Clinic is a homecoming for NHL Official

MARQUETTE– Some National Hockey League pros came to Lakeview Arena to teach amateurs the tricks of the trade, but it wasn’t the players who took to the ice.

It was a special kind of homecoming for Brain Pochmara, who has worked as an official for 15 seasons in the National Hockey League. He and three other refs have come to a clinic for amateur referees. He said, “It’s an excellent feeling, I’ve got a lot of roots here, I actually went to school here at Sault St. Marie at Lake Superior State.”

“We’re gonna teach them some of the tricks of the trade that we do at the professional level,” said NHL Referee Scott Driscoll, “stuff we we’re taught when we where younger and it’s helped us get to where we are today.”

It was an opportunity amateur referee Adam Holloway didn’t want to pass by.

“Pretty much a good chance for the professionals to come out and show us amateurs a thing or 2,” Holloway said

The clinic began with all the officials hitting the ice for some drills, they rotated in groups so they could spend time with all four professional referees.

“Well the first thing I’d pass on is that I hope you love what your doing, you have to love officiating, you have to love the game of hockey, said And have fun, go out and you’re part of the game, it’s a great way to stay involved in the game and definitely, you gotta have fun.”

The mentorship is great Holloway said, “It’s gonna give the younger guys to realize that hey, I have a chance to make it into the NHL.

Just like Pochmara, who smiled and said, “I was fortunate enough to work in this building years ago, so it’s been a long time since I’ve been back, so it feels really really cool.”