Danny McCourt isn't a flashy guy. In fact, he's about as easy going as it gets. But he may be the man most solely responsible for shaping the way the game is called at the National Hockey League Level for the next twenty years.

And he's Native.

McCourt, who worked as a linesman for twenty five years in the NHL, now works as an officiating Manager for the league, supervising and mentoring the officials who are under contract to the NHL.

He spends a lot of time watching minor pro hockey including the ECHL and AHL officials. Sometimes he's been known to drop in on a local Tier II junior game to see what's going on. "You never know, a lot of young quality guys work those games and we might discover a new official that we can work with," said McCourt.

"A lot of people don't know I have Native blood in me," laughed McCourt. "They will remember my brother Dale who played for Detroit but I'm wondering if he got all the dark genes because I look like an Irishman."

McCourt's career in officiating started as his hockey career didn't pan out. "I had finished my junior eligibility in 1975 and wasn't drafted," said McCourt. "It was kind of a rude awakening."

But on the advice of the referee in chief of Sudbury minor hockey, McCourt picked up a whistle and discovered he liked wearing the stripes. "I was hesitant at first but stuck with it because I still loved the game," said McCourt.

His progression as an official happened fast.

He moved from Sudbury minor hockey to the Ontario Hockey League and finally signed an NHL contract as a linesman after only three years.

"I caught a break," said McCourt. "The WHA merged with the NHL and they brought over six officials from there but needed ten more guys to cover the new assignments."

"I was one of those hires."

McCourt made the most of his break, working over 1500 NHL games and international assignments as a linesman.

But following the NHL lockout in 2005, McCourt decided not to return. At the age of 51, McCourt decided that it was time for a change.

Stephen Walkom took over as the NHL's Director of Officiating and asked McCourt to work with the league in a developmental capacity.

After consulting with his spouse, it was an easy transition. "We got in on the ground floor with a new concept and the results speak for themselves," said McCourt. "Everything has changed."

McCourt is talking about what has since become known as 'The New NHL.' "The way we do things has changed," said McCourt. "Our officials are calling games from 'reacting to the act' rather than through individual game management."

"The result is a more consistent level throughout the NHL," said McCourt. "We no longer take into consideration the score or time left in the game when it comes to making a penalty call."

McCourt says that the new measures combined with the two-man refereeing system have improved the game. "The sightlines have improved with the two referee system. The result is less missed calls. Today our referees skate backwards a lot more and they need to be in shape."

"The NHL is looking for guys who understand the game and are excellent skaters. We look at judgement and how they interpret their calls. It's a package deal."

McCourt loves his post on-ice career and still enjoys being at the rink.

"How many people go to work every day and love their job?"

"I was able to call twenty five years of NHL hockey, travel overseas and met some truly great people because of the game. It's been a great ride."