What started as a recommendation from coaches turned into a passion for a Salmon Arm hockey player.

Nic Barbosa moved to Salmon Arm from Terrace when he was eight.

As a youngster he loved playing hockey and was always at the rink. His coaches suggested he look into refereeing.

91裸聊视频淢y coaches said it would be a good thing to do, to know the rules 91裸聊视频� and I kind of fell in love with it.91裸聊视频�

So, at 12, Barbosa began his refereeing career. He liked communicating with the teams, knowing all the rules, building confidence.

Now 20, the love continues.

Barbosa was recently presented with 91裸聊视频榤ost dedicated referee91裸聊视频� honours by the Salmon Arm Minor Hockey Association.

91裸聊视频淚t was a lot of games,91裸聊视频� he laughs, estimating he reffed somewhere around 200 games in 2022.

He said there91裸聊视频檚 no set number but he does 91裸聊视频渁s many as you can do on weekends. I was there for eight hours a day, Friday to Sunday 91裸聊视频� and then repeat. It was good, though. I liked it.91裸聊视频�

He said the money is good and if you91裸聊视频檙e doing a lot of games, it adds up.

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It91裸聊视频檚 hard to get referees for more competitive hockey, he points out, and although there are lots of first- and second-year referees, they can91裸聊视频檛 ref the higher levels.

When he was 15 or 16, he started reffing midget hockey, 17/18 year olds.

For a referee, confidence is key.

91裸聊视频淚f you aren91裸聊视频檛 confident, you91裸聊视频檙e going to get yelled at by parents,91裸聊视频� he emphasizes. 91裸聊视频淵ou need to be confident, have enthusiasm, you need to know your stuff on the ice.91裸聊视频�

He said loud insults got to him a bit in his first couple of years, but not much anymore.

91裸聊视频淵ou91裸聊视频檙e having 100, 200 fans yelling at you, coaches, wanting to talk to you when you91裸聊视频檙e 13, 14. But now that I know the rules and everything, I feel I91裸聊视频檓 pretty confident with all that.91裸聊视频�

Senior officials mentor and provide support, which he said helps a lot.

Asked about injuries, he said referees definitely get sore, sometimes from taking pucks without a lot of padding, 91裸聊视频渟lap shots from big kids.91裸聊视频�

He91裸聊视频檚 also seen a few referees take pucks to the head or get a skate blade to the hand.

91裸聊视频淚 haven91裸聊视频檛 had anything too serious, knock on wood.91裸聊视频�

Regarding fights in hockey, he said there will be the odd scrum in front of the net, or the odd person starting to throw punches, but linespeople break them up quickly.

Barbosa recently reffed the U16 BC Cup in Salmon Arm, the WHL (Western Hockey League) prospects camp for draft picks for the coming year.

91裸聊视频淚t was a good experience; I want to be able to ref junior hockey next year. Then maybe go further in the coming years.91裸聊视频�

About going beyond junior hockey, he remarked: 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 very hard to do, but I would hope to. If I got the opportunity I would surely go for it.91裸聊视频�

Barbosa just wrapped up his first year of a business administration degree and will be heading to Kelowna next year for his second year.

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Meanwhile, he recommends refereeing 91裸聊视频�100 per cent.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淚 feel like it91裸聊视频檚 a good life skill to go with, the confidence part of things, learning how to talk to coaches that are older than you, calming people down on the ice, I feel it91裸聊视频檚 a very good life skill.91裸聊视频�

As a hockey fan from childhood, he was raised cheering for the Edmonton Oilers.

One referee he likes to watch in the NHL is Wes McCauley.

91裸聊视频淗e seems like a good guy,91裸聊视频� says Barbosa, pointing out as an example that when McCauley calls a person for fighting, instead of the usual signal he might do some quick air-boxing with his fists.

91裸聊视频淗e has a reputation to be one of the funnier refs out there for sure.91裸聊视频�

Barbosa speaks extremely highly of his hometown.

91裸聊视频淪almon Arm is a great place to ref in. I feel it91裸聊视频檚 the best hockey town in Canada right now.91裸聊视频�

He points to the good setup in the city, with kids coming from all over B.C. for the BC Cup, for example.

91裸聊视频淭hey just love it, they do it every year in Salmon Arm just because they feel it91裸聊视频檚 a great place to do it in91裸聊视频� It91裸聊视频檚 a hockey town.91裸聊视频�

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