I Saw a Familiar Hockey Face Over the Weekend

I had the opportunity to attend the NHL All-Star hockey game in St. Louis, Missouri over the weekend and, while there, I saw a familiar face.

If you spent any time in the Cajundome during the Louisiana Icegators' heyday, you'll recognize this face.

Justin St. Pierre was an on-ice official for the East Coast Hockey League and, if you ask any Icegator fans about him, you'll get 1 of 2 reactions: 1) "Great guy, I thought he was an awesome official" or, 2) "That man can go eat sand" (that's the PG, Family-Friendly version).

He was the Cilantro of the ECHL officials: you either loved him or you hated him.

Anyway, I was at the All-Star game this weekend. Our seats were a few rows behind the officials' box when I saw him skate up to the glass. I did a double-take, then got my phone to look up that night's officials. Sure enough: Justin St. Pierre. Well, I'll be.

It's good to see that he moved up to the "big leagues". He has been with the NHL since 2003 and officiated his first "official" NHL game in 2005.

Love him or hate him, he's done well for himself. Congrats, Justin St. Pierre (or St. Pee-You as some around here used to call him).