recruiting for the MNSHSL

Rick and Mike found a poster up at the Xcel yesterday; found out today it is also a pamphlet.

Star and Tribune

http://www.startribune.com/sports/preps/117033618.html

Historic officiating crew

Four women made up the officiating crew for Saturday's Class 2A championship game -- a first in Minnesota.

Ashley Alm, Kristine Langley, Kelli Rolstad and Kristin Moran were the officials calling the game, a 3-2 Minnetonka victory.

Star and Tribune Article

http://www.twincities.com/prep/ci_17491977?nclick_check=1

Four-woman officiating crew makes history in Class AA girls hockey title game
By Tim Leighton tleighton@pioneerpress.com
Updated: 02/26/2011 11:42:26 PM CST

Minnesota officiating history was made Saturday night when the four-person crew working the Class AA girls hockey championship game were all females.
The crew was Kristine Langley of St. Louis Park, Kelli Rolstad of Coon Rapids, Ashley Alm of Woodbury and Kristin Moran of St. Cloud.
Rolstad worked the gold-medal game at the Vancouver Olympics, and Langley worked the women's world junior championships last month in Sweden.
"When you get to tournament time, you get the best of the best,'' said Minnesota State High School League associate director Craig Perry, who oversees girls hockey. "Through the evaluation process and observations throughout the year, they get to this tournament. When you get a championship contest as an official, it's because you earned the right to be there.
"Tonight, it's history that we have four females as a crew for the Class AA championship game. I think the significance of that is felt by all officials who are very close and for those who know hockey. It is significant, and the key is that they are four super officials."
Perry said a three-person all-female crew has worked in previous girls hockey state tournaments.

Note: Lisa Albers (Schlater) Mary Frey and I were the all-female 3-official crew at the Fairground the last year the state tourney was there.

2011 Girls State HS Hockey Tourney

Working as a Referee in the 4-official system with Krissy Langley on all 3 games.

We are working the final tonight with Kris Moran and Ashley Alm!

On local channel 45 at 7pm: http://kstc45.com/article/11341/?cat=11028

Made the Pioneer Press http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_17482689
(you have to scroll through the photos for the article to see Krissy and I talking to the South St. Paul coach)
The caption on the photo: "During a break in the action, South St. Paul head coach Dave Palmquist asks the referees about why a foul wasn't called on a previous play. (Pioneer Press: Chris Polydoroff)" Notes: it was a no-call because there was no penalty to call and it's called a penalty in hockey not a foul!

Let's Play Hockey - February 18th Edition

If you would like to see the photos and stories from the Olympics go to the right side and choose "2010 - February".

My friend Duncan from District 5, USA Hockey did an article on my Olympic/hockey experience.

Thanks Duncan!

www.letsplayhockey.com

www.letsplayhockey.com/1034heyref.html

Hey Ref – An Olympic experience

By Duncan Ryhorchuk

Kelli Rolstad has had the Olympic experience. Not as a player or competitor, but she was definitely an important participant. She was an on-ice official for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. With the 2010 Olympics being completed now for approximately one year, Kelli took time to reflect on her life leading up to and her time at the Olympics.

Q: How long have you been officiating, how did you get your start officiating and why did you start?
KR: I am completing my 14th year officiating. I didn’t play hockey until 10th grade, which was the first year it was a varsity sport in Minnesota at the girls’ high school level. Until then, I played basketball.
My good friend Rachel Launderville talked me into playing as she knew I loved to skate. The summer before my senior year I was approached by a Showcase hockey official, and he challenged me to go to a seminar and try officiating. I always told the officials what I thought of the calls, and I took quite a few penalties when I played, so looking back this is most likely why he confronted me. This would also be the part-time job that I needed to earn gas money and it would get me some extra ice time while playing my senior year.

Q: Explain the process of the Olympic selection?
KR: A year after I started officiating I applied for a USA Hockey Women’s Regional Camp. The camp was held in Lake Placid, N.Y. They boarded us at the Olympic Training Center and we skated on the 1980 and 1932 rinks. If you have never been out there to experience the town, it is an amazing place.
The camp was physically and mentally trying but I must have done “OK” as Matt Leaf (USA Hockey’s Officiating Director) called me back a few months later and asked if I wanted to attend the Women’s USA Hockey Elite Experience. Over the past 13 years, I have attended many camps and performed well.
The decision makers also evaluate your performance in the leagues you are working back home. A few years after going to camp, I was invited to my first international experience with the IIHF. Matt Leaf called and asked if I wanted to go to China to work the Women’s World Championship A pool. Unfortunately this tournament was cancelled due to SARS.
Over the years, I was privileged to work two tourneys in Canada, along with one in Germany and one in Sweden. I performed well at these tourneys and when the Olympic year came around, I knew I was in the running to be asked to work the Olympics. The U.S. was given the opportunity to invite three officials to work and I was lucky enough to be chosen as one.

Q: Did you train any differently when you knew you were being considered for the Olympics?
KR: I was training similar to an athlete for my leagues at the gym and working games, but the day I heard I was going to officiate in the Olympics, I called my friend Eric Scott at Etrain over in Bloomington. He put me to work skating on the treadmill two times a week during a long lunch break from work and once a week with plyometrics, usually at night.
I only skated one night of games during the week, as I was working a full-time “real job,” and would skate every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Usually WCHA, NCHA women’s college, but I did travel and work some Junior games to keep on my toes. There were also many nights spent studying the rule book. With the league variation of rules, I had seven different rule books in my bag.

Q: How did you get notified you were selected? How many area officials were there with you (men side and women’s side)?
KR: Matt Leaf called and, I am not ashamed to say, I was crying like a baby. I was at work, in a meeting room and immediately called to tell my husband, Cory, my Mom and Dad.
There were three female officials from the U.S. – referee Leah Wrazidlo and linesman Megan Hishmeh (15 total female officials). There were five male officials from the U.S. – referees Dennis LaRue and Chris Rooney (both NHL guys) and linesmen Tim Nowak (NHL), Thor Nelson (NHL) and Peter Feola (28 male officials total).

Q: How long were you at the Olympics, and what was your schedule like?
KR: I was there a total of 19 days – Feb. 11 to March 1. I worked five games – Sweden vs. Switzerland, Switzerland vs. Canada, Sweden vs. Canada, Finland vs. Canada, and USA vs. Canada. It was a light game load for me as most officials in our area work three or more games in one night or we work 2-3 college games in a weekend.
The first few mornings we had a meeting with all the officials and supervisors to get the flow of things (transportation, credentials, etc.). With any free time, we shopped a ton and the people watching was fantastic. We stayed at the downtown Holiday Inn in Vancouver and with the hotel windows shut up tight I was awoken to people singing “Oh Canada” at 3 a.m., most nights.
My husband, parents, sister and niece came out for a week in the middle of my time, and I took them to a couple hockey games. One of the female officials had a connection and we rented a city bus that took us up to Whistler for the day to check out the other Olympic venues.
A few of us attended a medal ceremony and I went to two curling events. One night, we had access to the IIHF hockey house and the Molson Tent. We also had tickets to attend the opening and closing ceremonies. The coolest thing was that our credentials got us into any men’s or women’s hockey games and into the VIP section, including both USA vs. Canada men’s’ games.

Q: When did it hit you that you were on the world stage for officiating?
KR: It comes and goes in waves and still the whole experience feels like a dream. I was told early on by a good friend to enjoy the experience. That it is all about the people you meet and things you get to do along the way.
In one of the games, it hit me. I skated the first three games in the smaller rink at the University of British Columbia, with a capacity of 7,000. My fourth game was in the big rink, Canada place, which holds 18,860.
I remember skating behind the net, shortly after getting on the ice; they were showing a video before the events and then showing the “Inuksuk” (Vancouver Olympic symbol) on the screen when the crowd goes nuts. I skated to the referee crease and looked up at the screen and the packed house. I was overwhelmed and in awe as I thought this is why I have sacrificed so much over the past 13 years. (Over the years there was a ton of hard work and time that went into working leagues and driving. I have missed many birthday parties, funerals, weddings and family events due to working hockey games).
Another thing that stood out was the support that I received from friends and family. They blew up my Facebook page and sent me tons of emails. Technology is wonderful and I had a blog going so I could keep everyone updated (www.kelliobrian.blogspot.com).

Q: It has been one year since the Olympics, what is the one experience you will never forget?
KR: I will never forget calling my Mom at work and telling her that I got the gold medal assignment. I was crying and she thought something was wrong. I choked out that I got the gold medal game and she said, “No you didn’t; you can’t work it, the U.S. is playing.”
Before the assignment came out, I was sure that I would not be assigned that game as at that time, they didn’t want you working your own country’s team and I had officiated Canada three times already.
A question I get asked frequently by officials is how it is to work with other officials, from different countries, that do not speak English? The official language of the IIHF is English so most officials do speak some English.
Off the ice, you do tend to talk a lot with your hands to illustrate the conversation, but on the ice you cannot use your hands. Since you are all working the same system, you use your eye contact with your partner and awareness to communicate, and that crosses the language barrier. The best official knows what their partner is going to do and how they are going to react before they do it.

Q: What changes have you seen since you started officiating?
KR: Girls’ hockey has improved tremendously and it just keeps getting better. When I played my senior year in high school for Champlin Park, it was the year we split from Anoka, but we recruited and got 36 girls on the ice for captain’s practice. Most of the girls could not stop or turn and a few were having issues standing up on skates.
Today, as far as I’m concerned, girls varsity and JV games are all great hockey. In youth, they can skate well and have their heads up when they stickhandle. Every time I step out on the ice it is awesome to see how far the women’s game has come in such a short time.

Q: What advice would you give new officials?
KR: My mentor, Mike, started asking me, “Are you physically and mentally ready?” for whatever game and/or tourney I was working next. I made sure I was!
These are some other tricks that I use:
• Skate hard on ice and pretend you know where you’re going – you may just fool someone into thinking you know what you are doing.
• Face your toes to the puck and the puck will stop less in your feet.
• Work hard and the sky is the limit, but remember to enjoy the ride wherever it may take you.

Q: What leagues are you officiating in now? Are you striving to officiate at another international event? And, will we see you at the 2014 Olympics?
KR: Women’s WCHA and Women’s NCHA. High School Girls and Boys. Youth Girls and Boys. And Scott Brand still gives me a few junior games every year. I also instruct, teach, mentor and shadow new officials and work at camps.
I am still IIHF certified but do not foresee officiating at the 2014 Olympics. There are many talented officials coming up that have worked hard and will have the opportunity to earn the Olympic experience too.

USA Hockey and all the other leagues that Kelli officiates for are very fortunate to have an official that is willing to dedicate their time, effort and make personal and professional sacrifices. Kelli did this and received an Olympic experience of a lifetime.

made WCCO news!

Jul 28, 2010 6:43 pm US/Central
Referee Convention Hits Downtown Minneapolis MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO)

The referee convention took place in downtown Minneapolis this week.
To many, they are nameless -- the referee. Now, put together about a thousand of them and bring them to downtown Minneapolis for the week and you've got quite a national convention.Here, it's all about coming to learn and to gain self confidence.There is the topic of replay in the NFL."As technology has improved, it's going to be more involved in the game. And I feel like it's a real challenge. And if you're an official and you're afraid of technology, go do something else," said Mike Pereira, former VP NFL official. "Technology is something to look at as that ultimate challenge. And if you look at it, in an instant replay situation, 70 percent of the time it proves you right."There is the challenge of keeping up with the high-level athletes."The game keeps changing. It's different than when I played, it's different than it was when it was 10 years ago," Big Ten Director of Officials Bill Corollo said. "And if we don't keep adjusting to keep up with the game -- and sometimes we fall behind, as officials and we do not keep up with the athletes and what they're doing."Then there is the networking. Kelli Rolstad worked the gold medal women's hockey game in Vancouver, but she doesn't come here to talk hockey."For me to meet an NCAA basketball referee or a volleyball, or soccer, or different more experienced female officials, it was really neat connection for me, cause I could ask them questions that I might not be able to ask in locker rooms," she said. For locals, like Rolstad, for the big college, professional and even the youth officials just breaking in, it's a week to feel something rare -- appreciated."This is kind of meant to be a celebration, a feel good kind of thing," Kevin Merkle said, of the MSHSL. "There's nothing wrong with that because our people give a lot of dedication and you don't get rich refereeing, at least not very many people do, let's put it that way. So for them to get a feel for the impact that they have and to have some feel good, that's all part of it, too."

Referees Convention Hits Downtown Minneapolis News

Clip: http://www.wcco.com/video/?id=81902@wcco.dayport.com

Article: http://wcco.com/sports/referee.convention.minneapolis.2.1830423.html

Officiate Minnesota and more!

Over the weekend there was an officials convention in Minneapolis, MN. This was not only hockey officials but officials from just about every sport: hockey, volleyball, la cross, tennis, football, baseball, basketball and even rodeo.

Saturday was "Officiate Minnesota" and I was asked to speak on the "Women in Officiating" panel. This was a huge honor as the other 3 women on the panel were huge ground breakers for women in officiating and at the administration level.

They asked us questions about how we got started, some challenges that we had to overcome among other things.
It was pretty cool to have some of the male hockey officials there to support me including Mach, Buzz, Shepherd and Uncle Tommy.
NCAA Basketball: Mary Struckhoff is the NCAA National Coordinator of Women’s Basketball Officiating
NCAA Volleyball: Joan Powell is a volleyball official, former collegiate coach and former player and some other things too, but that's all I could find on google she also has more one-liners than I do!
MN Official: Vicki Davis (1st of everything as a female in the sport) is one of the NCAA Regional Officiating Advisors
Moderator: Brenda Holmgren is a teacher at Elk River high school, officiates a ton of sports and is a ton of fun

Brian Mach, Steve Tatro, Greg Shepherd and CJ Bearline were also on a hockey specific panel during the day and did a great job representing us! Kronschnabel was the moderator.
Walt was on the steering committee and put a ton of work in.

Sunday was a leadership seminar from 1-4:30 and there were panels on recruitment and retention of officials, training and legal issues. Kronschnabel did a great job!

Sunday night began with some opening speakers and social time. This is when all the big names came in.

Monday was full of speakers and panels and a nice luncheon. The hockey specific panel included Terry Gregson, Matt Leaf, Dave LaBuda and Brad Watson. Steve Tatro was the moderator.

Tuesday we were there for most of the day, but Matt, Steve, Brad, Butch and I took a trip over to the Twinkie's stadium for private tour by Eric Curry and Dave St. Peter stopped by to say hello. Curry officiates DI college basketball. The night ended with the golden whistle banquet and award presentation.

1987 / 1991 World Series Championship Trophies and Mr. Matt at the field

02.20.2010 - Day 10 - Family goes home (Seattle)

Breakfast at the hotel.
Meeting in group and reviews in crews.
Mom, Dad, Katie, Ava and Cory stop by the hotel on the way back to Seattle, but there are extra game tickets to the 2:30pm game, so they delay their departure. Note: they are picking up a duffel bag that I purchased full of stuff; extra set of equipment and souvenir things.
I do some things around the hotel, run for a quick shopping trip with Anna and meet the family at the China vs. Swiss game. Ava is cheering for the team China because they are red and her new favorite color (in addition to the pink and purple) is red. After the game Anna and I walk them back to their mini van and see them off. Ava told me she wanted me to come home with her. Anna was a super trooper taking a ton of photos of us, in hopes of a good Christmas card photo, she was a ton of fun to hand out with!

... so you will most likely see one of the following on your Christmas card this coming year:)Anna and I caught the shuttle back to the hotel and catch a group leaving for the medal ceremonies at BC Place so we tag with. We get into the VIP section and have free food and beverages plus media area, box seating. The main reason the trip was made was to see the Great Britain female skeleton athlete receive her gold medal; one of the officials, Joy, is from GB. We only saw the medals being given out on the screen as all of them were presented in Whistler today; we will have to get back for another with live presentation. This ceremony was followed by a concert: Stereo Phoenix (not the name of the surround system) from Whales.

We ran into some of the male officials at BC Place, who had come from the Hockey House and were told it was easy to get in and get passes so we headed over there. We got past the main gatekeeper, but were stopped as you need a pass to get into each room and were denied. We walked back and Anna and I broke from the group and hit the official Olympic store; still no mittens. There is a coke pin you can buy off the wall of pins, you get your photo taken with the torch and then they put the sticker photo of you on the pin. We then walked back to the hotel and I ran into Mr. Matt and Anika in the lobby. A large group of us walked to Moxie's to eat and some of us went home after the food and I am heading to bed.

Duluth in January?

01.11 Monday: Treadmill with Eric at etrain http://www.etrainhockey.com/
01.12 Tuesday: Watching Megan's Varsity Hockey game at Eden Prairie with Dad and Margaret; Chaska won in OT! (Nice work Billy and Tony; the officials.) This is where I almost get kicked out of the rink for not buying a ticket, but the rink guy said he was sorry for the confusion and I'm back in to watch the game... The Dad's on the Chaska team were trying to teach me how to use the new camera... I need to get the manual out and read it!
01.13 Wednesday: Treadmill with Eric at etrain http://www.etrainhockey.com/
It's more fun when Eric skates too! Mr. Fancy Pants with no safety harness:)
01.14 Thursday Girls High School Hockey game at Bremar, Edina vs. Blaine with Krissy and Megan
01.15 Friday Whitecaps game is cancelled; Plyos with Eric at etrain http://www.etrainhockey.com/
01.16 Saturday in Duluth, UMD (5) vs. WI (3) with Evonne, Chris and Sara
http://www.collegehockeystats.net/boxes/wmndwis1.j16
NO. 7 BULLDOGS WILL BATTLE NO. 5 BADGERS FOR SECOND PLACE IN THE WCHA THIS WEEKEND Thursday, January 14, [Full Article]

01.17 Sunday in Duluth, UMD (2) vs. WI (1) http://www.collegehockeystats.net/boxes/wmndwis1.j17

Tana; UR the Best!!! Thanks for the package!

(the last full season at the DECC - UMD is building a new rink, but I still think this rink has the most beautiful view of Lake Superior!)

(well known views in Duluth: the drawbridge, Grandmas; you haven't lived until you try the wild rice soup and a malt and the boats in the harbor surrounded by ice)

New Years Week-end!

Monday 12.28 back to work while everyone at my house was all snuggled in bed (Ava and Katie slept over night)
Treadmill with Eric at etrain http://www.etrainhockey.com/
Tuesday 12.29 HS Varsity Tourney at Bremar with Candance and Shelby (Shelby's first year officiating HS hockey and she did a great job!)
17.00 Game #1: Lakeville South vs. Grand Rapids (I can't tell you what we found on the ice!)
19.00 Game #2: Irondale (3) vs. Edina (2) great game
Wednesday 12.30 Plyos with Eric at etrain http://www.etrainhockey.com/
Went to watch Erin, Laura and Lish work the USA (1) vs. Canada (2) game at the Excel Center
I got to play with Maggie and meet Connor (Lisa and Brad's kids)! Did you know that the mascots (Goldie and Bucky) sleep under the rink?
Thursday 12.31 New Years Eve at Troy and Stacie's house!
Saturday 1.2 College Tourney at St. Cloud
http://www.collegehockeystats.net/0910/boxes/wprvstc1.j02
15.00 game: St. Cloud (4) vs. Providence (4) OT and shootout with Dan, Shawn and Ashley
...off to Little Falls for Juniors at 19.00 MJHL: Aces (2) vs. Lumberjacks (Granite City) (5) with Bobby and Dokken
http://www.mnjhl.com/game/show/13032
Sunday 1.3 College Tourney at St. Cloud
12.00 game: MN State (aka: Mankato) (0) vs. Providence (2) with Evonne, Dan and Ashley
http://www.collegehockeystats.net/0910/boxes/wmnsprv1.j03

Junior Hockey:)

11.16.09 Monday - Treadmill with Eric and etrain http://www.etrainhockey.com/

11.17.09 Tuesday - HS Hockey - Spring Lake Park vs. Prior Lake at Fogerty with Michael

11.20.09 Friday - NCHA - Eau Claire (3) vs. Adrian College (6) 7pm; working with Michael and Rob
http://www.uwecblugolds.com/?view=schedule&sport=whky

Came home to hang out with Sjoukje! She is in Blaine coaching a U10 team and the U14 team!

11/21/09 Saturday - CSHL - Dubuque Thunderbirds (IA) vs. Motor City Chiefs (MI) (Junior A - Tier III) 7pm Working the game with Chris and Brandon

So here is the real, behind the scenes deal...

Mom, Dad, Katie (sister) and Ava (niece) pick me up Saturday 8:30 am and we are off to Iowa. We stop a few times along the way, check into the hotel and meet up with Joy and Roger to get something to eat. I get dropped off at the rink and they go back so Ava can swim in the pool; then they come and watch the game. Fun? Are you kidding me? This is Junior hockey! Oh yea, and I called the too many men penalty:) Sunday morning I hit the pool with Ava and Dad and we stop by Mason City on the way home to have eats with Sandy. What a packed two days!
http://cshldubuque.stats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=1035961

Megan made Varsity!!!

Way to go Megan!!! I am super proud of you!
http://mshsl.org/mshsl/schoolactpage.asp?school=86&actnum=460

Halloween Week Events!

Wednesday. Celebrating Birthdays: Dad and me! Mom, Dad, KT, Ava, Cory and I celebrate by gathering at our house around Chinese takeout, Ava eating cupcakes and dressing cat up in her pig outfit...
Friday. Compass Build Wins the Painted Pumpkin Category at the C.H. Robinson IT Contest!
Why a "cash cow"? 3rd Quarter Earnings for C.H. Robinson reports that Sourcing revenue is up; we build software for this group. ...Kelli goes home and carves 4 pumpkins; this is a total of 7 (2 princess with Ava, a stray and these 4, courtsey of Dustin).
Saturday.Halloween party at our house! Celebrating Oct Birthdays; too many to list, Cory passing the 1st part of his CCIE test and Nico passed the Bar exam!!! My husband is complaining that he isn't getting enough face time on this blog! (Cory, my husband, playing guitar).
Sunday. Boys HS Hockey in Stillwater (2 games)
Monday. Suburban HS Hockey Meeting at Blaine and over to Bloomington Ice Gardens for Training on the Treadmill with Eric.

UMD vs. NDU - WCHA Hockey

10.24.2009 Friday - NDU at Duluth
http://www.wcha.com/genrel/stats.html?0910/wccompos/wchaw

(photo: after the game hanging out with friends: Aaron / Me / Tai)

10.25.2009 Saturday - NDU at Duluth

http://www.wcha.com/genrel/stats.html?0910/wccompos/wchaw

10.26.2009 Sunday 8:30am sharp New Hope Arena; MN Girls Elite HS League (2 games)

USA Hockey flies officials in to Minny to work these games; women's development program.

(photo: Candance / Danielle / Jackie / Me / Tai / Susan / Leah)