And you thought your day was long????

From http://www.phantomshockey.com/

ALBANY – Ryan Potulny scored at 2:58 of the fifth overtime to give the Philadelphia Phantoms a 3-2 win over the Albany River Rats in Game 5 of the East Division Semifinals at the Times Union Center. The game was the longest in the history of the American Hockey League at 142 minutes, 58 seconds, and gives the Phantoms a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series. Philadelphia now has a chance to wrap things up in Game 6 at the Wachovia Center at 1:05 Saturday afternoon.

Potulny’s game-winner came at 12:39 AM on Philadelphia’s 101st shot of the game. Defenseman Michael Ratchuk carried a puck across the Albany blue line and cut into the right-wing circle before dropping a pass into the slot. Potulny snapped the puck past the stick side of Albany goaltender Michael Leighton to set off a wild celebration near the Phantoms bench.

Regulation concluded at a 2-2 deadlock. The Rats scored first for the fourth consecutive game, recording a goal 2:57 into the second period after a scoreless first stanza. It was two former Phantoms hooking up to burn their former club, as Marc Cavosie put a shot on net that Scott Munroe stopped, but the rebound came to Kiel McLeod for the putback and the 1-0 lead.

Ross recorded the first shorthanded marker of the series at the 7:41 mark. He carried a puck down the right side and tried to center to Boyd Kane, but it hit a defenseman and went in on Leighton. Persistence paid off for Ross, as he poked at the loose puck following and pushed it over the line for the 1-1 tie.

Albany struck again on the power play with 2:46 remaining in the middle period. McLeod struck again, deflecting a Brett Carson shot past Munroe while stationed in the high slot. It gave the River Rats a 2-1 lead heading into the final period.

But the Phantoms equalized with Ross’s second goal of the night with 4:47 left to play in the third period. Boyd Kane was on the right boards and sent a puck in front for Ross, who had one hand on the stick when he reached out and touched it past Leighton to tie things at twos.

The teams then proceeded to battle for 80 scoreless minutes, playing through four overtimes without a goal. Philadelphia outshot Albany 101-67 on the game, generating 63 shots in the overtime periods alone after putting 38 shots on Leighton in regulation. Leighton, who is the reigning AHL Goaltender of the Year, made an incredible 98 saves. Munroe, meanwhile, stopped 65 of 67 shots – including all 35 he saw in the overtime sessions.

The new AHL record of 142:58 eclipses the previous record of 134:56 (74:56 of overtime) set on May 30, 2003 when Hamilton beat Houston 2-1. This game featured 82:58 of extra play. On the time of day clock, the game took five hours and 38 minutes. The 101 Philadelphia shots also are an unofficial league record, but are an official Phantoms franchise record, obliterating the old mark of 64 shots.

The series returns to Philadelphia for Game 6 on Saturday afternoon at 1:05. Game 7, if necessary, will be Tuesday, April 29 at 7:05 PM. Tickets for Game 6 and 7 are available at the Wachovia Complex box office, online at ComcastTIX.com or phantomshockey.com, or by phone at 1-800-298-4200.

Former Canadian Hockey League and Western Hockey League President Ed Chynoweth passes away

Calgary, AB. - It is with great sadness the Western Hockey League today announced that Ed Chynoweth, WHL Chairman of the Board and President of the Kootenay Ice Hockey Club, passed away this morning in Calgary.

Born in Dodsland, Saskatchewan, Chynoweth, 66, was the driving force behind the growth and development of Major Junior Hockey throughout Canada over the past four decades. Chynoweth’s career in both the WHL and the Canadian Hockey League spanned 37 years. He was appointed President of the WHL in 1972 and held that position for 23 years before becoming the majority owner of a WHL expansion franchise in Edmonton in 1996. The franchise relocated to Cranbrook, British Columbia in 1998.

Chynoweth also played a major role in the game at the national level, serving as President of the CHL for 20 years from 1975 – 1995. During his tenure as CHL President, Chynoweth was instrumental in forming the partnership between CHL and Hockey Canada in 1981 to oversee Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team. The Hockey Canada and CHL partnership led to the formation of Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence and Canada’s dominance in International Hockey at the junior level.

Chynoweth, the WHL Chairman of the Board until his passing, has served in this capacity on two separate occasions since 1996 and also has served as a member of the CHL Board of Directors.

“The WHL and the entire Canadian hockey community have lost a great leader today in Ed Chynoweth”, commented WHL Commissioner, Ron Robison. “The success the WHL and our Member Clubs are experiencing today is a direct result of the vision and leadership Ed Chynoweth provided to this League over the past 37 years.”

As President of the Kootenay Ice, Chynoweth together with his son Jeff, who is Vice-President and General Manager, have operated one of the most successful franchises in the WHL, having recorded the top winning percentage in the WHL over the past 10 years. The Kootenay Ice captured the WHL Championship twice in 2000 and 2002, and went on to win the Memorial Cup National Championship in Guelph in 2002.

Ed’s son Dean was a defenseman with the Medicine Hat Tigers when they won back to back Memorial Cup Championships in 1987 and 1988. In his capacity as CHL President in 1988, Ed had the privilege of presenting his son Dean, as Captain of the Tigers, the Memorial Cup. Dean is enjoying a successful WHL career currently serving as General Manager and Head Coach of the Swift Current Broncos.

Ed is also survived by his wife Linda of 45 years. Ed and Linda have resided in Calgary since 1976. Prior to moving to Calgary with the transfer of the WHL headquarters, Ed and Linda resided in Saskatoon.

Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced later this week.

Happy Birthday to my Kim!

Today is my wife Kim's 44th birthday. It's actually been a pretty quiet day, as she was ordered by the doctor to take it easy.

We did go to dinner last night after church. Today, we went and bought a baby stroller. The nurse at the hospital told us we'd need a stroller, car seat and crib to be able to take Jimmy home, so we got the stroller/car seat today. It was even easier to assemble than I thought, 'cause I didn't say one single naughty word!


And Smoke even took the car seat for a test drive!

We've enjoyed spending the day together, following the end of hockey season earlier this month. Pregnancy hasn't been real easy for Kim, but she has been completely dedicated to having a healthy, happy baby. So far, so good. I am the luckiest guy in the world. Kim is so lovely, so sweet, so supportive and isn't afraid to give me what's for if I need it.

I love you Pookie Bear. You're the greatest!

Jimmy update

Kim is about 34 weeks and things are getting interesting, to say the least. As I write this, we are at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Kim had a lot of pain, so her baby doctor(little teeeeny doctor!), Dr. Schulte, suggested she come so he could take a peek under the hood. (We are still awaiting his arrival.) All monitors so far indicate everything's a.o.k. and that Jimmy isn't trying to escape early. Still looking forward to a June 1st delivery date, but we'll feel okay about things if he decides to come a week to ten days early.

Update: Dr. Schulte came in around 1:00a.m., had a quick "look-see" and prounced everything "okie-dokie," so Kim and I went home at 1:30. She's not up to going to work today, but should be okay to work tomorrow, which just also happens to be her 44th birthday! Way to go Pookie Bear! I'm very proud of you and I love you very much!

As always, your prayers are appreciated. Stay tuned for further updates as the big day approaches.

U.S. beats Canada again to win Women's World Championships

U.S. Women’s National Team Captures World Championship
with 4-3 Win Over Canada
Team USA Finishes Tournament with 4-0-1-0 Record; Darwitz Earns MVP Award

HARBIN, China – The U.S. Women's National Team captured the gold medal with a 4-3 win over Canada at the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation World Women's Championship here tonight at the Baqu Arena. Team USA finished with the tournament with a 4-0-1-0 record and ended with back-to-back victories over top-seeded Canada for its second gold medal in the last three world championships.

Team USA took a 2-1 lead in the opening period, then went up 4-1 in the second frame before Canada scored two third-period goals for the 4-3 score.

"We're extremely proud of our team and the way they performed throughout the entire tournament," said Jackie Barto, head coach for Team USA. "We came out and built on the energy we established on Thursday - it was a great win for Team USA. Jessie Vetter was outstanding in goal and came up with some big saves. We also had exceptional leadership from our veterans; their experience was very helpful in this team reaching its goal of winning the gold medal."

In the first period, Canada gained a 1-0 lead at the 1:57 mark when Sarah Vaillancourt flipped the puck into the right corner of the net during a four-on-four situation.

Team USA bounced back with a pair of goals to take a 2-1 lead before the period had expired. Jenny Potter (Edina, Minn.) was first to score for the Americans, as Julie Chu (Fairfield, Conn.) fed her the puck and she one-timed it from the right point at 8:09 during a U.S. power play. Captain Natalie Darwitz (Eagan, Minn.) then gave Team USA the one-goal advantage as she skated up the length of the ice, deked in front of the Canadian net and put a wrist shot inside the right post at 17:41.

In the middle frame, the United States tallied twice more to take a 4-1 lead. The first was scored during a two-man advantage when Angela Ruggiero (Harper Woods, Mich.) took a shot from the top of the slot that bounced off the end boards and was tipped in by Potter at 10:54. Darwitz then netted her second of the evening, again skating up the length of the ice on the right side and sniping the puck just inside the far post past Canadian netminder Kim St-Pierre at 18:41.

In the final stanza, Canada potted a pair of goals within a 1:10 span to cut the U.S. lead to 4-3. Katie Weatherston scored at 8:38, followed by a power-play rebound-goal from Jennifer Botterill at 9:48. Team USA then killed off three penalties in the final half of the period to secure the win.

St-Pierre and Charline Labonte combined for 25 saves in net for Canada, while Jessie Vetter (Cottage Grove, Wis.) stopped 21 for the United States.

NOTES: Team USA was 2-for-13 on the power play, while holding Canada to 1-for-11 with the man advantage ...Natalie Darwitz, Jenny Potter and Caitlin Cahow were named Team USA's best players of the tournament ... Angela Ruggiero won the Directorate Award as the tournament's best defenseman, while Natalie Darwitz was the tournament's top forward and the overall MVP ... Molly Engstrom sat out the game with an injury ... The United States had never previously beaten Canada twice in one world championship ... All Team USA games were audiocast live via usahockey.com, and will later be archived with video in the same location ... Team USA has won one gold medal and nine silver medals in the 10 previous IIHF World Women’s Championships … Joining Jackie Barto on the coaching staff as assistant coaches are Paul Flanagan, head women’s ice hockey coach at Syracuse University, and Kevin Houle, head women’s ice hockey coach at SUNY-Plattsburgh. Dave Flint, head women's ice hockey coach at Saint Anselm College, is serving as the goaltending coach.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

USA 2 2 0 -- 4
CAN 1 0 2 -- 3

First Period - Scoring: 1, CAN, Vaillancourt (Kingsbury), 1:57 (4x4); 2, USA, Potter (Chu, Duggan), 8:09 (pp); 3, USA, Darwitz (Bellamy, Cahow), 17:41. Penalties: USA, Lawler (tripping), 1:31; CAN, Apps (cross-checking), 1:45; CAN, Sostorics (tripping), 5:56; CAN, Agosta (tripping), 7:42; USA, Marvin (holding), 10:13; USA, Marvin (high-sticking), 12:51; USA, Weiland (hooking), 15:19.

Second Period - Scoring: 5, USA, Potter (Ruggiero), 10:54 (5x3pp); 6, USA, Darwitz (Bellamy), 18:41. Penalties: USA, Parsons (tripping), 1:27; CAN, Wickenheiser (holding), 1:56; CAN, Apps (roughing), 9:24; CAN, Sostorics (hooking), 10:41; CAN, Collins (delay of game), 12:11; USA, Bellamy (interference), 16:05; CAN, Hefford (body-checking), 19:53.

Third Period - Scoring: 6, CAN, Weatherston (Kellar, Sostorics), 8:38 (4x4); 7, CAN, Botterill (Ouellette), 9:48 (pp). Penalties: USA, Drazan (hooking), 1:36; CAN, MacLeod (tripping), 4:02; Botterill (boarding), 6:56; Chu (body-checking), 8:26; CAN, Hefford (hooking), 12:13; USA, Duggan (tripping), 13:02; USA, Ruggiero (tripping), 13:56; CAN, Agosta (cross-checking), 16:09; USA, Marvin (holding), 17:59; CAN, Hefford (hooking), 19:41.


Shots by Period 1 2 3 Total
USA 10 10 9 29
CAN 9 8 7 24

Goaltenders (SH/SV) 1 2 3 Total
USA, Vetter, 60:00 9-8 8-8 7-5 24-21
CAN, St-Pierre, 40:00 10-8 10-8 x-x 20-16
CAN, Labonte, 19:22 x-x x-x 9-9 9-9

Power Play: USA 2-13; CAN 1-11
Penalties: USA 11-22; CAN 13-26
Officials: Referee-Nicole Hertrich (GER); Linesmen-Sanna Pauliina Haapalahti (FIN),
Miyuki Nakayama (JPN)

Team USA 2008 IIHF World Women’s Championship Schedule & Results
April 4-12 • Harbin, China • Baqu Arena

Date Opponent Time (Local/EDT)/Result
Fri., April 4 Germany W, 8-1
Sun., April 6 Switzerland W, 7-1
Tues., April 8 Finland* L, 0-1 (OT)
Thurs., April 10 Canada* W, 4-2
Sat., April 12 Canada^ W, 4-3
*Qualifying Round ^Gold-Medal Game

This just in....

....Because of the early spring snowfall and cold temperatures throughout Central Nebraska, tonight's Buffalo County Global Warming Committee meeting has been postponed. (True story, I'm not making that up!)

I don't care who you are, that's funny right there!

U.S. advances to gold medal game with win over Canada

U.S. Women’s National Team Beats Canada, 4-2,
to Advance to Gold-Medal Game
Team USA Tallies Three Power-Play Goals in Victory

HARBIN, China – Using a trio of power-play tallies, the U.S. Women's National Team posted a 4-2 victory over Canada to advance to the gold-medal game of the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation World Women's Championship here today at the Baqu Arena. The United States and Canada will rematch for the championship on Saturday, April 7, at 7 a.m. EDT, which will air live on the NHL Network for viewers in the United States.

After Canada went up 2-1 in the first period, Team USA tied it up in the second frame and added the game-winner midway through the final stanza to secure its first world-championship victory over the Canadians since 2005.

"We're very proud of our team's effort this afternoon," said Jackie Barto, head coach for Team USA. "We stuck to our game plan and executed extremely well. We were able to apply a lot of pressure on the forecheck and generate energy off that. The difference today was the execution of our power play and penalty kill and we came up big with key blocked shots. We had our backs against the wall and we were able to get the job done. We look forward to Saturday's rematch in the gold-medal game."

The Canadians jumped on the board first in the opening frame, using their first power-play chance to take an early 1-0 lead. After U.S. netminder Jessie Vetter (Cottage Grove, Wis.) made the initial save on a Gina Kingsbury shot, Jayna Hefford put the rebound high into the net at 4:21.

Just over ten minutes later, at 15:34, Team USA converted on its own power play to knot the score at 1-1. Julie Chu (Fairfield, Conn.) sent a pass to Natalie Darwitz (Eagan, Minn.), who skated the puck into the Canadian zone and put it between Charline Labonte's legs with a low wrister from the goalmouth at 15:34. The tie did not last long, as Kelly Bechard wristed a shot just inside the far post from the right faceoff circle at 16:08 to give Canada a 2-1 advantage.

While up a man in the second period, the United States tied the game at 2-2. Rachael Drazan (Orono, Minn.) took a shot from the left point that deflected off Gigi Marvin (Warroad, Minn.) to Caitlin Cahow (Branford, Conn.) in the right faceoff circle. Cahow one-timed it past Labonte at 6:33.

Team USA capitalized again on the power play in the third stanza to take its first lead of the game. Jenny Potter (Edina, Minn.) passed to Darwitz in the right corner and Darwitz fed it to Meghan Duggan (Danvers, Mass.), who slapped it in it from the bottom of the slot at 8:24 for a 3-2 score.

The U.S. lead lasted through the remainder of the frame and Darwitz added an empty-net insurance goal at 19:36 with Labonte pulled in favor of an extra attacker.

Labonte made 16 saves in net for Canada, while Vetter stopped 14 for the United States.

NOTES: Natalie Darwitz was named U.S. Player of the Game ... Team USA outshot Canada by a 20-16 margin ... Team USA was 3-for-10 on the power play, while holding Canada to 1-for-9 ... Julie Chu played played at forward during the game ... The last time Team USA beat Canada in world-championship play came in the gold-medal game in 2005, when the United States posted a 1-0 shootout win ... All Team USA games are being audiocast live via usahockey.com, and are later archived with video in the same location ... Team USA has won one gold medal and nine silver medals in the 10 previous IIHF World Women’s Championships … Joining Jackie Barto on the coaching staff as assistant coaches are Paul Flanagan, head women’s ice hockey coach at Syracuse University, and Kevin Houle, head women’s ice hockey coach at SUNY-Plattsburgh. Dave Flint, head women's ice hockey coach at Saint Anselm College, is serving as the goaltending coach.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

USA 1 1 2 -- 4
CAN 2 0 0 -- 2



First Period - Scoring: 1, CAN, Hefford (Kingsbury, Wickenheiser), 4:21 (pp); 2, USA, Darwitz (Chu, Lawler), 15:34 (pp); 3, CAN, Bechard (Mikkelson, Apps), 16:08. Penalties: CAN, Vaillancourt (hooking), :56; USA, Parsons (tripping), 2:44; USA, Faber (interference), 6:37; CAN, Weatherston (body-checking), 9:05; CAN, Team (too many players), 13:18; CAN, Sostorics (holding), 14:42; USA, Bellamy (hooking), 17:05.

Second Period - Scoring: 4, USA, Cahow (Marvin, Drazan), 6:33 (pp). Penalties: USA, Stack (tripping), :46; CAN, Vaillancourt (hooking), 5:26; CAN, Botterill (hooking), 7:35; USA, Potter (hooking), 8:54; USA, Parsons (holding), 12:00; CAN, Ouellette (body-checking), 15:44; CAN, Collins (hooking), 17:43.

Third Period - Scoring: 5, USA, Duggan (Darwitz, Potter), 8:24 (pp); 6, USA, Darwitz (Chu), 19:36 (en). Penalties: USA, Bellamy (elbowing), :47; CAN, Apps (body-checking), 2:19; CAN, Vaillancourt (interference), 6:17; USA, Thatcher (interference), 8:46; USA, Drazan (holding), 13:06.


Shots by Period 1 2 3 Total
USA 7 8 5 20
CAN 7 5 4 16

Goaltenders (SH/SV) 1 2 3 Total
USA, Vetter, 60:00 7-5 5-5 4-4 16-14
CAN, Labonte, 60:00 7-6 8-7 4-3 19-16


Power Play: USA 3-10; CAN 1-9
Penalties: USA 9-18; CAN 10-20
Officials: Referee-Nicole Hertrich (GER); Linesmen-Sanna Pauliina Haapalahti (FIN),
Miyuki Nakayama (JPN)
Attendance: 1,096

Team USA 2008 IIHF World Women’s Championship Schedule & Results
April 4-12 • Harbin, China • Baqu Arena

Date Opponent Time (Local/EDT)/Result
Fri., April 4 Germany W, 8-1
Sun., April 6 Switzerland W, 7-1
Tues., April 8 Finland* L, 0-1 (OT)
Thurs., April 10 Canada* W, 4-2
Sun., April 12 Canada^ 7 p.m./7 a.m.
*Qualifying Round ^Gold-Medal Game

U.S. National Women's team loses in OT

U.S. Women’s National Team Edged By Finland, 1-0, in OT
Finland Scores on Two-Man Advantage in Extra Session for First-Ever Win Against U.S.

HARBIN, China – Finland scored during a two-man advantage in overtime to edge out the U.S. Women's National Team, 1-0, in the top qualifying round of the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation World Women's Championship here this afternoon at the Baqu Arena. It marked the first time in history that Finland posted a win against the United States.

Team USA will take on Canada on Thursday at 12 a.m. EDT in its final qualifying-round game before the medal games.

"We competed and battled hard today and had outstanding scoring chances," said Jackie Barto, head coach for Team USA. "I give credit to the Finnish goaltender, she got stronger and stronger as the game went on. We now have to refocus as a team and set our sights on the game against Canada. We need to find a way to generate offense and capitalize on chances."

In the first period, Team USA held a 7-3 advantage in shots, but neither U.S. netminder Jessie Vetter (Cottage Grove, Wis.) nor Finnish goaltender Noora Raty allowed a goal as the score remained 0-0 at the end of the frame.

The United States was again held scoreless in the second stanza, being stopped on all seven shots. The Americans killed off two penalties in the period, while Finland's five shots were saved by Vetter to keep the score deadlocked at 0-0 heading into the third frame.

Despite 13 shots in the last period, Team USA was still unable to solve Raty, while Vetter also held steady in net for the United States to force a five-minute extra session.

In the four-on-four sudden-death overtime, the U.S. squad put up three shots before getting whistled for a pair of penalties at the 1:54 mark. During a delayed call on Gigi Marvin (Warroad, Minn.) for hooking, a mistake during a line change resulted in five U.S. players on the ice as Finland skated the puck into Team USA's zone. Just before the penalties expired, Heidi Pelttari took a slap shot from the top of the slot that deflected through a screened Vetter's legs at 3:42 to secure the win for Finland.

Vetter made 14 saves in net for the United States, while Raty earned the shutout for Finland with 30 stops.

NOTES: Natalie Darwitz was named U.S. Player of the Game ... Team USA went 0-for-3 on the power play, while Finland was 1-for-5 with the man advantage ... All Team USA games are being audiocast live via usahockey.com, and are later archived with video in the same location ... Team USA has won one gold medal and nine silver medals in the 10 previous IIHF World Women’s Championships … Joining Jackie Barto on the coaching staff as assistant coaches are Paul Flanagan, head women’s ice hockey coach at Syracuse University, and Kevin Houle, head women’s ice hockey coach at SUNY-Plattsburgh. Dave Flint, head women's ice hockey coach at Saint Anselm College, is serving as the goaltending coach.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

USA 0 0 0 0 -- 0
FIN 0 0 0 1 -- 1



First Period - Scoring: None. Penalties: FIN, Tallus (hooking), :47; FIN, Voutilainen (hooking), 19:17.

Second Period - Scoring: None. Penalties: USA, Faber (high-sticking), 1:47; USA, Lawler (slashing), 17:51.

Third Period - Scoring: None. Penalties: FIN, Saarinen (body-checking), 6:58; USA, Weiland (delay of game), 10:44.

Overtime - Scoring: 1, FIN, Pelttari (Tallus, Pehkonen), 3:42 (5x3pp). Penalties: USA, Marvin (hooking), 1:54; USA, Team (too many players), 1:54.

Shots by Period 1 2 3 OT Total
USA 7 7 13 3 30
FIN 3 5 5 2 15

Goaltenders (SH/SV) 1 2 3 OT Total
USA, Vetter, 60:00 3-3 5-5 5-5 2-1 15-14
FIN, Raty, 60:00 7-7 7-7 13-13 3-3 30-30

Power Play: USA 0-3; FIN 1-5
Penalties: USA 5-10; FIN 3-6
Officials: Referee-Aina Hove (NOR); Linesmen-Heather Richardson (CAN), Petra Slivkova (SVK)
Attendance: 804

Team USA 2008 IIHF World Women’s Championship Schedule & Results
April 4-12 • Harbin, China • Baqu Arena

Date Opponent Time (Local/EDT)/Result
Fri., April 4 Germany W, 8-1
Sun., April 6 Switzerland W, 7-1
Tues., April 8 Finland* L, 0-1 (OT)
Thurs., April 10 Canada* 12 p.m./12 a.m.
Sun., April 12 Bronze-Medal Game 3:30 p.m./3:30 a.m.
Gold-Medal Game 7 p.m./7 a.m.
*Qualifying Round

USA Hockey Names Patrick Britt Coordinator of Officiating Education

From http://www.usahockey.com

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Patrick Britt has been named coordinator of officiating education for USA Hockey it was announced today.

Trained in the USA Hockey Officiating Education Program, Britt spent the 2007-08 season as the director of officiating development for the National Ice Hockey Board of Holland. He is a former East Coast Hockey League and United States Hockey League referee.

“We couldn’t be more pleased to have Patrick on board,” said Matt Leaf, director of officiating for USA Hockey. “His knowledge and passion will be of tremendous value to USA Hockey.”

A native of Richboro, Pennsylvania, Britt will officially begin his duties on April 14.

NOTES: Britt worked seven seasons (1999-2006) as a referee in the USHL, including approximately 250 games. He also worked four seasons (2001-05) as a referee in the ECHL, officiating approximately 300 games … Britt officiated USA Hockey’s Junior A National Championships in 1999, 2000 and 2001 … Britt has been a member of USA Hockey’s national instruction staff for the past seven years and has participated in USA Hockey’s Officiating Education Program for more than 15 years.