Oceanside Minor Hockey recognized some of its own recently at the annual year-end awards for their dedicated young referees.
‘Amazing Kid’ Shayna Twamley earned the Most Improved Official award; Kyle Purvis Most Deserving Official and Ryan Blyt Most Promising Official.
All three received keepsake personal trophies and have their names added to the big Annual Officiating Award which is kept on display at Oceanside Place.
“It was a really good year — just a great group of kids,” OMHA referee in chief Chris Herr said down at the rink Sunday, pointing out that the group of 46 volunteers turned in, “almost perfect attendance this season.”
Even more encouraging he said is that all but one ref (who is moving) has committed to next year.
The awards were initiated in 2004. The finalists are chosen by a committee made up of OMHA’s six senior referees.
Beyond the awards, OMHA will also be subsidizing five deserving youngsters to help them attend referee camp this summer.
Shayna, who was the busiest of the bunch with 58 games reffed this season, received a full sponsorship for the cost of the camp ($560) and the other four — Kyle (54 games), Spencer Reagon, Dale Andersen, and Alex Green — half scholarships. This is the first time OMHA has sent five kids to the officials camp, slated for Aug. 9-13 in Lake Cowichan.
The annual high performance camp sees the kids — from all over B.C. — put in four hours of class time a day plus dryland and on-ice training.
This will be Kyle’s third time attending the camp.
“It’s hard but it’s a lot of fun,” he said smiling, adding, “it definitely makes you (a better ref).”
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