BY KEITH LACEY
Steve Walkom is one of the fortunate few who
can honestly say he enjoys going to work every day.
A respected referee in the National Hockey
League for 15 years, Walkom doesn't expect that will change now
that he's accepted a new position as the NHL's director of
officials.
Walkom, 42, is a graduate of Laurentian
University (commerce), and was born and raised in North
Bay.
Walkom says he was pleasantly surprised when
head office called him in and asked if he'd be interested in
taking over the director's job.
He will be in charge of 68 full-time NHL
referees and linesmen and another 10 who work for the league in
the minor leagues.
A big part of his job will be to ensure NHL
officials are following the new rules and allowing the style of
hockey most players, management and fans want.
"What matters the most is we need to get this
game back on its feet and what the fans want the most is a
return to high-scoring, more open hockey," he said.
"The new rules are a big part of that..and
they have to be enforced properly."
Prior to signing an NHL contract in 1990,
Walkom had obtained a Hockey Canada Level VI certification, the
highest in the country, and officiated in the OHL and numerous
minor pro leagues.
He started officiating minor hockey in North
Bay at age 13 and played a little hockey himself, making it as
far as the juvenile level.
He continued to officiate in Sudbury while
attending Laurentian.
"There's not a rink I haven't seen anywhere
in Sudbury or most of Northern Ontario for that matter," he
said.
After graduating from Laurentian, he worked
in sales and then started up his own manufacturing plant
outside Kitchener, before getting his NHL offer before the 1990
season.
He worked in the minors for one full season
before making his NHL debut on Oct. 18, 1992 in a game in
Philadelphia between the Flyers and now-defunct Winnipeg
Jets.
While there is pressure to perform when you
officiate in the NHL, Walkom said he never had a negative
experience.
"This profession is all about being prepared.
You don't get to this level unless you have attained a certain
standard of excellence...it's all about performing and being
ready to handle whatever comes your way."
He always knew when he officiated a good
game, said Walkom.
"As long as I worked hard, and the game was
safe, and the fans were entertained, that's what it's all
about."
Being able to do a job while being on the ice
with the best hockey players in the world was always thrilling,
he said.
He officiated many games where Wayne Gretzky
and Mario Lemieux, were performing their magic during the
height of their careers.
"At this point in time in my life, I honestly
felt taking this job was the best way I could serve the game,"
said Walkom. The married father of three lives
in Moon Township, Pennsylvania.
"It's an honour and privilege to even be
considered, so it didn't take me a long time to think it over
and take it."
