The Ref from a wife's perspective

from www.baytoday.ca

Tuesday, April 03, 2012   by: Chris Dawson




By Nancy Avery

Game 6 Sturgeon Falls vs Temiscaming – the GMHL has become a community event.

Four local officials lace up for the game.

David Avery, Darren Long, Lindsay MacIvor, David Forde collectively have more than 30 years on the ice calling the game.

The fans love them and they hate them but they need them in the game.

The Ref is blamed for the loss and praised for the win.

They are called all kinds of names and criticized beyond belief but that is part of the relationship between the fans and the refs.

When you sit through an entire game and you hear all the comments coming from the stands you realize just how much your husband loves this game of hockey.

He’s out there on the ice calling the best game he can every time and he knows not everyone will think he did a good job but he keeps going back game after game because it’s part of who he is.

They will get home in the middle of the night after driving 3 or 4 hours and the with just a few hours sleep they get up and go to work where they give it there all – all over again.

They are driven by the game from the time they are little boys playing hockey, through the teen years.

Some of them go on to become professional players and some of them turn to officiating as long as they are still involved with the game.

When the buzzer sounds to end the third period, the excitement dwindles down and the fans go home.

The players get on the bus and head out.

The Ref stays behind just a little while longer to replay the calls with his fellow officials.

As they head home they are already thinking about the next game.

They give us highlights and play-by-plays at the dinner table and we watch them light up again with excitement about their beloved game.

I have had such a great time this season getting to know the fans and being welcomed into their arenas.

They are so passionate about their teams, but always take a minute to tell me that the comments towards the Ref are “nothing personal”.

We have had a lot of laughs.

Long live the good old hockey game for it brings so much joy and excitement to our communities and our families.

The season is over and I already miss the fans.

Thank you for always making the Refs’ wives feel welcome.