Josh Smith
Josh is a life-long hockey fan. He grew up as a fan of the New York Rangers, but thanks to their general mismanagement and years of mediocrity, has developed a great appreciation for every team across the league. He’s been writing about hockey on various sites since 1995. In addition to his work at The Hockey Writers, he also keeps tabs on the referees over at ScoutingTheRefs.com.
Author's Posts
Which Blackhawks Will Be Left Off the Stanley Cup in 2015?
June 18th, 2015 Whether or not you believe they're truly a dynasty, the Chicago Blackhawks' third Stanley Cup victory in six seasons is undoubtedly impressive. While the veteran leadership of players like Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, and Duncan Keith helped carry the club to the championship, the Hawks had contributions from all levels. Most of those...
Ref Roundup: Playoff Refs, Respect, Retirements
April 16th, 2015 It's playoff time, and that means 14 teams have seen their respective seasons come to an end. The same is true for a large number of on-ice officials. Of the 43 referees and 36 linesmen who've worked in the NHL this season, only 20 of each make the cut for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Retired referee Kerry Fraser joined TSN 690's Off...
Ref Roundup: Broken Sticks, Russian Bribes, Dollars for Diving
March 26th, 2015 Before rounding up the latest in ref-related news, there's one particular goal that needs a second look: Justin Abdelkader's game-winning overtime goal was illegal. Players are not allowed to play with broken sticks, according to Rule 10.3, which states, "A player without a stick may participate in the game. A player whose stick is...
Ref Roundup: Rule Changes, Russian Ref, 'Boom Boom' Goes Ballistic
March 19th, 2015 With the NHL's GMs wrapping up their meeting in Florida, a look at the proposed rule changes leads off this week's Ref Roundup: While there's always concerns about the consistency of officiating, there's something to be said for consistency in the rulebook as well. While no major changes may be in store for the 2015-16 NHL...
Ref Roundup: Post-Whistle Goals, Russian Ref, & Lindros Lawsuit
March 4th, 2015 Always play until the whistle, right? Sometimes, though, you can still score a goal even after it blows. In Sunday's game between Vancouver and St. Louis, the whistle blew as Blues goaltender Jake Allen appeared to have the puck beneath his pads. We all know that a play can be blown dead before a whistle via a referee's intent to blow....
NHL Coverage Hits Ice Level with Helmet Cams
October 3rd, 2014 Hockey has long benefited from technological improvements in television broadcasts. High-definition TV, along with then-revolutionary widescreen TVs - improved the home viewing experience. The new proportions of the broadcasts better framed the ice and the significant increase in picture quality made it easier to follow the game....