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On Saturday, October 31, my wife and I went to Rivers to watch a U11 hockey game with Hamiota competing against Rivers. It was the first game of the season for Hamiota, so we went to watch the game and in particular, Bowen Thornitt.

It was a very entertaining game played by both teams. There are some really good players on both teams, some that are not only strong skaters but can really handle the puck.

What I want to draw your attention to be the officiating in the game. Two young men from Rivers were officiating the game. Unfortunately, I do not know their names. One of the officials was older, thus a senior referee and a younger official. They called an excellent game! Not that there were not some mistakes but nevertheless they did a great job.

The younger official, who has possibly not done many games I think, whistled the play down for an offside, but it was not offside. The thing that really impressed me was that before the face-off took place the senior official who had seen the play took the time to go over to the younger official and talk to him about the call. The senior official did this very professionally in my view. Teaching, but also encouraging the younger official. I noticed as the game went on the younger official gained confidence and was not afraid to blow his whistle to call an offside or a penalty. The younger official obviously received the instruction from the senior official and applied it to the contest. This is how officials become a team, working together to learn and grow. 

In a day and age where it is hard to get people to officiate hockey games it was very refreshing to see these young men working together. Do officials make mistakes? Yes, they do. How many mistakes do hockey teams make in a game? Lots!  Anyway, to the two young men that officiated the game, great job! As I was driving out of the parking lot in Rivers I noticed the Senior official. I rolled down my window and told him they had done a great job. He had a big smile and said thank you!  Next time you are at a game, encourage these young officials and thank them for giving their time and effort. Without them there are no games! Keep it going guys!

On Saturday, October 31, my wife and I went to Rivers to watch a U11 hockey game with Hamiota competing against Rivers. It was the first game of the season for Hamiota, so we went to watch the game and in particular, Bowen Thornitt.

It was a very entertaining game played by both teams. There are some really good players on both teams, some that are not only strong skaters but can really handle the puck.

What I want to draw your attention to be the officiating in the game. Two young men from Rivers were officiating the game. Unfortunately, I do not know their names. One of the officials was older, thus a senior referee and a younger official. They called an excellent game! Not that there were not some mistakes but nevertheless they did a great job.

The younger official, who has possibly not done many games I think, whistled the play down for an offside, but it was not offside. The thing that really impressed me was that before the face-off took place the senior official who had seen the play took the time to go over to the younger official and talk to him about the call. The senior official did this very professionally in my view. Teaching, but also encouraging the younger official. I noticed as the game went on the younger official gained confidence and was not afraid to blow his whistle to call an offside or a penalty. The younger official obviously received the instruction from the senior official and applied it to the contest. This is how officials become a team, working together to learn and grow. 

In a day and age where it is hard to get people to officiate hockey games it was very refreshing to see these young men working together. Do officials make mistakes? Yes, they do. How many mistakes do hockey teams make in a game? Lots!  Anyway, to the two young men that officiated the game, great job! As I was driving out of the parking lot in Rivers I noticed the Senior official. I rolled down my window and told him they had done a great job. He had a big smile and said thank you!  Next time you are at a game, encourage these young officials and thank them for giving their time and effort. Without them there are no games! Keep it going guys!