Paul Krotz has loved hockey for as long as he can remember. From the moment his dad introduced him to the sport, all he wanted to do was be on the ice.
“I learned to skate and played every year from fundamentals through Under-18,” Krotz said. “Then continued to play recreationally in university, adult leagues, and never said no to a ball hockey game in between.”
Krotz’s love for hockey continued to be a guiding force for him even as he went into his career, finding administrative roles with the Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF), Canadian Hockey League (CHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and Premier Hockey Federation (PHF), before reaching his current role as an executive with the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL).
Once his playing days were over, Krotz was looking for a way to stay involved in hockey on the ice as well as off it. At 24, he was living in Thunder Bay, working a job that was primarily summer seasonal, which left his winters open for him to get back on the ice.
“I had made some local connections through [Hockey Northwestern Ontario] and decided that officiating was a great way to stay involved in hockey and earn some extra money,” said Krotz. “A lot of my first shifts were spent on the ice with initiation programming, but I also skated adult leagues that helped give me more experience and confidence.”
Following his first season of officiating, Krotz moved to Toronto. Looking to remain involved in the game, he joined the Greater Toronto Hockey League’s officiating team, where his love for the game continued to blossom.
“Officiating brings enjoyment for many of the same reasons as playing hockey,” Krotz explained. “The game is fast and exciting, it pushes you physically and mentally, and it builds teamwork, friendships, and camaraderie that extends beyond the ice.”
Krotz’s passion and excitement for the game and for officiating allowed him to quickly make a name for himself among his GTHL peers. In his time with the GTHL, he was selected to line multiple OHL Cups, an honour that was especially meaningful since he had experienced the tournament from the administrative side.
“When I worked at the OHL office [the OHL Cup] was an event we took a lot of pride in elevating year after year,” said Krotz. “So to have the opportunity to experience it as an official was truly special.”
Despite reaching what he describes as the pinnacle event on the minor hockey calendar, when asked about a highlight of his career, Krotz’s first instinct is to say something much more simple.
“Every year I look forward to the start of a new season,” Krotz said. “I get excited for the first tournament and regular season shifts.”
While Krotz’s love for the game has continued to grow thanks to officiating, he acknowledges that it comes with a unique set of challenges. He has found that keeping a positive outlook and mentality is essential to his success.
“I think the mental side of officiating can be challenging at times to manage,” he said. “Hockey is a passionate sport and as the intensity of a game rises it’s important to stay focused, maintain a positive attitude, and keep your own emotions and composure in check.”
While the mental battles inside the arena are challenging, Krotz says the most difficult part of his job might take place outside the arena – in the parking lot.
“Finding parking on a Friday night at Etobicoke Ice Sports is definitely challenging!” he laughed.
Through the challenges, on and off the ice, Krotz has found important lessons to take into his everyday life and career. The teamwork, leadership, and mentorship that he’s learned on the ice all have helped shape who he is personally and professionally.
“Officials learn how to communicate effectively, make decisions under pressure, resolve conflicts, manage stress, build tolerance and resilience, and demonstrate respect and integrity,” said Krotz. “As an official, I’ve strengthened my self-confidence to navigate through difficult situations knowing there is always a path forward.”
Despite the difficulties and lessons that can come with officiating, Krotz also encourages newer officials to remember what the game is all about.
“Never lose sight that hockey is meant to be fun,” he said. “Officiating is a great way to challenge yourself and unlock rewarding experiences and fulfillment in the sport.”
“Officiating can sometimes be thankless and it’s easy to get discouraged by a bad game or negative interaction,” he added. “It takes time to build your comfort zone but stay the course and take pride in what you’re doing.”
Krotz knows that negative interactions are part of the job and can be discouraging. He encourages everyone in the rink to remember the person wearing the stripes and be respectful when engaging with them.
“Everybody that walks into the rink wants to have a good experience, and officials are no different,” Krotz said. “We are a team of people who love the game just like you and we embrace the roles and responsibilities that come with it. We want to do our job the best we can to contribute to every game in a positive way.”
“Hockey needs officials, and we’re all human, and we all benefit from grace and respect for one another.”
