Refs will also need to work out the kinks
The lockout has provided Dave Jackson with a reminder of why he wears a striped shirt to work.
“I’ve been playing hockey four times a week and I’m not getting any better,” the veteran National Hockey League referee said. “Now I remember why I became a referee rather than a player.”
The lockout has left NHL referees and linesmen on the sidelines, but Jackson said they haven’t been idle.
“We had our training camp in September before the lockout, and since then everyone has been working out and waiting for a settlement,” the West Island native said. “In addition to playing hockey, I’ve been working out in the gym.”
Jackson said the officials will have the same problem as the players — regaining their timing under game conditions.
“You might see the puck hitting us or someone will run into us, but it won’t take too long to get up to speed,” he said.
Jackson, who went through a similar situation when the 1994-95 season was reduced to 48 games, said fans can expect an intense brand of hockey on the ice.
“In 1995, there was a lot of intensity when they came back and carried through the playoffs; the first game wasn’t like a first game on Oct. 10,” Jackson said. “On second thought, there is intensity when the season starts on Oct. 10, but it starts to wane after a couple of months. That won’t happen in a shortened season.”
Jackson said the officials have been given weekly tests on the rules and there will be another short training camp in Toronto before the puck is dropped Jan. 19. Jackson said the officials won’t be faced with the same situation that occurred after the seasonlong lockout ended in 2005.
“There were new rules regarding obstruction and holding,” Jackson recalled. “There are no major changes this time around, but there will be a continued awareness of head shots and dangerous hits from behind.”
None of the NHL officials was paid during the lockout and they agreed they wouldn’t seek work in other leagues.
“There are some people who thought it was unfair that we weren’t paid, but we have a collective bargaining agreement just like the players and it’s one of the things we negotiated,” Jackson said. “We knew there was the possibility of a lockout and we accepted that we wouldn’t be paid, but we received some other things in exchange.”
Jackson said the league did make loans available.
“The money was there if you needed it,” Jackson said. “The money has to be repaid, but it’s spread over a number of seasons.”
The officials are in the middle of a four-year deal and haven’t been involved in any labour strife since a strike in 1993.
“I think there’s a measure of respect,” Jackson said. “The league recognizes the value of the work we do and we recognize that they have to work with a budget.”