Trent Knorr was hired as a National Hockey League (NHL) referee at the start of last year, but until a spot opens up he has been fine-tuning his game in the American Hockey League (AHL).
He got a call last summer from Terry Gregson, director of officiating, to ask if he was interested in a position with the NHL.
“Of course it was a no-brainer,” said Knorr, who has climbed the ladder quickly.
His move to referee from linesman a few years ago was made, he explained, because, “lining is a black and white call. Referees have a lot more judgement, feel and you can sort of personalize or put your own stamp on the game.”
He also likes the position because, “referees have more interaction with the players and a lot more latitude with decisions. In the end, maybe the same result, but different ways in getting it.”
Following the call from Gregson he was put through a few formalities such as background screening for United States and Canadian customs, fitness testing and medical exams by the NHL’s officiating staff.
He was subsequently given the green light to proceed to the next stage which was a training camp in September 2012 in Collingwood, Ontario. All of the 66 full-time officials were there, 33 referees and 33 linesmen, and the 11 new recruits, two referees including Knorr and nine linesmen.
There was a re-do of the medical and fitness exams for everyone, that is done on an annual basis, and then daily skates with some team-building exercises on the ice.
There were also classroom courses to cover new rules, the rules of emphasis and more team-building because it was the last opportunity for the entire team to be together.
The referees are in a union so until there is a vacancy Knorr has been calling penalties in the AHL.
It is a farm league for the NHL where the players are bigger and faster, but also Knorr describes the players as different in another way.
“You’re dealing now with guys where this is their job,” he explained, “and when you make a call it’s somebody’s livelihood. They are a lot smarter now and understand the rule book. When you start seeing them more regularly there is more mutual respect. They understand that I’m in the same position and that we’re both trying to make a living out of hockey.”
That point was well taken in a game where he earned a lot of respect for his handling of a bench-clearing brawl between Rockford and Grand Rapids.
In the third period he ejected 13 players and gave out 230 penalty minutes. “You’re sitting there thinking ‘what do I do now?’” he recalled. “But that’s when you just have to take a step back, calm it down and start by asking for help from the off-ice officials to know which guys are lined up off the face-off and go from there.”
The event was long and exhausting, he said, “with a lot of reports to be written afterward.”
Now residing in Victoria, Knorr and his wife are expecting a child in January and he admits that his life is about to change drastically.
“It’s going to be interesting.” he said. “It really depends on the schedule. I’ve had trips as long as 13 days and as short as five days. It’s already been a huge adjustment because you’re basically living out of a suitcase and I’m becoming an expert.”
The trip to his first official game was from his Powell River home to Powell River Recreation Complex when he was 15 years old.
“Mike Fraser called me because a linesman couldn’t make it,” he recalled of the game between Powell River Kings and Nanaimo Clippers. “Of course I said yes.”
A huge fan of the Kings, he put on his minor league official jersey. “I was just in awe because these were the guys I grew up watching. I remembered when they scored their first goal, because I actually started to celebrate before I remembered I can’t do that,” he added, laughing.
Ten years later he’s wearing number 44 and knows that any day he’ll be living his dream as an NHL referee.
