By Mitch Bach

‘It’s the best job in the world’: Hat’s Schlenker ready for first full NHL season

Sep 26, 2018 | 9:32 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Only a small handful can claim to have been slew-footed by NHL superstar Sidney Crosby during a game.

Chris Schlenker is one of them.

“He put me right on the back of my head,” said the NHL referee, laughing as he looks back at some of the memorable moments from last season. “He came and apologized later and I played it off like it was no big deal.”

There are plenty more unforgettable moments from the 34-year-olds first year officiating in the NHL, such as his debut wearing the stripes — a game at the Bell Centre last October between the Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers.

“(The games) kind of just continue night after night to be just an amazing job that I’m very lucky to have,” added Schlenker.

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Now with 59-games under his belt, the former Medicine Hat police officer is taking the next step in his reffing career. He’s been promoted to full-time status in the NHL, which comes with a 72-game commitment this season.

Simply put, it’s a dream come true.

“It’s something I’ve worked for over the last couple years in the American League and for the last nine years of my life,” he continued, noting he signed the contract this past summer in Toronto. “It was a pretty special moment and I was really happy to be down there.”

Schlenker says it’s certainly not all fun and games. The ‘real’ work is just beginning.

Along with a 72-game commitment, working predominantly 10 days straight before taking four off, the Hatter needs to stay in top physical condition. In many ways, he says NHL referees and linesmen need to have a level of conditioning which is comparable to those playing the game.

Physical assessments took place earlier this month at referee training camp.

“Despite having summer off, you’re working everyday,” he said. “You’re working out and I do a lot of swimming and running, anything to keep myself in shape. You go to Buffalo for training camp, which is kind of laughable to a lot of people, but referee training camp is no joke. There are some real fit guys. Guys with four to six body fat percentage. They are the real deal.”

Following referee training camp, Schlenker and the rest of the NHL officiating crew digs into exhibition play. A few weeks later, the marathon which is the NHL regular season begins.

Not only is Schlenker in charge of taking care of himself physically, it also comes with what seems a never-ending stream of flights and hotel rooms as he travels city to city.

He says this grind is all part of the dream in a way, and he’s happy to take on this part of the challenge if it means officiating the fastest sport in the world.

“You travel a lot by yourself,” Schlenker said. “Obviously you might have the odd back-to-back game where you might have a senior guy you’re working with. But on a ten-day road trip, I could work six games with six different crews the entire time.

“It is kind of a heavy workload, but the actual hockey game is the fun part. We always joke we get paid to travel and we work for free. It’s the best job in the world.”

While much of his life focusses on the 10 days he spends away from home, he quickly acknowledges the support he’s receiving from his home-life in Medicine Hat.

“I’m pretty lucky that way. I have three little boys, and they’re obviously involved in sports and things like that. There’s just no way possible to go and have a job like this without continued support,” he continued. “My dad lives here, my brother lives here as well. Everybody kind of helps out, digs in, and I try to make up for it as much as I can in the summer.”

After 72-games, with or without a tripping infraction involving a legendary superstar, Schlenker says much of his summer will be spent on the golf course or at the baseball diamond with his three boys.