A whistle stop for this official
The Spectator is speaking to people from various walks of life to find out how they are dealing with isolation and other challenges during the pandemic
Conor O’Donnell had a long playing career in major junior, university, pro and Allan Cup hockey and is in the second year of his National Hockey League contract as a referee.
The 30-year-old Hamilton native refereed four NHL games and about 70 American Hockey League games this season before the pandemic forced the postponement of the campaign for both leagues in March. Since then, he and his girlfriend have been sheltering in place in their Hamilton home.
Q: Hi Conor, how have you been maintaining your officiating skills during these trying times?
A: This period of self-isolation has actually given me the opportunity to watch films of games I’ve refereed in their entirety. After a game during the season, I might watch some parts of that game, but this is a chance to critique the whole game and make myself a better official.
The NHL has been great at communicating. Through them, we’re still getting homework, and so we’re staying sharp. The first couple of weeks, we got videos of two games we worked to review and pick up best practices. It could be something as simple as, “good hustle on the ice.” But you critique yourself, too, so it’s not only the good stuff but also things I can work on. Be honest with yourself and that’s how you get better. And, just to change it up a bit, two weeks ago, we began some team-bonding exercises to get to know each other better. Q: Any Netflix favourites you’d recommended to others? A: I’ve been watching The Last Dance about Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman. Growing up, I was always a big hockey guy but, by the time the Bulls got to the end of all those championships, I was seven or eight and had a basketball net at the end of the driveway. And I’d be Scottie Pippen, other kids would be Jordan. So it’s really cool to take it in as an adult and see how it all unfolded, and not just have my own young recollections of it.
I’ve also been watching The Innocence Files, about people who have been wrongfully accused. Q: What else have you been doing to stay occupied? A: I’m really into road biking because it’s a great way to stay in shape and still social distance. A friend and I have spent a lot of time going on 50K rides, or longer. I also bought an indoor bike and I’m doing a Peloton class every day. And I’m Zooming with friends.
I’ve been big on routine ever since I started playing in the OHL. When I was playing and in my officiating career, when the season ended, I go hard in the gym. Normally, at the time when hockey was postponed, I would be really at my peak and ready for the last 15 games and playoffs. I’m not on that routine now, but, after that first couple of weeks, I’ve been now finding a new routine within our house. I go for road bike rides, I ride the indoor bike … and I’ve been playing a lot more board games than I’ve ever played. I’ve done a couple of puzzles here and there and I’d never done a puzzle in my life. I like them … but it’s not really my cup of tea. And I got my
old Xbox system from my parents’ house. I’ve been playing some Tiger Woods or NHL hockey on it. It feels like being a kid again. Q: Is there a message you would like to send out to the Hamilton and area community?
A: I know these are tough times for everyone but, if everybody just does their little part, not only will it keep everybody safe, it will help us get out of this quicker. I think that if people are disregarding it and stepping outside the boundaries it will last longer than it needs to.
If we do our part together, we can all come out of this stronger.