Prior to that he made it to the round-of-32 at the U.S. Amateur (end of August) and in July the 28- year-old made the cut at the PGA Tour's Canadian Open. There were other highlights earlier, including a second place finish at one of the most prestigious events on the summer amateur circuit, the Sunnehanna. And let's not forget how well he and partner Patrick Christovich played at the U.S. Four-Ball at Winged Foot, where they were defeated in the semi-finals by the eventual champions.

True, Rank's job affords him summers off, which allows for more travel tournament play than the average Mid-Am. but in May at the Four-Ball he had to play one round, head off to officiate a minor league hockey game, and then return back for another round. You better be in shape to do that! Once October rolls around, "living the golf dream" will turn back to making a living officiating hockey, all while trying to stay out of harm's way.

Watching him play golf it's obvious he's a shot maker (aren't hockey players the best golfers?) and not surprising -- given his line of work -- that he's athletic.

Cam Tucker of the Vancouver's most read publication (The Province) just published an excellent piece about Rank. It includes the serious part about winning a battle with Testicular Cancer in 2011, and the more whimsical question as we approach hockey season -- with his continued notoriety as a golfer, will NHL players start to ask Rank for golf advice?

Give Tucker's story a read here.