Chris Lee and Brian Mach spend 21 days a month on the road.
They jet across the continent, live out of suitcases and feel privileged to be two of 66 NHL officials who keep nightly order in games, often to the dismay of partisan fans.
"My son's my biggest critic, and tells me things I did wrong," Lee said.
Lee, a referee who lives in Lakeville, has worked 703 games since 1999. Mach, a linesman from Little Falls who lives in Chanhassen, has worked 791 since 2000.
"I have only 'X' amount of years to do my business and to make money. This is now the second [lockout] in my career. It hurts," Lee said.
Lee has two children, ages 11 and 4, and for now is a stay-at-home dad who loves watching his son, Joshua, play hockey. Mach has three children: 9, 7 and 5. He coaches his two boys, Brandon and Nathan, and "gives back" to Minnesota Hockey and USA Hockey by teaching and supervising aspiring young Minnesota officials.
Lee and Mach aren't being paid, although the NHL will loan officials $5,000 a month, if needed, out of future earnings.
During the last lockout, Mach worked as a carpenter, doing basements, trim work and remodeling. If the lockout continues, he will look for a job again because, right now, dinners out and non-necessities take a back seat.
