Just two years ago, Ontario Hockey League Director of Officiating and Coniston native Conrad Hache did not foresee the use of tablets, located in the penalty box, as an in-game aid to on ice officials - at least not yet.

At the time that he was named to his current position, in the summer of 2007, his son, Braden, was but four years old. The 6'2" blueliner is now a 4th round draft pick and prospect of the Kingston Frontenacs, having played in 29 games this past season in the league that his father helps to oversee.

Yes, much has changed over the course of the 13-year tenure that the former NHL official has enjoyed with the OHL. In fact, it took precious little time before Hache would learn the importance of adaptability when it came to his new assignment.

"I think I had a vision of it being only hands on, supervising the officials, rating the officials, coaching the officials," he said. "I don't think I realized the amount of administrative things that are involved in this position. And now you have the video goal judge and all of the new technology, and you have to research all of that."

"I have really enjoyed all of it, I just didn't expect it initially."

A linesman in both the OHL (1991-1994) and NHL (1994-2001) and referee in the Central Hockey League (1994-1997), Hache concedes that at the highest of levels, there often exists somewhat of a standard prototype that tends to separate those who are drawn to one facet or the other of the hockey officiating spectrum.

"There's definitely a difference there," he said. "A lot of the time, the linesman doesn't want to be in the limelight. He's more like the blue-collar worker, wants to get in there, break up fights, whereas the referee likes to manage the whole event. Referees typically are more of a leader, take charge personalities."

"This was even more the case in the three-man system. But to be honest, I enjoyed both. Both had their positive sides."

Very much a strong communicator by nature, Hache has developed a solid reputation across the league, all while assuming a role that is pretty much as contentious as it comes. "Even when I started, there were reasons why they thought I might fit well in this position, having officiated in the Ontario Hockey League, having worked it on a part-time basis, which a lot of our guys do," he said.

"I think I have gained the respect of the teams, and they've gained my respect. At the end of the day, we all want the same goal, which is just to make the game better. We may not always agree, but we want what is right for the game. It's certainly not perfect, and there are those tough conversations."

The reality is that it is humanly impossible for any member of team management or any given coaching staff to claim complete objectivity when watching their team in action, even with the benefit of slow-motion video. The opposite, however, is also true for Hache, who enjoys a strong bond, a kinship, if you will, to the gentlemen donning the striped jersey, seeking to maintain both consistency and impartiality at all times.

"Sometimes, we agree to disagree, and that's the end of the conversation," added Hache.

While there are several trends that have altered the course of officiating in the past few decades, one of the more highly debated issues, at least within the circle of long-time officials, has been the growing trend to fast track former players (OHL/OUA), most notably as linesmen, bypassing others who have paid their dues at the local levels of the game.

"I struggled with it a lot at first," stated Hache, who began his officiating career as a young teenager and gradually worked his way up the ranks. "But we find that we have all of these players, just out of the game, who have a high hockey IQ, are fit, and can really skate. There are always some that work out and some that don't."

"The traditional road is still open to us - this is just another avenue to find officials. The truth is that there are a lot of good officials out there, but at this level, we are looking for great officials."

Not to mention officials that can change with changing times.

In November of 2019, the OHL began the full deployment of a video review system that would combine the opportunity for on-ice officials to utilize a tablet in the penalty box to confirm the accuracy of certain calls, all while remaining in contact with the off-ice video officials, typically located in the press box or blessed with a bird's eye view of the on-ice action.

"For a system that was introduced midway through the season, we did OK," assessed Hache. "We certainly ran into some bumps along the way. I had some questions when it was first introduced, but overall, I think it worked well."

But still with some adjustments to come?

"We want to spend more time on the procedures, making sure everyone is aware of the way that we want things done, providing more knowledge to the teams," said Hache.

It's all part and parcel of the constant evolution of the game of hockey, both for the players, but also for all other cast members who are part of the action. "I suspect the next step is likely an earpiece for the officials, with some real time help from upstairs," said Hache, noting that the CFL has already opened the door to this approach, in betterment of their sport.

"I think we might get to that. There are things that we might try, depending on the technology that is available."

Things that ensure that the role that Conrad Hache fulfills in the post-Covid version of OHL hockey is certain to contrast, to some extent, at the very least, to the role that he accepted when he moved his family from New Hampshire, back to Ontario, much closer to home in northern Ontario, in 2007.