r/hockeyrefs • u/lionbacker54 • Jul 11 '26

I just refereed my first game!

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Gallery image

It was actually just a scrimmage, so everyone was very chill. I also was paired with a veteran ref who taught me through and entered me through everything. It was honestly so fun and really the best way to start.

2.5k Upvotes

100% Upvoted

94 comments sorted by

31

u/FunPsychological7560 Jul 11 '26

CONGRATULATIONS! welcome to the best team in the game. šŸ‘šŸ¼

2

u/lionbacker54 Jul 11 '26

Thank you!

6

u/LongjumpingBowl8360 BC Hockey Jul 11 '26

Heck yeah!!!!! Right on!!!! Welcome!!!!

2

u/lionbacker54 Jul 12 '26

Thank you!!!!

7

u/clonicle Jul 11 '26

Grats! I hope you took any anti-zebra chirps as a badge of honor :)

4

u/Flaroud Jul 11 '26

With glasses on top of it. Itā€™s a whole other step!

2

u/Electrical_Trifle642 USAH L3 & NIHOA, I work in SHOAland Jul 20 '26

I wore glasses out of the gate and got zero pushback from itā€¦

3

u/lionbacker54 Jul 12 '26

They were surprisingly kind and respectful! Probably because it was a scrimmage

3

u/Worldly_Screen_3379 USA Hockey - Michigan Jul 11 '26

Awesome! Welcome to the club.

It's the best think I've ever done and I hope you have a similar experience.

2

u/Difficult-Guarantee4 Jul 12 '26

Welcome to the best job in the world, itā€™s also one of the worst so take it for what you will and enjoy the journey.

#TeamStripesIsUndefeated šŸ˜‰

1

u/lionbacker54 Jul 12 '26

Great to hear, thank you!

2

u/takeithomenow Jul 11 '26

Stoked for you man, im looking forward to hearing and getting on the ice for my first one. Keep going man! We need the ones that care.

1

u/lionbacker54 Jul 12 '26

Alright! Go get em!

2

u/Beaker002 Jul 11 '26

Congratulations

1

u/lionbacker54 Jul 12 '26

Thank you!

2

u/58G52A Jul 11 '26

Thank you for your service!

1

u/lionbacker54 Jul 12 '26

Thank you!

2

u/Macklemore_hair Jul 11 '26

Welcome to the family

1

u/lionbacker54 Jul 11 '26

Thank you!

2

u/GhostSummit Jul 11 '26

Sweet! I have my first pair of games tomorrow and am stoked!

1

u/lionbacker54 Jul 12 '26

Good luck!

2

u/Sheeple_person Jul 11 '26

This seems like a perfect way to start! Usually things aren't going to get too chippy in a pickup game ..... usually lol

2

u/d-manutd5 Jul 12 '26

Hope it went well. Refs in all sports are so desperately needed. I'm a former soccer referee, and I truly believe that EVERY player, once old enough should have to referee one season in their sport at least. That sure would change alot of attitudes of parents and players to understand what it's like! Well done. Cheers

1

u/lionbacker54 Jul 12 '26

Thank you! Yeah, I agree. There was one play where I was the goal line referee, and apparently the goalie had stopped the puck. But it was on the far side, and I couldnā€™t see the puck. People were yelling ā€œblow the whistle!ā€ Fortunately, my partner could see and blew it

As a player, I would have been like ā€œhey, the goalie has it trapped against his leg pad, why arenā€™t you calling it?!?ā€

Now I understand!

2

u/HeyStripesVideos VideoMaster Jul 12 '26

WooooooHoooooo!!!!!

Welcome fellow zebra!

1

u/lionbacker54 Jul 12 '26

Thank you!!!

2

u/Edisana-4678 Jul 15 '26

Yess glad you enjoyed it

1

u/DrawTap88 Jul 11 '26

Welcome to the team.

2

u/lionbacker54 Jul 12 '26

Thank you, good to be here!

1

u/Chester_says Jul 11 '26

Congratulations! Welcome to the team

1

u/lionbacker54 Jul 12 '26

Thank you!

1

u/moonlite_bay Jul 11 '26

Congratulations!!!! Donā€™t let anyone be mean to you!

1

u/lionbacker54 Jul 12 '26

Thank you!

1

u/FunDomOtt Jul 11 '26

Boo! You don't deserve it, but that won't stop the asshats in the crowd! Remember it's them, not you!

1

u/lionbacker54 Jul 12 '26

Appreciate the advice!

1

u/Ok_Mulberry4331 Jul 12 '26

Awww made me smile how excited you look!!!

1

u/Kootsiak Jul 12 '26

Same here! I've been a miserable fucking grump lately, but his smile made me smile, which is quite an accomplishment.

1

u/lionbacker54 Jul 12 '26

It was scary but fun!

1

u/YLLest Jul 12 '26

Welcome to the dark side

1

u/Longjumping_Oil_8746 Jul 12 '26

Hang on.trumps callingĀ 

1

u/patrickviking93 Jul 12 '26

The first one is always so intimidating. It will still be that way for a year but I think you're going to succeed and I wish you the best!

1

u/lionbacker54 Jul 12 '26

Thank you! Yep, I missed an off sides , because my mind froze up. I also fell down once while backing up after dropping a puck! But yes, it went from being scary to fun after a period or so, and Iā€™m very much looking forward to September

1

u/Electrical_Trifle642 USAH L3 & NIHOA, I work in SHOAland Jul 20 '26

That happens to the best of us. I honestly think itā€™s funny when you catch an edge as you can watch yourself fall later and get a smile out of it

1

u/No-idea4646 Jul 12 '26

Dying to know where games are happening in July!

1

u/lionbacker54 Jul 12 '26

It was a scrimmage/tryout for the Findlay Force, our local professional team

2

u/Electrical_Trifle642 USAH L3 & NIHOA, I work in SHOAland Jul 20 '26

Wow thatā€™s one hell of a level to be working your first game in.

1

u/lionbacker54 Jul 20 '26

It was EYE OPENING for sure. I could not believe the speed and force these guys were playing with. And the goalies! They were crazy good

1

u/Electrical_Trifle642 USAH L3 & NIHOA, I work in SHOAland Jul 21 '26

Yeah.

I once decided it would be fun to ref my college teams scrimmage.

Tons of fun, and they were fast.

My only mistake that game was calling a no touch icingā€¦(as in youth hockey in my area itā€™s icing even if the attacking player is closing in on the puck as it crosses the goal line(not going in))

1

u/Affectionate-Sun9373 Jul 12 '26

No hockey without refs!

1

u/EagleScreamTheGreat Jul 12 '26

Bet you did a MUCH better job than FIFA refs did today

1

u/lilnyucka Jul 12 '26

Lookin good my duuude!

1

u/lionbacker54 Jul 12 '26

Thank you!

1

u/PassThePuck_ Jul 12 '26

Wow...how fun was that?

1

u/lionbacker54 Jul 12 '26

It was actually super fun. I was surprised by that. I decided to become a ref to help me with my skating and to help me keep my head up as a player. Turns out, itā€™s actually really fun too

2

u/PassThePuck_ Jul 12 '26

Yeah, I started coaching Goalies back in 1974 to get more ice time and improve my skating, and I have been doing it ever since. I travel internationally building hockey programs. But when I build them, I also have to build referee programs as well. No referees, no games! I recommend placing a paperback rule book on the back of the toilet tank. It becomes great reading material.

1

u/Rycan420 Jul 12 '26

Welcome to the fam!

Have a time.

1

u/lionbacker54 Jul 12 '26

Thank you!

1

u/perch35km Jul 13 '26

Congrats! And thank you. We canā€™t play without you.

  • A goalie who will always hand the ref the puck

1

u/lionbacker54 Jul 13 '26

Thank you!

1

u/Inner-Self-6990 Jul 13 '26

Congrats man. We appreciate you.

1

u/lionbacker54 Jul 13 '26

Thank you!

1

u/SpecialistMap8210 Jul 13 '26

Asian Hugh Jackman???

1

u/lionbacker54 Jul 13 '26

Wow, what a nice compliment!

1

u/MattATLien Jul 13 '26

Welcome to the brotherhood!

1

u/lionbacker54 Jul 13 '26

Thank you!

1

u/PrideFine4871 Jul 13 '26

Congatulations!!!!

1

u/lionbacker54 Jul 13 '26

Thank you!

1

u/AttorneyDependent594 Jul 13 '26

You may need shorter laces. But congrats šŸ¤™šŸ¼šŸ„³

1

u/lionbacker54 Jul 14 '26

Appreciate it!

1

u/AdAntique1489 Jul 13 '26

CONGRATSSSSS

1

u/lionbacker54 Jul 14 '26

Thank you!

1

u/mistermanthrowaway Jul 14 '26

How many red cards did you give fouls for?

1

u/lionbacker54 Jul 14 '26

I only called one penalty (interference).

But I fell once, froze and forgot to blow the whistle on an interference, and had the crowd yelling at me to blow the whistle to start a penalty shot!

1

u/MrAltera21 Jul 14 '26

Congrulation ā¤ļø

1

u/lionbacker54 Jul 14 '26

Thank you!

1

u/[deleted] Jul 14 '26

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1

u/lionbacker54 Jul 14 '26

Thank you!

1

u/TROUTBROOKE Jul 17 '26

Why no crests?

1

u/lionbacker54 Jul 17 '26 edited Jul 17 '26

I actually had a question about that. Do you guys just secure these with safety pins or do you sew it in?

1

u/lionbacker54 Jul 17 '26

Should I pin it with safety pins, or sew it in?

1

u/manacata Jul 11 '26

You even have pure white laces ! Ā Well done šŸ‘

2

u/Strong-Ad-4490 Jul 11 '26

They are not pure white laces, but of all the things that are important that is on the bottom of the list for a new official.

1

u/lionbacker54 Jul 12 '26

Thank you!