Hockey official hits home ice

ASHWAUBENON - You hear a lot about the journey to become a pro athlete, but the goal of being an official at the highest level can be similarly demanding.

“Just ready to go, excited,” said Ashwaubenon High School alum Chad Roethlisberger.

Roethlisberger is part of the USA Hockey Officiating Development Program. He’s officiated at several levels of hockey throughout the country, including the USHL. Recently he was a linesman for his first Green Bay Gamblers game at the Resch Center, in front of a cheering section of family and friends.

“Certainly a surreal experience,” said Roethlisberger.

Being part of the officiating development program can be tough, especially for a college student, which Roethlisberger is at St. Cloud State.

“I'm a sophomore right now,” said Roethlisberger. “Going to college is my full-time job, Monday through Friday I have classes. Once 1 o’clock comes around, I'll be hitting the road. It's not unusual to put on 1,200, 1,300 miles in a weekend. I'll get back around midnight, then I have class at 8 o’clock in the morning.”

Roethlisberger played high school hockey for Ashwaubenon, but his goal now is to end up in the NHL. There’s plenty between then and now, and Roethlisberger has his plan laid out.

“Hopefully I can stay in the league here a couple of years, get my degree, go full time in the development program,” said Roethlisberger. “If I don't screw up too bad, get picked up by a minor pro league, keep working there.”

Whether his career ends in the NHL or not, Roethlisberger says he’ll always look back to his first “home game” as an important milestone in his development.