from Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post Dispatch,

Peel works 74 regular-season games per season, plus the playoffs, requiring him to be on the road 200 nights a year. The grind is especially difficult now with a wife, Tesha, whom he met in St. Louis 10 years ago, and two children — son Bronson (4) and daughter Brielle (3).

“I have a tremendous wife at home who basically raises our children,” he said.

Peel, however, wouldn’t change a thing. His job has allowed him to work an NHL All-Star Game, the Sochi Olympics and the Winter Classic at Wrigley Field in 2009.

“Everything I have is because of the National Hockey League,” he said. “I’m very grateful and in debt to them.”

Peel is even more grateful after receiving a call from Stephen Walkom, the NHL’s director of officiating, asking him to officiate the Winter Classic contest at Busch Stadium.

“We don’t request any games, but I’m sure he knew in the back of his mind that it would be very special for me,” he said. “It’s obviously a very special call to get. This is going to rank right up there as one of the highlights of my career for sure.”

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