, March 4 at the Prudential Center. Trenton and Andrew got this opportunity during the celebration of USA Hockey's Hockey Weekend Across America.

Trenton and Andrew met with the game officials, Referees Tom Chmielewski and T.J. Luxmore, and Linesmen Libor Suchanek and Brian Murphy, in the locker room prior to the game, dressed, went on the ice for the pre-game laps, and lined up with the crew for the National Anthem.

Thanks to the NHL, the Devils and Golden Knights, and to the game officials for making this possible. And thanks to Trenton and Andrew for representing the Atlantic District and USA Hockey Officiating Programs on Hockey Weekend Across America.

Young AAHA Officials Cocco and Green Join the NHL Crew for Flyers Game

By Dave Aiello March 4, 2018 8:10 PM

Atlantic District officials Louis Cocco (Sellersville, PA) and Kieran Green (West Chester, PA) had the experience of a lifetime when they joined the NHL officiating crew before the Flyers game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday, March 1, in one of the opening events of USA Hockey's Hockey Weekend Across America.

Louis and Kieran met with the game officials, Referees Steve Kozari and Ian Walsh, and Linesmen David Brisebois and Dereck Nansen, in the locker room for about 20 minutes, dressed, went on the ice for the pre-game laps, and even got put to work checking Dereck's net before the anthem.

Then, they joined the game officials for the National Anthem, as you see in the photo.

Thanks to the NHL, the Flyers and Hurricanes, and to the game officials for making this possible. And thanks to Louis and Kieran for representing the Atlantic District and USA Hockey Officiating Programs on a special day.

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Jud Ritter Selected to Officiate Winter Olympics in PyeongChang

By Dave Aiello November 29, 2017 5:50 PM

Congratulations to Jud Ritter (Bethlehem, PA) who is one of the seven American officials chosen to officiate the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea! Ice hockey competition begins on Saturday, February 10.

The six other American officials are Dina Allen (North Tonawanda, NY), Katie Guay (Mansfield, MA), Jessica Leclerc (Saco, ME), Timothy Mayer (Okemos, MI), Fraser McIntyre (Amherst, NY), and Melissa Szkola (St. Clare Shores, MI).

"USA Hockey is very proud of the officials selected to work the 2018 Olympic Winter Games," said Matt Leaf, USA Hockey officiating education program director. "These officials are well-positioned to represent USA Hockey at the highest level, each having been committed and dedicated to successful officiating for many years."

More information about the American officials chosen and their backgrounds may be found on USA Hockey's website. A complete roster of Olympic Ice Hockey officials can be found on the IIHF's website about PyeongChang.

We will share more information about the Olympics with officials in the Atlantic District as it becomes available

Ian Walsh Officiates His 1,000th NHL Game

By Dave Aiello October 23, 2017 12:25 PM

Ian Walsh 100th NHL Game
Celebrating Ian Walsh's 1000th NHL Game, left to right: Steven Walkom, Connor McDavid, Claude Giroux, Brad Kovachik, Chris Rooney, Ian's mother, Ian Walsh, Margo Walsh, Clarke Walsh, Bill Walsh, and Tony Sericolo

Congratulations to Ian Walsh for refereeing his 1,000th NHL game in Philadelphia on Saturday.

Ian is originally from Philadelphia, and he had a lot of friends and family in the building that day.

Ian has given tirelessly to the development of hockey officiating in the Atlantic District of USA Hockey, USA Hockey in general, and the IIHF. Many young American officials have had Ian as a mentor at some point in their careers

SafeSport Training Renewal is Easier if Completed by September 27

By Dave Aiello September 19, 2017 12:57 PM

Attention all returning USA Hockey Officials!

If you already have a SafeSport certification and are due for renewal this year, you can take a shorter (35-minute) refresher course which will be good for two additional years. However, that training must be completed by Wednesday, September 27 at 11:59pm Eastern Time.

If you don't complete your re-certification by that time, you must repeat the full SafeSport training, which takes 90 minutes.

All of this is due to changes that the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) is making to the training platform used by the U.S. Center for SafeSport.

The current SafeSport Training System is located at http://training.teamusa.org/