Official's Corner

Returning Officials:

Any Referee/Linesman who wishes to officiate after Dec 31^st of this year MUST re-certify at a ''Super Clinic'' this fall. Dates and times are typically published on the BC Hockey website in late August. To avoid disappointment, register early as these clinics fill up fast and space is limited.

Returning officials who are between 13-15 years by Dec 31^st will re-certify as a Level 1 and anyone who will be 16 years or older by Dec 31st will re-certify as a Level 2. If you turn 18 years or older this year, you will also require a valid CRC (criminal record check). They may take up to 3 weeks to process, so I suggest submitting your CRC in the summer months, as you must PASS it before you can register at a ''Super Clinic.''

Sign up in BCHockey.net for re-certification under

 

 

NEW Officials' Information:

Are you interested in becoming a NEW official for the upcoming 2025-2026 ice hockey season? If so, please continue reading.

All NEW officials must be born in 2013 or earlier and if you turn 18 years old or older by Dec 31st of this year, you must also have a current CRC (criminal record check) prior to registration.  Once you PASS a CRC, it is valid for 3 years. [Please note: CRC submissions  may take a few weeks to process]

To ensure that all NEW officials have an opportunity to work games, space is limited. Our association typically accepts 12-14 NEW officials every season, based on player enrollment, but that number is at the discretion of the RIC. New this season, on the suggestion of Hockey Canada, the selection process for successful applicants has changed. This season, priority will be given to siblings of current officials first and then a lottery system will be used for the remaining open spots, instead of the previous first-come first- serve basis for all available spots.

Please follow the STEPS below for the application process and adhere to any deadlines.

STEP 1 - on or after June 1, 2025, but before August 1, 2025, take the assigned Hockey Canada pre-requisite on-line course (clinic specifications NOT published by HC yet) and send proof of completion to: ric@surreyminorhockey.com                                                                 •

STEP 2- On or after August 2nd, once all on-line courses have been completed and verified, the names of any siblings of current SMHA officials will be selected as NEW officials. The remaining names of the applicants will be entered into a lottery for selection. The applicants will be notified via email on or after August 2, as to whether they were successful or not. [No wait lists will be made for next season but names from the lottery, in order drawn. may be used to replace successful candidates, who withdraw for any reason, this season.]

STEP 3 - Register and attend the HCOP certification clinic for NEW officials (both classroom and ice session) to complete the certification process.                                                        You will be sent a link with the date(s) of the HCOP certification clinic for NEW officials, once BC Hockey has ratified the date(s). The clinic is typically in mid-late September  to early October. [Note: you

must attend both the classroom and ice session, in their entirety and no exceptions can be made as per HCOP mandate]

Unfortunately, when available spots are limited, there will always be disappointed potential NEW officials and for this I apologize. This has been the situation for minor hockey associations in the Lower Mainland for at least the past 30 years, since I became involved with Referee Development. Good Luck and I thank you for your interest in officiating. It can be a very rewarding part-time career.

 

Regards,

 

Jamie L Versteeg

RIC for SMHA

604-817-6814

 

 

If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact Jamie L Versteeg at this email address:    ric@surreyminorhockey.com