Giant linesman Mike Cvik to work his last game tonight

[Resolute 14]

Amusing anecdotes from a 1992 Calgary Herald article on Cvik:

In his 319 NHL games, Cvik has learned many new words: "My mom (retired nurse Theresa) doesn't go to the games anymore. She can't stand hearing people swear at me. We've got a list. Guys we can swear at, guys we can't swear at who run to the GMs to tell on us. So Brian O'Neill gives us a slap on the wrist.

"The players have so much animosity against each other because of who's making what. They're so busy trying to reach bonuses, they don't have time to be nice anymore."

[transplant99]

I remember his first game clearly...was against the Oilers and the league called him up from either the Dub or the AHL for his prowess at breaking up "skirmishes" (which in those days meant multiple scraps at any given moment). He came out from the change room and everyone was stunned at how big he was as he was by far the largest dude to ever hit NHL ice at the time.

Humble beginnings but he really did become a top notch NHL official and someone that players and coaches grew to respect in a real hurry...for multiple reasons.

[Resolute 14]

And from Red Fisher in 1989:

VANCOUVER - "I know you," said Canadiens coach Pat Burns to a passerby at the Saddledome in the moments before Thursday's 4-3 victory over the Flames.

"Memorial Cup, Mr. Burns," said Mike Cvik.

Cvik may be not be the National Hockey League's best linesman, but he's surely the tallest, standing roughly seven feet on his skates.

It seems that Cvik was a linesman in a Memorial Cup game involving Burns's Hull Olympiques. Burns didn't like an off-side call whistled by linesman Cvik.

Cvik was bending over, hands on his knees, when Burns launched into a loud critique of the linesman's work:

"What kind of a call was that? Wake up! Get in the game."

Cvik didn't pay attention at first. Burns continued yelling. Cvik decided that enough was enough. He straightened up . . . and up . . . and up. By the time the linesman had reached his full height, Burns was getting a crick in his neck looking up at the tallest person he had ever seen. Not a pleasant sight.

"Were you saying something to me?" Cvik asked.

"Yeah," said Burns.

"And what was that?"

"Good call," said Burns.

[ThisYear]

The NHL is having a hard time filling refs shoes, it takes time to train the rookies. This is from the horses mouth, that's why they retire mid season, Mike has been waiting for a replacement for almost a year now.

[christoph186]

Watch, now he's going to have a horrible call on us and it'll cost us the game... Haha just kidding, congrats on a great career!

[FireGilbert]

Congrats on a great career. It is an interesting quirk of hockey officiating that tall people become linesmen while shorties are refs.

[Canehdianman]

They let him drop the puck to start the game.

Classy!

[2ArmBands]

Originally Posted by Canehdianman

They let him drop the pick to start the game.

Classy!

I noticed that as well... Very cool.

Congrats on an awesome career... NHL linesmen what an awesome career. So jealous!

[sketchyt]

[Street Pharmacist]

Looked like a dive on first glance

[curves2000]

On the broadcast Kelly Hrudey mentioned he was working hurt, an injured knee from the beginning of the season. This may explain the mid season retirement.

This might not be the best time for this particular question but does anyone know approx how much these ref's and linesman make a year? I always wondered what type of compensation these guys get for what is arguably a thankless job. I was thinking maybe $160k US a year or something plus a daily per diem on top of expenses?

[FLAME ENVY]

Great guy. Mike refereed several of my minor hockey games (pee wee) in the mid 80's here in Calgary before he moved on to the pros.

[Locke]

Its a shame he couldnt make it to 2000 games.

[sworkhard]

Originally Posted by curves2000

On the broadcast Kelly Hrudey mentioned he was working hurt, an injured knee from the beginning of the season. This may explain the mid season retirement.

This might not be the best time for this particular question but does anyone know approx how much these ref's and linesman make a year? I always wondered what type of compensation these guys get for what is arguably a thankless job. I was thinking maybe $160k US a year or something plus a daily per diem on top of expenses?

Per http://scoutingtherefs.com/2014/08/4...eferee-salary/, 85,000-300,000, depending on the source.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by curves2000

On the broadcast Kelly Hrudey mentioned he was working hurt, an injured knee from the beginning of the season. This may explain the mid season retirement.

This might not be the best time for this particular question but does anyone know approx how much these ref's and linesman make a year? I always wondered what type of compensation these guys get for what is arguably a thankless job. I was thinking maybe $160k US a year or something plus a daily per diem on top of expenses?

When I was pulling articles from the archives, I found several numbers.

When he broke into the NHL in 1987-88, linesmen started around $24,000. By 1992, he was still only making about $36,000 and was getting bitter about it. So were his peers, as the NHLOA went on strike at the start of the 1993-94 season. This year, top referees make north of $300k and lineseman around $250k. And I would suspect given term of service, Cvik was near the top. Even so, he still had to take part time jobs during the lockouts.

[saillias]

Until yesterday I had never heard of, or noticed this guy. That's probably a good thing. There are some refs I know by name and only because they are awful.

[username]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

When I was pulling articles from the archives, I found several numbers.

When he broke into the NHL in 1987-88, linesmen started around $24,000. By 1992, he was still only making about $36,000 and was getting bitter about it. So were his peers, as the NHLOA went on strike at the start of the 1993-94 season. This year, top referees make north of $300k and lineseman around $250k. And I would suspect given term of service, Cvik was near the top. Even so, he still had to take part time jobs during the lockouts.

When I was in university I worked with him on the maintenance crew at Country Hills Golf Course in the summers. He wasn't doing it for the money, just to keep busy and get up in the morning.

Great guy - had some fantastic stories.

[gvitaly]

Here is the video of the Flames congratulating him after the game

Aside from that good luck to him. Hopefully life without the NHL will bring him even more success and joy.

[Resolute 14]

Fan960 had Cvik on today for an update interview. He revealed that late in that game, Tampa's JT Brown accidentally clipped his own skate, and Cvik went down awkwardly. Turns out he suffered a spiral fracture in his ankle. Hell of a way to go out.

Cvik added he was grateful for how the Flames treated him that night, and said the other officials told him that if this is how the Flames treated him, they all wanted their last games to be in Calgary. Said he was overwhelmed by it all. Also noted that he's been told he is the only league employee to ever be named a game star.

No definite plans for the future yet, but he said Stephen Walkom wants him to go mentor a few young officials since the league needs to hire six new officials for next year.

[Weitz]

Was interesting to hear that he is still an NHL employee.