You may notice something different at rinks at your local minor hockey games across Nova Scotia.
Minor Hockey Associations are participating in a new program to help support our younger and inexperienced officials.
All the first-year officials as well as all those under 18 years of age will be wearing a green arm band on one arm.
This is to serve as a friendly reminder to players, coaches and fans that the officials on the ice maybe new to the sport or are just teenagers, trying their best as they develop their skills.
My son Drake started officiating at age 14 in 2009 with the TASA Minor Hockey Association in Tantallon, NS and has climbed the ranks to become one of the top referees with Hockey Nova covering AUS, MHL and other leagues, plus is now their Officials Development Coordinator for the province teaching the next crop of officials coming up through the system.
(Above, Drake age 14 at his very first game at TASA at the St. Margaret’s Centre in Tantallon, October 31st, 2009.)
Drake says of the green arm band program: “It’s a great idea to help keep officials in the game.”
Each year 10,000 of the 30,000 in Canada quit because of the abuse they take.
His advice for young upcoming officials is to “stick with it” as it’s a rewarding career and nice side job to have.
(Drake and Ian above recently November 27th officiating at the Para Cup in Bridgewater.)
For me as a parent, you look at the game in an entirely new way once your son or daughter take up officiating.
(Drake and Ian above pregame when he was called up to the QMJHL to officiate a Halifax Mooseheads game in 2019.)
(Above: Mama and Papa with their Zebra after an Atlantic University Sport hockey game at the Halifax Forum in 2019.)
So, let’s all work together in the rinks to make sure hockey is safe and enjoyable for everyone, with or without the green armbands.
-Ian (A proud Referee parent and Halifax Mooseheads Public Address Announcer since 1997.)
Credits: Hockey Nova Scotia
