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One of Hockey’s Vets: NHL Referee Dave Jackson
By Nick Sebesta
photo credit. NHL.com
Delivering newspapers as a 14-year-old in Pointe Claire, Quebec, current National Hockey League referee Dave Jackson never really enjoyed waking up at 6 a.m. to go to work.
That was until a friend told him he should try refereeing youth hockey to make some money instead of delivering newspapers at the break of dawn. The rest, as they say, is history.
Jackson, an 18-year veteran in the NHL who wears No. 8 on the ice, refereed his 1,000th game in the league on December 20, 2008 when the Buffalo Sabres visited the Montreal Canadiens.
As a young referee, Jackson who played hockey until his teens, kept focusing on refereeing at the next stage, never really thinking he would one day officiate a NHL game.
“My dream was to play pro hockey,” said Jackson. “I played until I was about 17, and at about 15 or 16, I thought I would stay in refereeing to make more money at it. I just kept trying to go for the next level of officiating.”
When his bosses realized that he had the potential of being a referee in the NHL, Jackson was invited to a referee school where scouts from the NHL looked at the aspiring referee. It is a process similar to a professional scout looking at a youth hockey player prospect.
In 1986, Jackson was brought in as an NHL trainee, refereeing minor league hockey in the American Hockey League and the International Hockey League.
After three years of training, Jackson was signed to a contract as a NHL referee and became eligible to officiate a game.
On December 22, 1990, it then came time to officiate his first game. The New Jersey Devils were visiting the Quebec Nordiques in the Quebec Coliseum.
“I thought I would be more nervous when I skated out on the ice,” he said. “It felt like any other game until I dropped the puck and Guy Lafleur whizzed right by me with his hair flying. I grew up watching him and my heart just kind of dropped. I was then nervous until I called my first penalty.”
As the years and the games kept going, Jackson refined his refereeing skills. Before every game he meets with the other officials. They go through the different players who play more aggressively than others.
To protect the integrity of the game of hockey is what they are tasked to do as officials, and that is what Jackson strives to do every time he steps out onto the ice.
Whenever he has the opportunity
to referee a Colorado Avalanche game, he has nothing but great things to say about the stalwart captain, Joe Sakic.
“Joe Sakic is the ultimate professional,” Jackson said. “He is courteous and always respectful of the officials.”
Other than his first game and refereeing the 2002 All-Star Game in Los Angeles, one of the top moments in Jackson’s career was in December when he refereed his landmark game in the NHL.
With his wife and children, as well as some friends, in attendance at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec Jackson got to pick the rink and the officiating cre
w for his special night. He was presented with a Tiffany crystal and plaque on center ice on a red carpet.
“Both teams brought out a signed stick and we got to take a bunch of pictures,” Jackson said. “It was really cool for my children, parents and my wife. It was kind of weird having the crowd cheering for you instead of booing.”
So, what does the future hold for this already legendary NHL referee?
“I’ll need to stay in shape,” said Jackson. “As long as the mind and body are willing, I’ll continue.”
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