Officials earn their stripes
Young refs could mean good things for Rankin hockey
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, December 10, 2014
RANKIN INLET
Rankin Inlet has 15 certified officials for the 2014-15 hockey season following a Level 1-3 clinic on Nov. 29.
Sidney Nichol, Brett Fotheringham, Tyrese Dias, group captain Donald Clark and Noel Kaludjak, clockwise from left, get ready to discuss officiating questions during a hockey clinic in Rankin Inlet this past month. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo |
Ready to wear the stripes this season are Level 1 officials Tyrese Dias, Brett Fotheringham and Kyle Tattuinee, Level 2 officials Patrick Kaludjak, Kris Okpatauyak, Noel Kaludjak, Douglas Ollie, James Merritt, Keenan Eetuk, Sidney Nichol, Stephane Nukapiak, Eric Nukapiak and David Clark, and Level 3 official Donald Clark.
The course was facilitated by Level 4 official Darrell Greer.
David, an executive member of the Rankin Inlet Senior Men's Hockey League, said one highlight of the past year for him is having young refs in minor hockey again.
He said a number of local refs are near retirement and the new blood is a welcome sight.
"It's been good to see these young refs officiating some of our minor hockey tournaments and learning the craft," said David.
"Myself and our two senior officials are mentoring the young refs and that kind of support really helps.
"They learn a lot from being mentored, and now they often watch the refs when they're at a game."
David said two young officials moved away to play a higher level of hockey this year, but two others were certified at the clinic.
He said from what the young refs have told him, they plan to stick with it.
"It can be a little intimidating at first, because you're looking at the game from a whole new perspective.
"You think about the hundred rules you went over at the clinic, where you're supposed to be on the ice and what you should be doing.
"But, once you get the hang of, it starts coming to you naturally.
"If these young guys stick with it, they'll be solid refs when they're a bit older."
David said Rankin's not an easy place to learn how to officiate. He said there's always people in the stands and the arena can be intimidating during tournaments.
"We get big crowds for little kids tournaments.
"Our young refs have played in those tournaments too, so they know how big they are to the kids in them.
"It's a good learning experience for them and I don't mean just in the hockey sense.
"You can associate learning to deal with other problems in life quite a bit with being a ref."
