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Like many 15-year-olds with an interest in hockey, Matt Proski and Clay Kimsal dream about being in the NHL.
But not as players.
Proski and Kimsal want to become pro hockey officials, and before last Saturday’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins game at the Mohegan Sun Arena they both got a taste of what’s it like to be on the ice with those who wear the striped shirts.
Proski, of Larksville, and Kimsal, of Mountain Top, are both officials in the USA Hockey Officiating Program. Because officials in the program are required to work games that are an age level lower, Proski and Kimsal officiate squirt level games in the area. They hope to keep climbing the officiating ladder, and last week they got a taste of what it’s like in the pro ranks when they joined referee Ryan Hersey and linesmen Luke Murray and Jud Ritter on the ice to inspect the goals before the game, meet with the players and stand at center ice for the national anthem.
“Maybe your calling wasn’t to be a hockey player or you don’t have the skill to take it very far, so you try to stick with the game any way you can,” said Proski, who attends Wyoming Valley West High School. “Refereeing is our calling.”
Proski and Kimsal both became interested in officiating after attending Penguin games and watching how the referees and linesmen work. While watching Penguin games, Proski said, he became interested in all components of hockey and the work of the officials stood out.
“That’s why I got into it. To teach and learn what these guys do,” he said.
Kimsal said his middle school coach at Crestwood, Carl Karaska, who is also an official, encouraged him to get into officiating and it was a natural fit.
It also helps that Proski and Kimsal both play hockey, something that has helped them transition into officiating.
“A lot of times when you’re on the bench during a game and you notice something and wonder why it was or wasn’t called. When you’re officiating, you learn the reason behind those decisions,” Kimsal said, adding the transition from hockey player to official did take some adjustment.
“The hockey background does help, but sometimes when you’re officiating you still feel like you have to skate towards the puck, like a player.”
As part of the USA Hockey program, Proski and Kimsal have gone through training before they became officials – including an all-day class and test. Every year they receive more training and tests as they advance into the higher levels of officiating.
Dave Bienas, regional coordinator of officiating for USA Hockey, is happy to see interest from young people such as Proski and Kimsal because the area’s pool of officials is getting older. Developing new officials, he said, is similar to an NHL team developing young players.
“The biggest thing I enjoy is seeing a young official get better,” Bienas said. “Matt and Clay are doing a great job and it’s important to develop officials for this area because most of the guys have been doing it a long time.”
Bienas said the arrival of the Penguins in 1999 has definitely generated more interest in officiating. Fifteen years ago there were around 16 officials in the region, Bienas said, and today there are 70.
The demand is also increasing. On a typical weekend, there are 17 games played locally – including youth hockey, house leagues, junior varsity and varsity contests. With two officials needed for each game, there are a lot of spots to fill, Bienas said.
“There are opportunities for the young officials to take this to other levels – juniors, college and professional,” he said. “And there’s nothing wrong with striving to be the number one guy in northeastern Pennsylvania. Everyone always competes to see who gets to officiate the big games here, like the high school championship.
“Officials become a brotherhood and we’re glad to see Matt and Clay have this interest.”
It’s an interest that Proski and Kimsal hope to take as far as they can into the hockey world.
“It’s a hard thing to get into the NHL as a player, but our goal is to get as high as we can in officiating,” Kimsal said. “Some people are meant to be hockey players and some are meant to be officials.”