Column: I was rinkside when Canada beat Russia

Don’t look now, but Sudbury is fast becoming the home of elite off-ice hockey officials.

Almost five years ago now, I enjoyed the privilege of being selected alongside my Sudbury Wolves working partner, Todd Guthrie, as one of 75 men and women who would function as off-ice officials for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.

Furthermore, we were extremely fortunate to be tapped for some of the tournament’s top games, with Todd selected to work as timekeeper for both the men’s and women’s gold-medal games, while I served as a scorekeeper for the men’s gold and women’s bronze encounters.

Earlier this month, history repeated itself – somewhat.

This time around, the event would be the 2015 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships, with Toronto and Montreal serving as venues. And at my side, this time as part of a crew of 24 chosen to work the Air Canada Centre, was Valley East native Leeza Connor.

The assignment this time was more diverse. We served as timekeepers, plus/minus trackers, official scorers, penalty box attendants and goal judges. In the end, however, Northern Ontarians would rise to the challenge.

Just days before the scheduled semifinals, Connor, a 20 year-old second-year Sports and Physical Education student at Laurentian University, and I were approached to work side-by-side through the final four games of the tournament, in the penalty box of the ACC.

Our committee chair liked the idea. Besides the fact we had become familiar with the idiosyncrasies of the score clock at the home of the Toronto Maple Leafs, having a fellow Sudburian close by ensured a nice support system when tension mounted and nerves frayed.

In the end, Leeza and I can't say enough about the Leafs’ off-ice tandem of Bill Wellman (our crew chief) and Peter Smeaton (his right-hand man). With roughly 50 years of NHL experience between them, they made all of us feel both comfortable and appreciated.

Being away from our families for 10 days in the heart of Christmas holidays is not easy, but Bill and Peter helped make the sacrifice worthwhile. The highlight would come Jan. 5 as we flipped between serving as penalty box attendant and timekeeper for two of the best games I have ever witnessed in person.

While nothing will likely ever compare to the explosion of sound at the time of Sidney Crosby’s golden goal in Vancouver, the Toronto faithful came awfully darn close. To their credit, the fans created an absolutely electric excitement, even in games where Team Canada was nowhere to be found.

In typical Canadian fashion, the thousands on hand embraced the underdog. They provided an unmatched atmosphere for the Sweden-Slovakia bronze-medal game.

I walk away from the experience with a great deal of pride. I'm also anxious to do it all over again in 2017.

I took pride in watching Leeza, one of several outstanding young off-ice officials who grace the Nickel Basin, rise to the challenge in the toughest of settings.

And pride on a very personal level, from having now been selected as among the very best, in a group laden with special people, at two very distinct international competitions.

If the best of the CHL players strive to be selected to Team Canada, then I suppose I strive to be selected to work those games when they play for gold, with an entire country supporting them.

Randy Pascal is the founder of SudburySports.com and a contributing sports writer for Northern Life.