The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Hockey Manitoba is pleased to announce that three officials were been selected by Hockey Canada to attend the Western Officials' Program of Excellence (OPOE) event in Richmond, BC, over the weekend. The OPOE is designed as an officiating talent identification and training program for elite officiating prospects, which extends beyond Branch officiating development. The OPOE is a partnership, which includes Hockey Canada and it's Member Branches, the National Hockey League and the Canadian Hockey League. All partners bring together resources in order to foster a rewarding development opportunity for officials identified and trained in the OPOE. Selected to attend the 2013 Western OPOE are: Josh Ginter (Referee), Pembina Valley Josh has experience refereeing in the MJHL, KJHL, MMJHL and Midget AAA league. He is an HCOP instructor and also mentors young officials within Pembina Valley. In November 2012, Ginter was selected to represent Hockey Manitoba at the Western U16 Challenge, where he refereed the Gold Medal game. Then in April 2013, he refereed at the Western Canadian Junior B Championship _ Keystone Cup, where he was also selected to referee the Gold Medal game. Karlin Krieger (Referee), Parkland Krieger has experience refereeing in the MJHL, KJHL and the Midget AAA League. He is an HCOP instructor and also mentors young officials within Parkland and Yellowhead. Krieger worked in the semi-finals in the MJHL playoffs and in April 2013, he refereed at the Western Canadian Junior B Championship _ Keystone Cup, where he was also selected to referee the Bronze Medal game. Jesse Smith (Linesman), Winnipeg Smith has experience lining in the CIS, MJHL, KJHL, MMJHL and the Midget AAA league. He is involved in mentoring officials within Winnipeg. In April 2013, Smith was selected to line at the Western Canadian Junior B Championship _ Keystone Cup, where he was selected to line the Bronze Medal game. Only 15 officials from all of Western Canada are selected each season to attend this event. Referees nominated to attend this event must hold either a Level IV or V certification and linesmen must be certified at a minimum of Level III. Hockey Canada uses the OPOE as a training ground, and often officials' selection for tournaments such as the World Under 17 Championship are made based upon selection and performance at the OPOE.
