Meet Paul Stewart

One of the most successful and respected individuals in hockey, Paul Stewart has done it all.  Player, Referee, and now Coach as he is the ECAC Director of Officiating.  Paul Stewart may be the only person to ever make it on the Ice in the NHL twice.

Growing up in Boston, Stewart attended the prestigious Groton School where he played of Varsity Hockey and was appointed to the position of Assistant Captain.  He continued his education at the University of Pennsylvania where he was a defensemen from 1972-75.

Stewart was an enforcer in various leagues including the WHA, AHL, CHL, NAHL, and ECHL from 1975-83. He played in his first NHL game on November 22, 1979 with the Quebec Nordiques against the Boston Bruins.

Upon completion of his playing days, Stewart made the determination that his days on the ice were not done.  Stewart joined the NHL Trainee Program in 1983. Officiating his first NHL game on March 27, 1986, this was the start of a 13 year career that allowed Stewart to become the only American born referee to officiate 1,000 games in the NHL on March 15, 2003.

He worked his final NHL game on April 3, 2003 in Boston.

Stewart has not had an easy road, In February 1998 he was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer only a few days after the birth of his first child, McCauley.  True to his character he was determined to fight the disease and make it back to the NHL.  He accomplished this only 9 months later he was back on the ice.

Stewart has received multiple honors including the NASO Gold Whistle Award in 2001.

In addition to his work on the ice, Stewart has spoken to many groups sharing his unique story of never giving up.  Stewart resides in Walpole, Mass. with his wife Lori and their two sons McCauley and Maxwell.