After an emotional hockey game on February 8th against Cloquet, linesman Adam Daniels shares his insight into the game as the referee on the ice. Daniels unfolds what goes through his mind through a post-game interview including some controversial questions.
In order to truly get insight into the mind of the ref, Adam Daniels releases his history with the sport. When Daniels was a kid, he was involved in hockey himself. Growing up, Daniels found himself consumed with hockey until high school graduation. Daniels played left wing for the Hastings Raiders team from 1994 to 1997 during his high school years. More specifically, Adam Daniels was on the varsity team of the Raiders from years 1996 to 1997, revealing his dedication for his sport at a young age. Even after his years of playing hockey as a kid, Daniels continued to play hockey as an adult through a local men’s league and becoming a certified ref.
Daniels has lived in Sartell for nearly a decade and found himself devoted to Sartell Youth Hockey in various ways. Daniels has three out of four children, Abby Daniels (Sartell alumni class of 2021), Nolan Daniels, and Sully Daniels, who have been involved in Sartell hockey. His three kids look up to his passion for sport and follow in his footsteps by being as dedicated as he is.
During his first year living in Sartell, Daniels coached the Storm’n Sabres U15 team from 2015 to 2016. More recently, Daniels has been one of the coaches for the 2023 to 2024 Sartell Youth Hockey PeeWee’s team. Daniels has been extremely involved in Sartell Youth hockey as a parent, a coach, and a ref for many years.
Not only does this interview reveal some frequently asked questions, but also dire questions regarding his role in Sartell Youth Hockey. With all the parts that Daniels plays in the local hockey community, it was intriguing to see his insight and whether his roles collide with one another. Daniels has been on many sides of the sport of hockey. While pursuing a role as a coach and a ref, Daniels offers a look into a well-known sport that not many people have.
Daniels shares his experience, knowledge, and perspectives of the game that are visible through this conducted interview.
Interview Questions:
Hailey: How long have you been a ref for?
I have been reffing for three years now.
— Adam Daniels
Hailey: What made you want to be a ref for this specific sport?
I thought it would be a good hobby to pick up, and it also paid, and gave me exercise since I do not play hockey anymore.
— Adam Daniels
Hailey: To you, what is the hardest part of the job?
The hardest part about being a ref is being able to process what you see, make the right calls, and apply the rules to what you see.
— Adam Daniels
Hailey: What goes through your mind when an upset crowd reacts to one of your calls?
Most of the time, people don’t know the rules, and the general public, who comes to cheer on a game, don’t know what they saw and how it applies in the rule book. So, it doesn’t necessarily upset me. Actually, it’s kind of entertaining when people are yelling, but don’t always know what they are watching.
— Adam Daniels
Hailey: What is the most upsetting call you’ve had to make during a game?
The most upsetting call is when I have to use a penalty, or a call that has a long penalty time, or when the player gets ejected from the game.
— Adam Daniels
Hailey: With being a Sartell hockey coach, how has your perspective of the game changed by becoming a ref?
My perspective is that, kind of like the question when the crowd cheers or boos a call, I’ve learned that a lot of coaches don’t even know the rule book and definitions of infractions, then also the severity of each infraction. Based on what the penalty is, how long the penalty is to be served, and trying to instruct them in a way that coaches don’t get mad at the refs, I try to explain myself to them.
— Adam Daniels
Hailey: What was the process to becoming a certified ref look like?
Your first year is a open-book 100 question exam with about 3-4 hours of online training, and then 4 hours of in-class and on-ice instruction. Second and third years are without the on-ice instruction. If you are a third year, you have a open-book 50 question exam to take. Any person under their third year takes the 100 question exam.
— Adam Daniels
Hailey: Are there any kind of game or age group you like to ref the most?
I like to ref the games that move the fastest. Those are a lot more fun because you are using all of the rule book and you are not standing around watching the puck bounce around back and forth.
— Adam Daniels
Hailey: Is it troubling to ref with an unbiased opinion, especially when reffing one of your favorite teams?
Nope, not at all.
— Adam Daniels
Hailey: What has been your favorite game you have ever refed?
I think my favorite games are the state tournament games, or high school playoff games. Those are the most fun because you have to be the most focused and the most professional. So, it really puts you to the test when you know not only are all people in the building watching you, but typically there’s official supervisors that are critiquing how you are doing.
— Adam Daniels
This video features Adam Daniels, center ice, reffing the exciting Sartell v. Cloquet hockey game on February 8th. As the game goes on, Daniels’ focus and dedication to a fair game can be seen by audience members.
