Knock, knock.
Opportunity is knocking for Sauble Beach native Kendrick Nicholson.
After 8 years in the Ontario Hockey League as an official, the first 6 as a linesman, Nicholson has been invited to be a part of the National Hockey League Training Camp for on-ice officials at Collingwood next month.
He’ll spemd two days at the camp as part of a Futures Initiative put into place last year by the NHL and the Officials Associaition.
In somewhat of a paradox, Nicholson’s ascent in officiating has been both stunted and rapid.
Three years ago he fully believed he was going to be elevated to OHL referee, but for whatever reason he got stalled as a linesman for one extra season. That was frustrating.
Now, after just two seasons as a ref, Nicholson has not only been spotted on the evaluators radar, but he’s getting big games, including two last year in the Robertson Cup Final between London and Niagara. That’s quick !
With this opportunity, Kendrick Nicholson finds himself caught in emotional crossroads.
He’s excited, who wouldn’t be ? The NHL could be close.
But he can’t be so enthused that he forgets what got him there; a consistent approach to officiating hockey.
As Nicholson says, ‘ they can take my name off the list just as easily as they put it on. ‘
To that end, he’s fully prepared for a professional opportunity next month at the NHL Officials Camp.
I’m Fred Wallace