Jim Bureau, 23, and JIm Mercadante, 22, both seniors at UMaine,
and both high school hockey refs, were recruited at the last
minute last night to be linesmen for the NU-UM game (the regular
officials couldn't make travel connections due to the storm).
 
Mike Dowd of the Bangor Daily News reported:
 
"... (Mike) Tuell, now in his 12th year as an NI-HOAA member
at age 34, had never worked as a referee in a Hockey East game.
Only as a linesman.  But with Northeastern already in Orono,
he accepted a request from the Hockey East office and rounded
up WHAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE YOUNGEST OFFICIATING CREW IN LEAGUE
HISTORY".
 
Is this actually true?  How about throughout college hockey?
Where do officials typically learn their trade?
 
Larry Latour
UMaine
 
BTW: all concerned seemed to think that they did a good job.