From community rinks to competitive rep leagues, Canadian hockey thrives on structure—and that includes the officials who keep the game moving. But as many assignors already know, finding enough hockey referees isn’t easy.
Between shrinking referee pools, changing availability, and an increased demand for games, assigning in hockey is more complex than ever. Recruiting and retaining officials takes more than just good intentions—it requires outreach, organization, and the right systems behind it.
If you're managing referees in Canada and looking to grow your roster, here are practical ways to recruit—and how Refr Sports can support your process once those refs are ready to be scheduled.
Most hockey officials start locally—through minor hockey programs, provincial associations, or word-of-mouth from current referees. Tapping into those pipelines is often the fastest way to build your crew.
Where to look:
When someone shows interest, being ready with a simple onboarding process makes a big difference in whether they stick with it.
Once a potential referee expresses interest, getting them scheduled should be quick and straightforward. If the process feels disorganized or slow, it’s easy for new recruits to drift away—especially younger officials or first-timers.
What helps:
Refr Sports helps assignors organize this onboarding flow, making it easy to track new officials, manage early assignments, and match them to games that suit their level.
In Canada, many officials aren’t just “hockey referees.” They may work football in the fall, basketball in the winter, or lacrosse in the spring. That cross-sport flexibility can be a key recruiting advantage—especially in smaller towns or rural areas.
How to approach it:
Refr supports assigning across multiple sports, so adding a hockey schedule to an existing official’s profile is seamless. That means better retention and fewer new hires needed from scratch.
High school and college-aged officials are a growing need in Canadian hockey, especially in minor leagues. These younger referees are more likely to commit long-term—if their experience is positive early on.
Recruiting tips:
Systems like Refr allow assignors to flag developing officials, group them accordingly, and gradually build their workload over time—all without needing a second set of spreadsheets.
Recruiting gets easier when your current referees stay. Retention is directly tied to the experience you provide—both on and off the ice. That includes how games are scheduled, how communication is handled, and whether officials feel supported.
What matters most:
Assignors using Refr consistently cite improved retention because the platform removes much of the friction referees face—especially those working across multiple leagues or locations.
Many Canadian hockey leagues cover wide regions, with officials traveling significant distances between rinks. This adds another layer to recruiting—you’re not just looking for refs, you’re looking for nearby refs who are actually available.
What helps:
Refr lets assignors manage this directly in the platform, reducing travel burnout and keeping your roster more engaged across the season.
Finding and keeping hockey referees in Canada is about more than recruiting—it’s about building a system where officials feel supported, assignments run smoothly, and communication never falls behind.
If you’re running a league, tournament, or association—and want to make referee management more organized, efficient, and sustainable—tools like Refr can help.
You still need to do the outreach, build relationships, and develop your crew. But once those referees are in the door, having a platform that brings everything together makes all the difference.
