Dreams comes true

Times Editor

 

Local referee Clayton Hall is living his dream, officiating his first year in the Western Hockey League.

After working his way through the ranks in Strathmore and moving on to various elite levels of hockey, Hall is earning his stripes all over Western Canada this winter.

However, another dream came true in Jan. 17, when Hall was asked to officiate a Calgary Flames scrimmage during their six-day training camp.

“That was an unreal experience,” said Hall. “That’s the fastest I’ve ever seen a puck move, fastest skaters. Working the western league you see a lot of prospects and draft picks, but to be on the ice with a guy like (Jarome) Iginla, (Mike) Cammalleri, and (Alex) Tanguay telling you to drop the puck … (it’s a) little intimidating, but a really cool experience. 

“The names and the numbers on the back of the jerseys change things, but once the puck is in motion, it’s back to reality, back to hockey and doing your job.” 

According to Hall, there is a huge jump in competition from the WHL to the NHL, even in a training camp setting.

“My normal positioning doesn’t really exist from what I’m used to in the Western Hockey League to that,” said Hall. “We get to set up shop down low and here you have to pay attention to that d-man coming behind the net and how quick they are moving, and adjust to them.”

Of course, like most people, Hall would eventually like to take officiating to the highest level, which is the NHL. However, he is taking it one day at a time and earning his stripes on the WHL.

“That is a tease, what I just did out there,” said Hall, nodding to the ice surface at the Pengrowth Saddledome. “Ultimately your dream job is to work in the show, work in the league, but the reality, I might have peaked right here.

“I’m in the western league right now and I would like to work a Memorial Cup and keep working on hockey in the western league.”

According to Hall, making the jump from the Alberta Junior Hockey League to the WHL was a little intimidating at first. However, the more he officiated, the more comfortable he became.

“We’re talking (one step below) a profession league, these guys are going to the show next,” said Hall. “It took a bit of (time) getting familiar with everybody and the pace of the game and the stuff behind the scenes, but now, it’s going very well.

“I’m picking up stuff, learning from the vets and getting more and more assignments. It’s great.”