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.

害羞草研究所淢y coaches said it would be a good thing to do, to know the rules 害羞草研究所� and I kind of fell in love with it.害羞草研究所�

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 害羞草研究所榤ost dedicated referee害羞草研究所� honours by the Salmon Arm Minor Hockey Association.

害羞草研究所淚t was a lot of games,害羞草研究所� he laughs, estimating he reffed somewhere around 200 games in 2022.

He said there害羞草研究所檚 no set number but he does 害羞草研究所渁s many as you can do on weekends. I was there for eight hours a day, Friday to Sunday 害羞草研究所� and then repeat. It was good, though. I liked it.害羞草研究所�

He said the money is good and if you害羞草研究所檙e doing a lot of games, it adds up.

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It害羞草研究所檚 hard to get referees for more competitive hockey, he points out, and although there are lots of first- and second-year referees, they can害羞草研究所檛 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.

害羞草研究所淚f you aren害羞草研究所檛 confident, you害羞草研究所檙e going to get yelled at by parents,害羞草研究所� he emphasizes. 害羞草研究所淵ou need to be confident, have enthusiasm, you need to know your stuff on the ice.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淵ou害羞草研究所檙e having 100, 200 fans yelling at you, coaches, wanting to talk to you when you害羞草研究所檙e 13, 14. But now that I know the rules and everything, I feel I害羞草研究所檓 pretty confident with all that.害羞草研究所�

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, 害羞草研究所渟lap shots from big kids.害羞草研究所�

He害羞草研究所檚 also seen a few referees take pucks to the head or get a skate blade to the hand.

害羞草研究所淚 haven害羞草研究所檛 had anything too serious, knock on wood.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淚t was a good experience; I want to be able to ref junior hockey next year. Then maybe go further in the coming years.害羞草研究所�

About going beyond junior hockey, he remarked: 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 very hard to do, but I would hope to. If I got the opportunity I would surely go for it.害羞草研究所�

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 害羞草研究所�100 per cent.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚 feel like it害羞草研究所檚 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 it害羞草研究所檚 a very good life skill.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淗e seems like a good guy,害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淗e has a reputation to be one of the funnier refs out there for sure.害羞草研究所�

Barbosa speaks extremely highly of his hometown.

害羞草研究所淪almon Arm is a great place to ref in. I feel it害羞草研究所檚 the best hockey town in Canada right now.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淭hey just love it, they do it every year in Salmon Arm just because they feel it害羞草研究所檚 a great place to do it in害羞草研究所� It害羞草研究所檚 a hockey town.害羞草研究所�

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