Paul Devorski

NHL referee Paul Devorski, right, talks with Washington Capitals forward Dainius Zubrus during a game against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2005, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

(EVAN VUCCI)

NHL referee Paul Devorski's retirement tour was supposed to end Jan. 10.

That was the Harrisburg resident's original deal with Stephen Walkom, vice president and director of officiating for the NHL. Work half of the 2014-15 season and head into the striped sunset.

Then injuries hit the orange arm band brigade.

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He says, 'Hey, you want to stay on for the other half to make another whatever?'" Devorski said. "I said, 'Sure.' Now I get paid until the end of August instead of the end of February."

Now the 56-year-old's finale will be April 5 when the Pittsburgh Penguins visit the Philadelphia Flyers in a game that is scheduled to be nationally televised.

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It will be fun," Devorski said. "Hopefully, it doesn't mean anything. But if it does ..."

Devorski, whose first NHL season was 1989-90, has worked the World Cup of Hockey, the Winter Olympics in 2006 and 2010 and the Stanley Cup Final on multiple occasions.

He said he made the decision to retire following the 2013-14 season.

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I'm ready to go," Devorski said. "It's so fast out there now. Once I said I'm done, I realize that I am done. And I see the guys that are coming up and how fast and strong they are."

The final tour has been nostalgic and sentimental, filled with farewells to buildings and members of the NHL community.

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Going up to guys and coaches," Devorski said, "saying, 'Hey, I'm not going to see you again.'"

He said he had to stop Chicago Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville two weeks ago.

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He said, 'Hey, you know ...,'" Devorski said. "I said, 'Hey, I've still got you two more games. I'm not saying my good-byes yet.'"

Monday night's Edmonton at Detroit game marked his final contest involving Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock.

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There's a lot of good guys out there you want to say good-bye to," Devorski said. "There's a lot of good players. That part of it, yeah, it's kind of tough. But I'm kind of looking forward to the end."

Devorski said his biggest career highlight was working Game 7 of the 2008-09 Stanley Cup Final between Detroit and the Pittsburgh Penguins at Joe Louis Arena with fellow ref Bill McCreary.

The Penguins won 2-1 after goalie Marc-Andre Fleury stopped Nicklas Lidstrom's tying bid with two seconds left.

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I was ready to point goal and the goalie saved it," Devorski said. "Two seconds later the game was over. That was probably the best thrill I had.

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My son, Luk, came to the game. I brought him on the ice afterwards. Mario Lemieux hugged him and Billy Guerin hugged him. That was good."

While Devorski's on-ice career is winding down, he still hopes to work in an officiating consulting role.

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I haven't been approached, but I would like to," Devorski said. "I haven't been asked to do anything yet.

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Maybe I'll supervise in the playoff series in the American League. If they need somebody, I'm sitting right here in Hershey. I can go to Hershey, Wilkes-Barre, Binghamton, wherever you want me to go. Get me out of the house."

One in-game farewell remains on the list: Anaheim Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau. Boudreau and Devorski own homes in the same subdivision.

With Boudreau currently an absentee owner, Devorski found himself working as Boudreau's unofficial groundskeeper last summer.

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He has me looking after his house while he's in California," Devorski said. "I've been cutting his grass."