Good Story Regarding NHL Officials

Great story. I started reffing when I was 12, and I remember getting yelled at by parents sometimes. I was kind of a shy kid, but it didn't really bother me all that much because we had a couple of really good mentors that sort of guided us through it, and helped us understand what it was - a few misguided adults with their own issues.

It's nice to see the kid is getting some support as well. It'll make a world of difference.
 
28 seasons wearing the stripes in 6 different leagues across Canada and I can honestly say I have seen it all.
Some of the highlights (lowlights) include:
- Hit in the face with a battery while exiting the ice surface after a game in 2005 in London Ontario.
- Had to take an official off the ice, and switch to two man system mid game, to guard a dressing room door as the parents of the opposing team wanted to attack a player that was in the room.
- I've had to barricade myself in three different ref rooms over the years due to threatening parents. One particularly drunk parent in Osoyoos BC was banned from minor hockey for life due to his actions.
- Countless calls to the RCMP to escort the crew out of the rink due to threatening parents waiting in the hallway, not willing to let the crew out without conflict.
- As a linesman, I saw a parent try to come onto the ice in Penticton BC during a game to physically attack the referee. The parent was quickly restrained by other parents, but proceeded to go outside and vandalize the ref's car in the parking lot for over $15,000 worth of damage.

I've seen countless situations of parents crossing the line like this with young officials. In 2009 alone Hockey Canada lost over 10,000 young officials. Who would want to tolerate that kind of behavior? Not many.... And its funny that the same parents who are up in the stands, or on the bench, screaming at 14 year olds, are the same ones at the local minor hockey meeting later in the week, complaining that they cant get quality officials.
These people need to wake up.......or have the guts to go out there and put the uniform on themselves.



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Phaneufarama said:
28 seasons wearing the stripes in 6 different leagues across Canada and I can honestly say I have seen it all.
Some of the highlights (lowlights) include:
- Hit in the face with a battery while exiting the ice surface after a game in 2005 in London Ontario.
- Had to take an official off the ice, and switch to two man system mid game, to guard a dressing room door as the parents of the opposing team wanted to attack a player that was in the room.
- I've had to barricade myself in three different ref rooms over the years due to threatening parents. One particularly drunk parent in Osoyoos BC was banned from minor hockey for life due to his actions.
- Countless calls to the RCMP to escort the crew out of the rink due to threatening parents waiting in the hallway, not willing to let the crew out without conflict.
- As a linesman, I saw a parent try to come onto the ice in Penticton BC during a game to physically attack the referee. The parent was quickly restrained by other parents, but proceeded to go outside and vandalize the ref's car in the parking lot for over $15,000 worth of damage.

I've seen countless situations of parents crossing the line like this with young officials. In 2009 alone Hockey Canada lost over 10,000 young officials. Who would want to tolerate that kind of behavior? Not many.... And its funny that the same parents who are up in the stands, or on the bench, screaming at 14 year olds, are the same ones at the local minor hockey meeting later in the week, complaining that they cant get quality officials.
These people need to wake up.......or have the guts to go out there and put the uniform on themselves.



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Cool post. Thanks for sharing some of your experiences. You are bang on with the statement about the parents at the meetings...too many people not willing to take stock of their own actions.
 
Phaneufarama said:
28 seasons wearing the stripes in 6 different leagues across Canada and I can honestly say I have seen it all.
Some of the highlights (lowlights) include:
- Hit in the face with a battery while exiting the ice surface after a game in 2005 in London Ontario.
- Had to take an official off the ice, and switch to two man system mid game, to guard a dressing room door as the parents of the opposing team wanted to attack a player that was in the room.
- I've had to barricade myself in three different ref rooms over the years due to threatening parents. One particularly drunk parent in Osoyoos BC was banned from minor hockey for life due to his actions.
- Countless calls to the RCMP to escort the crew out of the rink due to threatening parents waiting in the hallway, not willing to let the crew out without conflict.
- As a linesman, I saw a parent try to come onto the ice in Penticton BC during a game to physically attack the referee. The parent was quickly restrained by other parents, but proceeded to go outside and vandalize the ref's car in the parking lot for over $15,000 worth of damage.

I've seen countless situations of parents crossing the line like this with young officials. In 2009 alone Hockey Canada lost over 10,000 young officials. Who would want to tolerate that kind of behavior? Not many.... And its funny that the same parents who are up in the stands, or on the bench, screaming at 14 year olds, are the same ones at the local minor hockey meeting later in the week, complaining that they cant get quality officials.
These people need to wake up.......or have the guts to go out there and put the uniform on themselves.
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Great post, some of that stuff is just ridiculous.
 
I have three offspring that ref. 16,15, and13 years old. The first thing they have been taught to do if things start getting ugly is boot whoever is causing trouble out of the rink. My oldest actually threatened to send his own coach packing for swearing at him. They now have the respect of most parents and coaches because they started out right off the bat letting them know that they would not tolerate any garbage. The two oldest have become very good officials and are asked to do most all minor hockey games including all Midget "A" games and have been asked to do many out of town games as well. Around here we try not to let parents from town or out of town yell at the officials. I get away with it because it is my boys and they know I am just working them but I never give any ref a hard time unless I know them and they understand I am just ribbing them. Never anything rude though.
 
Phaneufarama said:
28 seasons wearing the stripes in 6 different leagues across Canada and I can honestly say I have seen it all.
Some of the highlights (lowlights) include:
- Hit in the face with a battery while exiting the ice surface after a game in 2005 in London Ontario.
- Had to take an official off the ice, and switch to two man system mid game, to guard a dressing room door as the parents of the opposing team wanted to attack a player that was in the room.
- I've had to barricade myself in three different ref rooms over the years due to threatening parents. One particularly drunk parent in Osoyoos BC was banned from minor hockey for life due to his actions.
- Countless calls to the RCMP to escort the crew out of the rink due to threatening parents waiting in the hallway, not willing to let the crew out without conflict.
- As a linesman, I saw a parent try to come onto the ice in Penticton BC during a game to physically attack the referee. The parent was quickly restrained by other parents, but proceeded to go outside and vandalize the ref's car in the parking lot for over $15,000 worth of damage.

I've seen countless situations of parents crossing the line like this with young officials. In 2009 alone Hockey Canada lost over 10,000 young officials. Who would want to tolerate that kind of behavior? Not many.... And its funny that the same parents who are up in the stands, or on the bench, screaming at 14 year olds, are the same ones at the local minor hockey meeting later in the week, complaining that they cant get quality officials.
These people need to wake up.......or have the guts to go out there and put the uniform on themselves.



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That is disturbing.

I have gotten the A-hole chant going at NHL Games but theres no reason to give young refs fo minor and junior games that kind of treatment. And theirs never a reason to throw anythign on the ice, except maybe a hat, an Octopus, a rubber rat, or maybe a beach ball by accident, thats about it.
 
GrimUSMC said:
That is disturbing.

I have gotten the A-hole chant going at NHL Games but theres no reason to give young refs fo minor and junior games that kind of treatment. And theirs never a reason to throw anythign on the ice, except maybe a hat, an Octopus, a rubber rat, or maybe a beach ball by accident, thats about it.
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I see....because they have made it professional, that makes it OK? Fans booing comes with the job (they are human and make mistakes). Verbally (or physically) abusing them isn't acceptable at any level.
 
koondog44 said:
I see....because they have made it professional, that makes it OK? Fans booing comes with the job (they are human and make mistakes). Verbally (or physically) abusing them isn't acceptable at any level.
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yes it is. its the same as booing players when they play bad. theyre well paid to do a job, I pay to be there, I can yell chant and scream whatever I want. the line is when theirs assault and bodily harm being done or attempted to be done. I didnt throw anything at them, and I didnt try to gut them with a Machette. If your thin skinned that an A-hole chant gets you worked upor makes you want to squirt some, then you need to find a new line of work.
 
It never ceases to amaze me how some people on these boards always feel like athletes (or refs in this case) "owe" them something. Just because that is the job they chose and were fortunate enough to be talented in, you feel that that entitles you to do/say anything you want without recourse. They owe you NOTHING. If you called them an A-hole and they beat you up...great. I know if you came to my work and did that, I wouldn't take it. The funny thing is...if they took a swing at you, you'd be running to a lawyer to sue them because they have lots of money.

If I walk into a bar and harass the waitress and tell her she is a female dog (she chose the job and is getting paid to be there)...I can guarantee I'm not walking out of there in the same "good health" I walked in with. There's no difference.
 
koondog44 said:
It never ceases to amaze me how some people on these boards always feel like athletes (or refs in this case) "owe" them something. Just because that is the job they chose and were fortunate enough to be talented in, you feel that that entitles you to do/say anything you want without recourse. They owe you NOTHING. If you called them an A-hole and they beat you up...great. I know if you came to my work and did that, I wouldn't take it. The funny thing is...if they took a swing at you, you'd be running to a lawyer to sue them because they have lots of money.

If I walk into a bar and harass the waitress and tell her she is a female dog (she chose the job and is getting paid to be there)...I can guarantee I'm not walking out of there in the same "good health" I walked in with. There's no difference.
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I never said they owe me anything. And some jobs, you get called names, thats the way it is. When your job is to make decisions that effect Thousands of people, then yeah, your gonna get called names if they disagree with you. What never ceases to amaze me is the softness of some people. If you think being called an A-hole is bad, then you should never work somehwere that is scrutinized by the public. The names get worse. Its not like were chanting "Kill his mom" or something absurd. And dont forget, its not a crime to voice your opinion on somethign, or even someone.

Tell me this. have you honestly never been looked in the eye and called an A-hole, or something worse before?? Seriously. Im not starting an argument or anything, Im just curious.
 
Anytime I have been called an A-hole to my face, and they seriously meant it, I have fought them or got held back from fighting them. Nobody attacks my personal character without knowing me well. I don't do it to others, so I don't expect them to do it to me.

Hey..if you think it is OK, then that's fine...it's your life. Just don't get pissed at the your kids when they get suspended from school for calling their teachers an A-hole...I'm gonna guess I know where they got it from. YES...it is the sme.

And BTW...I don't disagree with booing or anything like that...but calling them an A-hole because they missed a trip or something like is wrong. I don't think ANYOBODY goes into an ice arena looking to get talked down upon by some peon up in the stand who amazingly enough can make a better call than you from 100 feet away and with 10 beers in him. And boy...isn't he a bigger A-hole when at regualar speed the call was made one way, only to see on the Jumbotron at slow speeds and 6 different angles that it wasn't really as bad as it looked.

From the way you typed the question, it seems like perhaps you may get called a A-hole a lot?? I guess people would grow insesitive to it after a enough times. Not me yet though :) Perhaps oneday...but I guess I have to piss off a lot more people in life to get there to get that everday treatment that is "deserved".
 
This thread has kind of gone off in the wrong direction, but it is an interesting question...are pros, refs or players, fair game for being verbally attacked?

I think Grim's opinion might change if his perspective changed. Now that I am a bit older, and have a guy I know quite well playing in the NHL, I see guys at that level a little differently. It's easy to think of them as not real, because they are like characters playing a part on TV.

But they are real guys. Sons of mothers who love them, brothers, husbands. Not just the players, but the refs, too.

Making a lot of money does not mean they have to forfeit their basic human right to be treated with respect.

I guess it is one thing to boo a guy, but I think it is another to start yelling names at him. It's a pretty cowardly thing to do from 25 rows back, but I guess it's a lot smarter than doing it face to face. I would NEVER advise that, because if you made the first move, and forced an NHLer to defend himself, it's lights out for you.

I've seen Nick work out, and he's a smaller, less aggresive NHLer, but he'd cut through your ordinary meathead fans like they were lambs to the slaughter.
 
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I think were making seperate points here. Nobody honestly believes it is right to walk up to a random person and start harassign him, lol. Come on here,

My point is this. At a hockey game, it is common place for the A-Hole chant and other harassing chants at the refs. it is part of their job. Nobody is questioning their character. We dont even know them, lol!!! they are a part of the game, and are paid to be such, so they are subject to the same harassment for their shortcomings as well. they have the hardest job on the ice. They can not win and someone will be mad at them no matter what they do. BUT.....thats what they get paid to do. where not taking their dignity. I really find it hard to believe they leave the game and have pillow talk with their wives about how they had a bad day at the office because 20,000 chanted A-Hole at them a few times.

I remembner the time I was 12 rows behind the Rangers Bench for a Flyers Rags game, last year. Me and a coupel of fans got into a shouting match with Avery. During timeouts he would shout stuff back, and make fun of us. one of the best nigths I had at a game. We both were yellign things at each other, but no one left without their dignity, or feeling wronged, except for the fact the Goons lost, lol which Avery made sure to point out as he left the ice. Its all in good fun, and it takes thick skin.

And as a side note, just because someone calls you an A-Hole, you dont have a free pass to punch them. You can still be arressted, but I digress. My point is I think your more offended by it then any of them.
 
GrimUSMC said:
I think were making seperate points here. Nobody honestly believes it is right to walk up to a random person and start harassign him, lol. Come on here,

My point is this. At a hockey game, it is common place for the A-Hole chant and other harassing chants at the refs. it is part of their job. Nobody is questioning their character. We dont even know them, lol!!! they are a part of the game, and are paid to be such, so they are subject to the same harassment for their shortcomings as well. they have the hardest job on the ice. They can not win and someone will be mad at them no matter what they do. BUT.....thats what they get paid to do. where not taking their dignity. I really find it hard to believe they leave the game and have pillow talk with their wives about how they had a bad day at the office because 20,000 chanted A-Hole at them a few times.

I remembner the time I was 12 rows behind the Rangers Bench for a Flyers Rags game, last year. Me and a coupel of fans got into a shouting match with Avery. During timeouts he would shout stuff back, and make fun of us. one of the best nigths I had at a game. We both were yellign things at each other, but no one left without their dignity, or feeling wronged, except for the fact the Goons lost, lol which Avery made sure to point out as he left the ice. Its all in good fun, and it takes thick skin.

And as a side note, just because someone calls you an A-Hole, you dont have a free pass to punch them. You can still be arressted, but I digress. My point is I think your more offended by it then any of them.
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All I can say is, I live in Saskatchewan. I'm sure the cultural difference has something to do with it. I'm not saying that to be snide or sarcastic, it is probably the truth. I wouldn't yell stuff out because I would not want to swear in front of other people, kids, etc. In fact, on the few occasions I have witnessed people acting like that at games, the rest of the crowd has turned on them and made them feel like crap for doing it. As for chanting A-hole...there again, the kids. Adults need to set an example.

Yeah, I know I come off sounding like a 65 year old do-gooder, but I think our society could stand to class it up a bit.
 
How would you like it if you were doing your job and you had 20,000 people harassing you every time you made a mistake? Sure, they get paid but so do you! Even two or three people seriously harassing someone every time they makes a mistake would make them feel bad. But I guess it's your decision about what you do. Personally, I wouldn't like being seriously harassed no matter what kind of a job I had!
 
hatzosman6 said:
Flyers fans.
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Because no other arena has EVER gotten the A-Hole chant going :rolleyes:

MasonRaymond21 said:
How would you like it if you were doing your job and you had 20,000 people harassing you every time you made a mistake? Sure, they get paid but so do you! Even two or three people seriously harassing someone every time they makes a mistake would make them feel bad. But I guess it's your decision about what you do. Personally, I wouldn't like being seriously harassed no matter what kind of a job I had!
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Key word there, seriously. I dont seriously think a ref is an A-Hole when theres 20,000 peopel chanting at him. I dont seriously want to murder him, I dont seriously think "If I ever see that guy im going to tell him how I feel" Thats the key, its not serious.

And if my job was to do something, in front of 20,000 people who in reallity are the reason I have this job, and I was paid very well, I wouldnt care what they yelled at me. And for what they paid to get in the door, they can yell what ever they want. Because if they cant, then they wont come back. And guess what, this is not the NFL, they need all the warm bodies in seats they can get.
 
Do you guys honestly think a ref cares if they get yelled at and get called A-holes? I know that it doesn't affect me and many other refs who just laugh it off back in the refs room. It still doesn't justify what they are doing though.

James
 

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