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.

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

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 含羞草研究社榤ost dedicated referee含羞草研究社� honours by the Salmon Arm Minor Hockey Association.

含羞草研究社淚t was a lot of games,含羞草研究社� he laughs, estimating he reffed somewhere around 200 games in 2022.

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

He said the money is good and if you含羞草研究社檙e doing a lot of games, it adds up.

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It含羞草研究社檚 hard to get referees for more competitive hockey, he points out, and although there are lots of first- and second-year referees, they can含羞草研究社檛 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.

含羞草研究社淚f you aren含羞草研究社檛 confident, you含羞草研究社檙e going to get yelled at by parents,含羞草研究社� he emphasizes. 含羞草研究社淵ou need to be confident, have enthusiasm, you need to know your stuff on the ice.含羞草研究社�

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

含羞草研究社淵ou含羞草研究社檙e having 100, 200 fans yelling at you, coaches, wanting to talk to you when you含羞草研究社檙e 13, 14. But now that I know the rules and everything, I feel I含羞草研究社檓 pretty confident with all that.含羞草研究社�

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, 含羞草研究社渟lap shots from big kids.含羞草研究社�

He含羞草研究社檚 also seen a few referees take pucks to the head or get a skate blade to the hand.

含羞草研究社淚 haven含羞草研究社檛 had anything too serious, knock on wood.含羞草研究社�

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.

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

About going beyond junior hockey, he remarked: 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 very hard to do, but I would hope to. If I got the opportunity I would surely go for it.含羞草研究社�

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 含羞草研究社�100 per cent.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淚 feel like it含羞草研究社檚 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含羞草研究社檚 a very good life skill.含羞草研究社�

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.

含羞草研究社淗e seems like a good guy,含羞草研究社� 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.

含羞草研究社淗e has a reputation to be one of the funnier refs out there for sure.含羞草研究社�

Barbosa speaks extremely highly of his hometown.

含羞草研究社淪almon Arm is a great place to ref in. I feel it含羞草研究社檚 the best hockey town in Canada right now.含羞草研究社�

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

含羞草研究社淭hey just love it, they do it every year in Salmon Arm just because they feel it含羞草研究社檚 a great place to do it in含羞草研究社� It含羞草研究社檚 a hockey town.含羞草研究社�

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