Leaderboard

Around here, saying something like that before the game will turn into "you were out to get us" before you even drop the puck. I used to tell both captains before a game that I tended to call the game tight but I would be happy to answer any question that didn't start out "what the F...?" but it wouldn't be a discussion. If they wanted to do that, we could do it between periods.

In that case, if you get that team again then grab the captain before the game and let him know that you shouldn't have to and will not tolerate the events of the last game again. That way when you sent the first guy off early in the game they'll know that you mean business and should learn their lesson. Sometimes as refs we can be our own worst enemies when we shrug off too much stuff early in a game. Set the standard early in the game and be consistent. If that doesn't work then they can enjoy the parade.

This is one of those teams that will never settle. I attempted that earlier in the game. You are always wrong when you ref their games. It's never a good game to ref, but I've never seen them that out of hand.

Since you say the team was all over you the whole game, it might be a good idea the next time to try and settle them down earlier. Pull their captain aside and let him know what's what in a calm and clear manner. Of course, there are some teams that will never settle and you just have to climb the ladder on one or two of them before they finally get the hint.

There are always those teams and players that make you regret taking game assignments. For me, it was the parents and coaches that didn't know the rules and would tell kids that they did nothing wrong after the kids took penalties on dangerous plays. At least with the adult games, you can directly toss out the offenders for swearing at you, with youth hockey you would have to clear the stands to do that. There were adult teams that I refused to work after a while, just because I knew how they reacted to any call against them. Like anything in life, you should never make a "never doing that again" decision in the heat of the moment.

Or adults in general.

I feel for you. I don't understand why beginners take hockey so seriously.

I am absolutely fuming right now. I was reffing a bronze beer league game (the worst players) and was being berated the entire game by one team (lets call them the asshats). According to them, every call was wrong. So, with 3:00 or so left in the 3rd period, the other team scores to tie the game. A player on the asshats takes the puck out of the net and flings it down the rink while saying "Theres a souvenir for you" (directed at me). I call him for unsportsmanlike conduct and he proceeds to look at me like I shot his dog. For some reason, he couldn't comprehend why I called him for a penalty. As he's skating to the box I get a "Fuck you", so I toss him. He's still jawing at me as he's leaving (whatever), but of course another player on the asshats bench decides he wants to start berating me as well. At this point I've had it. After the next "go fuck yourself" (while getting simultaneously flicked off) I toss him straight from the bench. I've never seen a group of adult men act like such animals. Pure disrespect. The other team ended up winning in OT (they had a PP for the entire time). I just finished sending an email to the hockey coordinator telling him that I'm finished reffing adult league games. I don't get paid enough to put up with this BS. /rant

I'm stoked to have moved up and start my first session of B division hockey last night. (Our adult association has A, B+, B, and C...so I'm still a LOOONNNGG way from A) I will NEVER make the NHL--or probably A for that matter--but this is a great challenge. :)

Got notice Friday that I'm officially off probation with the ambulance service, no caveats, no sweat. Nothing weird happened on shift today, and dispatch even sent us back about an hour early, which gave me a chance to practice driving the ambulance around for about 45 minutes. Feeling much better about the prospect of having to drive sometime. (probationary EMTs can't drive at my company, but they also don't train you on driving the trucks, so you have to practice when you can.)