Hockey N.L. hopes letting young refs wear green will keep rowdy fans from seeing red

"Stupid ref!"

"Are you blind? Is the other team paying you?"

"You're an idiot!"

And those are the tame ones.

The verbal abuse of hockey officials is almost as old as the sport itself. It's commonplace at rinks in Newfoundland and Labrador and across the country. A fan or player or coach doesn't like the call, or series of calls, and they level their frustration against the game's officials. 

Much of the time, especially in the minor ranks, the people who are spending weekends and late hours wearing the black and white stripes are youths, someone's teenage boy or girl.

Now an initiative that's taken off across Canada and found its way to hockey rinks in Newfoundland and Labrador is being met with praise from young officials.

The wearing of green arm bands — instead of the standard red — on the sleeves or hockey officials under 18 is meant to remind parents and coaches that the recipient of their anger and disdain is a teenager, and should be treated accordingly.

"Hockey Canada have been dealing with a fair amount of abuse of officials — well, abuse in the game -- and they're trying to change the culture," Ed Flood, Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador's referee-in-chief, told CBC News.

The program began in Quebec in 2020 and has been picking up steam across the country. Young officials say they're seeing a change in the response they're getting on the ice.

Austin, a U18 player in the Corner Brook Minor system, also enjoys reffing games. He says there's been a noticeable difference since he started wearing the green arm bands.

"I have had a few cases where there has been a couple coaches say some things, but the green arm band helps eliminate that," said Nick Austin, a second-year official. "And that's why I do appreciate this