OHL hosts New Officials Development Weekend in Kitchener
KITCHENER, ON – The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) welcomed 12 officials to Kitchener on October 30-31 for its New Officials Development Weekend, a new initiative focused on supporting the development of emerging referees and linespeople across the league.
Led by OHL Director of Officiating Conrad Haché, alongside Scott Lawson, Kevin Hastings and Doug Horner, the two-day program provided an opportunity for officials to review game situations, exchange experiences and build on the skills required to succeed at the OHL level and beyond.
The weekend began Friday evening at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium, where participants observed the officiating crew during the Kitchener Rangers’ matchup against the Flint Firebirds. The experience provided a foundation for Saturday’s sessions, which included video analysis, group discussions and participant-led presentations examining decisions and situations from the previous night’s game.
Rather than following a traditional classroom format, the program encouraged open discussion, questions, and collaboration among officials and OHL officiating staff.
The agenda was developed with input from the participants themselves, who identified areas they wanted to improve through a pre-event questionnaire. Among the primary topics were faceoff management and mechanics, positioning and sightlines, communication between officials, and the handling of scrums, altercations, and end-of-game situations.
The smaller group setting allowed referees and linespeople to participate in focused discussions specific to their roles, while also learning from one another’s experiences and perspectives.
“We wanted this weekend to be about more than sitting in a room and listening to presentations,” said OHL Director of Officiating Conrad Haché. “We asked our officials what they wanted to work on and built the sessions around those areas. Having the opportunity to watch a game together, review situations, and learn from officials who have worked at the highest levels is incredibly valuable. We’re investing in these individuals because we believe in their potential, and we want to give them every opportunity to continue developing their skills and advancing their officiating careers.”
Participants also had the opportunity to hear from members of Friday’s officiating crew about their careers and the lessons learned through assignments at various levels of hockey, including the OHL Championship Series, Memorial Cup, professional hockey and international competition.
The weekend brought together eight linespeople and four referees, with the following officials participating:
Participating Officials: Darcy Carter, Harry Smith, Tyler McBay, Nick Brunetta, Jaydon Fetter, Colton Peak, Henry Turner, Jacob Swackhamer, Omar Galal, Brent Lace, Aiden Dionne and Luc Brzustowski.
Development Staff: Conrad Haché (Director of Officiating), Scott Lawson (Coordinator of Development and Prospecting, Officiating), Kevin Hastings and Doug Horner.
The New Officials Development Weekend reflects the OHL’s continued commitment to supporting its officiating personnel through education, mentorship and practical development opportunities, helping prepare the next generation of officials for success throughout their careers.
