USA Hockey’s Officiating Development Program coming to Muskegon this August

June 17, 2014June 17, 2014 MiHockey Staff

By @MichaelCaples –

The Muskegon Lumberjacks announced today that the top USA Hockey amateur officials will be coming to downtown Muskegon this August.

USA Hockey’s Officiating Development Camp will make its first visit to L.C. Walker Arena and Muskegon on August 25-29. The camp is a weeklong event which features training sessions for the country’s top full-time officials.

Sixty officials will be in attendance, representing the United States Hockey League, North American Hockey League and Southern Professional Hockey League.

Scott Zelkin, the manager of USA Hockey’s Officiating Development Program, will put the referees through on-ice training, physical fitness training and classroom sessions that will feature guest speakers from the NHL, ECHL and other professional outlets.

“After meeting with Muskegon Lumberjacks General Manager John Vanbiesbrouck and Vice President of Business Development Rob Murphy on occasion throughout the course of the 2013-14 season, we are elated to be bringing our Officiating Development Camp to the downtown Muskegon area for the first time and are confident that the L.C. Walker Arena will provide a superior venue for our officials and supervisors,” said Zelkin, who also serves as the Referee-in-Chief of the USHL. “This preseason camp is no different than the players as it is crucial to get our officials prepared for the upcoming season at all levels and get the season off to a positive note from our perspective.”

Over the last ten years, every American-born official that has worked an NHL game has taken part in the development program.

“As we are concluding year one of the ownership transition of the Muskegon Lumberjacks as well as the management of L.C. Walker Arena, we are encouraged by the community’s response to providing year-round ice programming in downtown Muskegon,” said Rob Murphy, L.C. Walker Arena and Muskegon Lumberjacks Vice President of Business Development. “Scott Zelkin is a terrific leader and developer of USA officiating talent, and we know Muskegon will roll out the red carpet to accommodate this talented group. We are really excited to showcase our community to many of the best and brightest hockey officials who will have the opportunity in between lots of hard work both on and off the ice to enjoy Muskegon during a beautiful time of the year.”