Green arms bands will now be worn by young on-ice officials in Nova Scotia
Canada has more than 30,000 referees, linesman and other game officials working in hockey. Each year more than 10,000 quit, largely because of verbal abuse.
A new program launched by Hockey Nova Scotia features a green armband to signal to fans and coaches that some of the on-ice officials are only children.
Cole Harbour Minor Hockey Referee in Chief, Jason Clark said last night his organization launched the green armband program for referees and linesmen.
"It was very quiet in here, and that’s what I like to see," said Clark, who added the green arm band is designed to offer an added level of protection and support for younger on-ice officials.
"Anyone who is 17-years or younger, ref or linesman, it doesn’t matter," said Clark.
It signals to coaches and fans, they yell at a referee or linesman, they may be verbally abusing a youth.
Seventeen-year-old Dylan McMullen has been a referee for four years. Each game usually features both good and bad moments.
"When a coach tells you did a good job or you had a good game," said McMullen. "A negative is when they’re yelling at you about a call that you made or didn’t make."
Wearing the green arm band is a short term measure.
"On their 18th birthday they will take that off because they are considered an adult," said Clark,
From now on, coaches and parents who are suspended for abuse of an on-ice official will also face a stiffer punishment if it involves someone wearing the green armband.
"There will be another game at added to anybody who receives a suspension due to abuse of a referee," said Clark.
All referees and linesman under the age of 18 and working in Hockey Nova Scotia-sanctioned games will now wear the green arm bands.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.