RANKIN INLET
Three hockey officials are making a solid name for themselves as they develop their skills in Rankin Inlet.
First-year official Kyle Tattuinee initiates the line change procedure during a stoppage of play at the Polar Bear Plate junior/juvenile tournament in Rankin Inlet earlier this month. - photo courtesy of Noel Kaludjak |
Kyle Tattuinee, James Merritt and Kris Okpatauyak are rapidly developing as officials, and have already handled the final game at the JLM Calm Air Cup in Arviat, the Polar Bear Plate in Rankin and the Arctic Circle Cup in Repulse Bay (Naujaat).
Tattuinee said he decided to get involved as an official this year to get a better understanding of the rules and to see the game from a different perspective.
He said he expected a bit of beefing from the players as a ref, but not as much as it turned out to be when he started calling the action.
"I'm enjoying seeing a totally different view of the game as a ref," said Tattuinee.
"Some players say some pretty strong things to you but you learn to handle it.
"I find the most challenging part to be understanding and applying all the rules during the play.
"You really have to be able to think on your feet, and there's a lot more details to some of the rules than I previously thought."
Merritt and Okpatauyak received solid reviews for their recent performance at the Challenge Cup junior C series in Iqaluit.
Merritt said when he became a ref two years ago, it was because there weren't many refs left and he wanted to help the senior men's league.
He said he's grown to really like it and plans to continue learning.
"I thought I knew every rule before I started refereeing, but there's a lot of variations of different rules I didn't know and I still have a lot to learn," said Merritt.
"Those differences can have a big impact on a game and they come along when you least expect it.
"When I first started, the players gave me a little more slack than they do now.
"But, after a while, there was more said to me than I thought there would be."
Merritt said calling full-contact hockey for the first time was also an eye-opener.
He said things happen fast on the ice and you only have a second to make a call.
"Body contact really adds a lot to the game.
"If one player hits another in senior men's, you know it's a bodychecking penalty right away.
"But, in full-contact, you have to decide if it was a clean check, or if the player had his elbow up or made head contact.
"I'd tell guys to give it a try, as long as they know what they're getting into."
