As mentioned previously, every referee experiences what
we call a "defining moment". Often it is something that goes
unnoticed until someone else points it out to you several years later.
It is then that you think back and realize that it was a turning point
in your career that did actually have a significant impact on the
direction in which you followed. There are some referees who may never
be able to pinpoint a "defining moment", but they may have a
"defining season". It gives you a sense that you belong
on the ice and were born to referee. It also gives you the drive and
ambition to continue to referee well into your life.
This is an invitation to all of our readers to share their defining
moments with us. If you can identify that moment or season, please contact
us and send the story along so that we can share it with our
visitors. We also encourage parents or friends of referees to submit
their own renditions on behalf of their son, daughter or friend. Quite
often it is difficult for an official to put his/her defining moment
into words. Robert Kirwan, Publisher, After The Whistle
Ok
Coach, One of Us Is Nuts...And I've Decided It's You!
A defining moment for Kevin Murdock, Pickering, Ontario
I had been officiating for about three years in
Toronto
for a local “Select” league and had recently obtained my Level
III when I moved to
Pickering
ON
.Upon moving to Pickering I
joined the OMHA and started to referee for the “A, AA &
AAA” levels.This
was my first experience at that calibre of hockey.
Anyway, I was the referee for a Juvenile game and the two linesmen
I had working with me were people I had just met for the first
time.
From the opening face-off the coach for the
Pickering
team was all over me.For
the full story
I was lining a Midget AA game that was very intense and chippy.
Those are the types we all love to do. Anyhow, we had gassed 3
players, 2 coaches, and a whole section of fans from the game
for less than civil conduct. For
the full story
"A
Tough Call For A 16-Year Old"
A Defining Moment for Marty Kirwan, Sudbury,
Ontario
My wife and I were attending a conference in Toronto when
Marty's defining moment occurred. I wish I could have been
there, but when I heard the story, there was no doubt in my mind
that Marty was born to referee. For the full
story
A Professional Attitude
And A Love Of What You Do
A Defining Period for Warren Kirwan, Sudbury,
Ontario
At the beginning of the 1996 or 1997 hockey season, Warren, who
was one of three brothers who were gaining a reputation for
being among the most promising young officials in the Sudbury
District, was criticized by his supervisor after doing his first
game of the season at the bantam or midget level. For
the full story
I
Just Wish They'd Go Home
I started officiating as a 15 year old in 1979. I
“retired” as a full level 3 in Richmond Hill 15 years later.My defining moment came from a game that really didn’t
seem out of the ordinary. For
the full story
As mentioned previously, every referee experiences what
we call a "defining moment". Often it is something that goes
unnoticed until someone else points it out to you several years later.
It is then that you think back and realize that it was a turning point
in your career that did actually have a significant impact on the
direction in which you followed. There are some referees who may never
be able to pinpoint a "defining moment", but they may have a
"defining season". It gives you a sense that you belong
on the ice and were born to referee. It also gives you the drive and
ambition to continue to referee well into your life.
