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.

香蕉视频直播淢y coaches said it would be a good thing to do, to know the rules 香蕉视频直播� and I kind of fell in love with it.香蕉视频直播�

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 香蕉视频直播榤ost dedicated referee香蕉视频直播� honours by the Salmon Arm Minor Hockey Association.

香蕉视频直播淚t was a lot of games,香蕉视频直播� he laughs, estimating he reffed somewhere around 200 games in 2022.

He said there香蕉视频直播檚 no set number but he does 香蕉视频直播渁s many as you can do on weekends. I was there for eight hours a day, Friday to Sunday 香蕉视频直播� and then repeat. It was good, though. I liked it.香蕉视频直播�

He said the money is good and if you香蕉视频直播檙e doing a lot of games, it adds up.

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It香蕉视频直播檚 hard to get referees for more competitive hockey, he points out, and although there are lots of first- and second-year referees, they can香蕉视频直播檛 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.

香蕉视频直播淚f you aren香蕉视频直播檛 confident, you香蕉视频直播檙e going to get yelled at by parents,香蕉视频直播� he emphasizes. 香蕉视频直播淵ou need to be confident, have enthusiasm, you need to know your stuff on the ice.香蕉视频直播�

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

香蕉视频直播淵ou香蕉视频直播檙e having 100, 200 fans yelling at you, coaches, wanting to talk to you when you香蕉视频直播檙e 13, 14. But now that I know the rules and everything, I feel I香蕉视频直播檓 pretty confident with all that.香蕉视频直播�

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, 香蕉视频直播渟lap shots from big kids.香蕉视频直播�

He香蕉视频直播檚 also seen a few referees take pucks to the head or get a skate blade to the hand.

香蕉视频直播淚 haven香蕉视频直播檛 had anything too serious, knock on wood.香蕉视频直播�

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.

香蕉视频直播淚t was a good experience; I want to be able to ref junior hockey next year. Then maybe go further in the coming years.香蕉视频直播�

About going beyond junior hockey, he remarked: 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 very hard to do, but I would hope to. If I got the opportunity I would surely go for it.香蕉视频直播�

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 香蕉视频直播�100 per cent.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚 feel like it香蕉视频直播檚 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香蕉视频直播檚 a very good life skill.香蕉视频直播�

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.

香蕉视频直播淗e seems like a good guy,香蕉视频直播� 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.

香蕉视频直播淗e has a reputation to be one of the funnier refs out there for sure.香蕉视频直播�

Barbosa speaks extremely highly of his hometown.

香蕉视频直播淪almon Arm is a great place to ref in. I feel it香蕉视频直播檚 the best hockey town in Canada right now.香蕉视频直播�

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

香蕉视频直播淭hey just love it, they do it every year in Salmon Arm just because they feel it香蕉视频直播檚 a great place to do it in香蕉视频直播� It香蕉视频直播檚 a hockey town.香蕉视频直播�

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