Stewart to Officiate Legends Game
Whalers Sports and Entertainment announced today that famed former NHL referee Paul Stewart, who currently serves as ECAC Hockey Director of Officials, will officiate during the Hartford Whalers legends vs. Boston Bruins legends game February 19, 2011 at Rentschler Field in East Hartford.
The legends game comprises part of the "Harvest-Properties.com
Whale Bowl," the featured event of the two-week outdoor Whalers
Hockey Fest spectacular at Rentschler Field that will include
numerous collegiate, high school, prep school and youth hockey
games. The legends game will face off at 4:00 PM on February 19 and
will be followed by the outdoor AHL game between the Connecticut
Whale and the Providence Bruins at
7:00 PM.
Stewart, a native of Boston, Massachusetts, is most famous for officiating over 1,000 games in the National Hockey League during a 13-year career as a referee. On March 15, 2003, Stewart refereed his 1,000th game, becoming the only American-born official to accomplish that historic feat. Stewart also officiated during the Canada Cup in both 1987 and 1991.
Before beginning his career as an official in the NHL, Stewart enjoyed a lengthy professional playing career with teams in the NAHL, AHL, NEHL, CHL, WHA and NHL. Stewart skated in 65 career WHA games for the Edmonton Oilers and Cincinnati Stingers, as well as in 21 NHL games for the Quebec Nordiques during the 1979-80 season.
His career highlights include leading the NAHL’s Binghamton Dusters in penalty minutes from 1975-77, amassing 505 minutes during that two-season span. Stewart also led the Stingers in penalty minutes during the next season, registering 241 minutes in just 40 games. Stewart was also teammates with a 17-year-old Mark Messier on the 1978-79 Cincinnati team.
