Q and A with referee Stephen Walkom
Sometimes you just have to follow your heart.
Stephen Walkom could easily have continued in his capacity as the NHL’s director of officiating, but his heart has always been on the ice. And that is where he is returning this season. The 46-year-old native of North Bay, Ont., is resuming his career as a big-league referee after four seasons in the league’s front office.
When the NHL decided once and for all to crack down on obstruction to allow the sport’s most skilled players more freedom, it entrusted the job of getting its officials onside to Walkom who, at the time, was considered one of the best referees in the game. It was considered an unusual move, taking a referee in the prime of his career off the ice, but it worked.
Though there were growing pains, the NHL is now being dominated once again by its stars, not third- and fourth-liners whose mission it is to clutch, grab and interfere. Mission accomplished.
On Sept. 7, Walkom and the league’s other on-ice officials will gather in Toronto for their training camp. Although he has done a few charity games the past few seasons, Walkom made a point of staying fit.
Walkom spoke with Rogers Sportsnet hockey analyst Mike Brophy about his decision to return to refereeing.
Sportsnet.ca: So, do you think you are ready to return to active duty?
Walkom: I am. Obviously I have to pass my test, but I’ve been going to training camp since 1988 so I understand what I have to do. You never look forward to those tests, but you know what’s great about them? Our tests are real. Guys have to come to camp in shape to be able to do the push-ups, the sit-ups, the strength tests, the VO2 Max … it pushes the guys to get to a great fitness level every year. It’s rare that a guy comes in a fails it; not because the tests are easy, but because the guys have worked so hard to be able to pass them.
Sportsnet.ca: What was the reaction to your announcement that you are leaving your management position with the league to go back on the ice?
Walkom: The guys have been great. Lots of guys have emailed me telling me they are looking forward to seeing me in camp. One guy who runs the social committee sent me a fruit basket. I guess he figured I have to start eating healthy again. Really, I don’t know that the guys are surprised. They knew I wanted to come back. They know where their passion is and not too many of them would leave the ice for even a short period of time if they could stay on the ice.
Sportsnet.ca: Was there any initial hesitation on your part to leave the ice to take the job as director of officiating in the first place?
Walkom: No question -- lots. Colin Campbell (NHL vice-president of hockey operations) was great. He understood that. He told me I could come off the ice and help them change the game. All I really wanted from them was to know there was a real commitment to do it. The support was always there from (commissioner) Gary Bettman and Colin. There was tons of resistance in the beginning (to the way the game was to be called), but they stuck with it. Ultimately there was conformance. We didn’t have to call 20 penalties a night because players had a fear of doing things that might be called. That led to a better product and a more skilled game.
Prior to the lockout we were often described as a clutch-and-grab game and now, four years later, I don’t think teams are drafting players that do that. Players that do that probably won’t last a long time in the game. That doesn’t mean some players won’t walk a fine line, but the game has changed. It was one thing to say we wanted to change the game and another thing to do it. At the time that is where I felt I was needed in the game. Colin convinced me of that. From a selfish perspective it was a sacrifice because I was giving up what I loved to do, to lead guys doing what they loved to do. But it was necessary. Internally we were something of a fragmented group coming off some tough times. My belief was we were serving the game, but I also wanted to make sure our management group helped build a team culture so we could always serve the game in that optimum way. That was what we quietly worked on internally. I wouldn’t go back to the ice if I didn’t believe the game was in a great place and our team was in a great place.
Sportsnet.ca: What were the most significant hardships you faced in terms of implementing the new standard of officiating in the NHL?
Walkom: I think what we had to do was resist the short-term hardships that the game had to take on. There were going to be some games with a tremendous amount of penalties that would absolutely kill the flow of the game. We needed to get the message across that we were sincere and committed. It wasn’t really a hardship for me because I knew the keepers of the game – the GMs, the coaches and the players – had all bought in. Colin had assembled all these guys together and they all bought into the fact we were going to do it this time. I think previously certain voices within the game would always push to have the game (officiated) differently at playoff time. That was what we were determined to eliminate.
To me it was real close to being cemented into the game after three years. This year in watching the final and then going back and watching the final from 2004, prior to the lockout, there were 15 penalties in the first period alone (from 2004) that we would now call. Now, for the most part, the players just don’t do those things and if our guys see it, they make the call. It took some time, but it is something the fans have been waiting for. It was nothing that I did; it was the guys who were out there making the calls. I just supported them as they did their jobs. There was some risk attached to me doing the job, but prior to accepting the position I understood the commitment from the people that wanted to see it happen. At times it was probably frustrating for some old school hockey guys because we were doing things that weren’t normally done and that is the tough thing about change.
Sportsnet.ca: Early on some people suggested the new standard for controlling obstruction took the physicality out of the game. Was that an issue for you?
Walkom: I was on that right from the beginning telling people it wouldn’t take the physicality out of the game and, in fact, it would be more physical as soon as the players understand what they could and could not do. I don’t think when we watch hockey we say, ‘They don’t hit anymore.’ We go, ‘Ouch, that hurts!’ We talk to the players and it seems like they really love playing the game now and the focus is on them. That’s what you want.”
Sportsnet.ca: Some critics suggested the standard for calls took a little dip in last season’s playoffs and once again referees were turning a blind eye to infractions. Do you agree?
Walkom: They talked about it a little bit, but I think everybody is always ready to pounce on it. That’s why I compared the first period prior to the lockout against the first period of this year’s playoffs. Yeah, there was probably one penalty in the first period that we should have called, but we don’t want our guys making up penalties just so we can call the standard. Was there one hook missed? Yeah, there was. Was there a hold we could have called in the second period? Perhaps. But the thing is there were 14 of those four years earlier. Our guys aren’t missing penalties by choice; not calling penalties because of the time of the game or the score of the game. That mentality is gone. If they see something, they react to it. Sometimes you just have to give the players credit for playing within the rules because they know how much is on the line.
Sportsnet.ca: Now that you are returning to the ice, what does your long-term future hold?
Walkom: I’m committed to going back, but at the same time I always leave myself open to any opportunity that might come along. If the game needs me to work or lead in another capacity, then I’m always open to that. Right now I know at this stage of my life I need to get back inside the new game. If I am going to be worth anything long-term to this game then I have to get back down there and get into the trenches and get a sense and taste of what’s going on out there. And it’s something I love to do. We have great people coming off the ice that can coach and mentor the guys and we have great people in management positions already that can step up and take the template and blueprint and go with it. I would never leave this team if I didn’t think that was the case. The fans have spoken many years ago and I really get a sense the league is giving the fans what they want.
Sportsnet.ca: What did your bosses think about your decision to return to the ice?
Walkom: I don’t know that they knew it was coming. Let’s just say the guys I worked with in the NHL are great. I’m not falling off the face of the earth; I’m just getting back to doing what I love to do. I don’t think I’ll get dumb over night by going back on the ice. I don’t know if they expected that I would go back. Hopefully I fit in and perform at a high level for them on the ice.
Colin and Gary were supportive of my decision. Would they have rather had me stay? I sort of got that sense, which was nice, but ultimately they left the decision to me.
Sportsnet.ca: Was it a tough decision?
Walkom: No. If I would have done it two years ago it would have been tough, but not now because I know the game is in good hands and our (officiating) team is in good hands. Probably the hardest part of it is getting myself back in game shape. You have to be in top shape to be able to serve the game properly.
I am a guy who really enjoys a challenge. I do enjoy the role of leader, but I also get a great sense of accomplishment of going out and working a hockey game knowing you’ll have good games and bad games. You just hope the good outnumber the bad.