Sault Hockey Officials Association

The Sault Hockey Officials Association was incorporated in the late 1950s as a response to the changing face of the game of hockey. Problems regarding officiating practices, on-ice rulings, and rule book interpretations were dealt with by the association and its appointed committees. Over time, the association has expanded and today acts as the governing body of hockey officials within Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, with the referee-in-chief and president as the main executive officials in consultation with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association's council director.

Its operation closely emulates the same purpose a labour union strives to achieve for its members. However, it does not work towards higher pay or protection, but serves as an intermediary to other institutions-it groups officials together as one, and avoids isolation and personal attacks on any single person.

Objective

The Sault Hockey Officials Association provides Sault Ste. Marie and districts within its jurisdiction with the best officiating possible, through the following framework:
*i) To create a positive image for our Association by providing support, through our members, for community-oriented initiatives and projects;
*ii) To maintain close liaison with organizations with like interests and to provide technical knowledge when requested;
*iii) To provide training opportunities for officials to upgrade skills and to promote its members to officiate higher levels of hockey, and;
*iv) To provde open communication within the membership through the exchange of ideas and information.

Association Executive

The Association's executive members are elected by its members on a two-year rotating system. During odd years, the vice-president and secretary is elected, and on even years the president and treasurer are elected. All terms are two years in length and there is no limit to the amount of terms a candidate can serve in any position. The immediate past-president is automatically included on the executive council in a guidance-aimed position.

Current Executive

The current executive council of the association is as follows:

*President: Perry Vilaca
*Past President: Lucas Bedell
*Vice-President: Craig Coletti
*Treasurer: Scott Thibeault
*Secretary: Kurtus Delhenty
*Referee-In-Chief: Marc Baril
*District #3 Council Director: Dan Raycroft

Community Involvement

As per the Association's mission statement, the group aims towards helping and volunteering within the community. This community-minded effort is not new to the Association, but recently emphasized. Members of the Association can usually be seen at public skating events featuring the Soo Greyhounds sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Sault Ste. Marie. In December 2006 the Association donated $1500 (CDN) to the local chapter of Child Find Ontario via a bowling fundraiser pub night. [http://www.sootoday.com/content/sports/full_story.asp?StoryNumber=21337: "Hockey Refs Change Sports to Help Kids"] Members are also often seen officiating charity games in the community geared towards raising funds for local initiatives or groups. These games usually include members of Greyhound alumni versus various NHL or other professional players.

Fightin' Zebras

The Association also participates in team-oriented events such as charitable hockey tournaments, the Canadian Cancer Society's Relay for Life and other such events under the team name the "Fightin' Zebras".

Trivia

*The Sault Ste. Marie association was one of the first of its kind incorporated and has spawned other groups of similar interests in the north including the cities of Sudbury and Timmins.
*Past-President Lucas Bedell was the youngest elected official in the history of the Association when he took the office of secretary in May 2005 at the age of 20. His election as President in May, 2006 also labelled him as the youngest President in history when he was elected at age 21.
*The Association was offered office-space in the Steelback Centre but had to decline the invitation due to financial restrictions.

Notes

References

Links

[http://shoa.tk/ Official website of the Sault Hockey Officials Association]