CANADA'S STARS WEARING STRIPES

NHL officials exclusively in North Division travel alone and will be tested every day

They're the Royal Canadian Referees.

Stephen Walkom, the NHL'S head of officials, has assembled his own team of referees and linesmen to work exclusively on this side of the border.

They're the special assignment North Division crew and maybe, instead of the traditional zebra stripes, they should design some sweaters resembling the Royal Canadian Mounted Police red tunic musical ride outfits.

But Wednesday, referees Kendrick Nicholson and Brad Meier and linesmen Scott Cherrey and Mark Shewchyk worked the game between the Canadiens and Maple Leafs in Toronto, while referees Eric Furlatt and Kevin Pollock and linesmen Kiel Murchison and Derek Nansen worked the game between the Canucks and Oilers in Edmonton wearing their normal striped sweaters.

The other members of the North Division crew include referees Marc Joannette, Graham Skilliter and Chris Schlenker, along with AHL refs Mitch Dunning, Michael Markovic and Corey Syvret to start the season.

The other North Division linesmen are Steve Barton, David Brisebois, Michel Cormier, Steve Miller and Bevan Mills.

A lot of those names you probably don't recognize. But you will by the time the season is over.

“You're obviously going to be seeing these guys a lot,” said Walkom.

Everybody on this side of the still-closed Canada-u.s. border, from general managers to coaches, players, broadcasters, sportswriters and fans, have testified about their level of excitement heading into Wednesday evening's lid lifters and so, you have to believe, will the referees and linesmen.

“These officials are Canadians and reside in Canada. It just made it easier,” said Walkom of their opportunity to be part of history.

There's no lack of challenges facing NHL players dealing with

the coronavirus pandemic while playing games with no fans in the stands, like in the bubbles. But now they'll be living at home and flying to play mostly two- and three-game series on the road while essentially quarantining in hotel rooms.

With the officials, it'll be even more challenging.

They won't be flying on super-sanitized chartered aircraft, riding to and from hotels and arenas in a convoy of super-sanitized buses, accompanied by their own facilitators and medical specialists.

The referees and linesmen will be flying commercial and wiping down their own luggage when it comes down the baggage carousel.

“As an official, you're used to getting together with each other. You're used to having lunch together. This season, they won't be allowed to do that,” said Walkom in a 20-minute, one-on-one interview Wednesday.

“They're used to having a pregame meeting. We'll be doing that virtually with each of them in their own hotel rooms this season. You're used to a referee's room at a game where often it was tight quarters. Now they'll be in bigger team-size dressing rooms with complete social distancing.

“They're used to having chicken wings and a cold beer after the game. They won't be doing that anymore, either.

“A lot of these guys worked the bubbles during the Stanley Cup playoffs under a lot of the same protocols and got used to it becoming almost normal to them and accustomed to it. This is probably pushing it a little bit further, however,” said Walkom,

who resided in the Edmonton bubble for two months.

“They'll be minimizing their time together. We're trying to do everything we can to mitigate the transmission between them other than when they're on the ice.

“If there are options, they'll be taking different flights. There will be one official in each car. They'll be tested every day. We started that more than a week ago and we've had the officials arrive two days early for their first assignments. When they have a few days to go home, we're asking that they quarantine and only leave in order to get tested.”

What happens if one of them tests positive on game day?

“We go with one guy if there is no one else available,” said Walkom. “We had a virtual training camp and went through the scenarios where we might be down one man or we might be down two people.”

Walkom was impressed with the officiating by an all-canadian crew at the world junior championship. He has several of those officials on the league scouting list, and he could call on them in an emergency.

“Whenever we have the opportunity to reduce travel, such as with the two-game series, we'll have the same crew work both games.

“So some teams will see the same officials two or three times in a row, which isn't something we normally do.

“The one good thing is that the coaches and general managers totally understand what we're up against.”

On the other hand, nobody will be booing them this year.