Strathmore area referee awarded

Times Reporter 

 

At the Hockey Alberta Central Zone’s annual awards ceremony on April 19, Strathmore area referee Justin Geeraert received both a pin recognizing his ten years of service in the zone, and the Al Peterson Memorial Award for Most Improved Official.

“Both awards are big accomplishments in my career so far,” Geeraert said. “It’s pretty cool to get recognized for them, and (I was happy when I received both the pin and award). And my parents were impressed when I got recognized for these accomplishments.”

“(His father and I) are very proud of him that he achieved these accomplishments,” his mother, Kim, said. “Not every referee gets an award, so him winning the Peterson Award is great.”

The Peterson Award has been active since 2009. According to the Central Zone’s website, it is awarded to the official that “has progressed the most through their attendance at clinics/seminars and their on-ice efforts.”

Geeraert started refereeing at the age of 13 because he wanted to get into it, and felt that it would be a great experience. He also wanted to help out the kids in some way, and since he knew the rules of hockey, he felt that this was the best way to do that.

Geeraert mentioned that his most memorable moment from his career so far was getting to referee during the Junior B Provincials last year.  

“Just getting selected to it was pretty cool,” he said. “Also, being able to work the bronze medal game was also a pretty cool experience for me.”

When he looked back on the past ten years since the start of his career, Geeraert talked about other moments that stood out.  

“Working the Hockey Alberta South Final last year was a great experience,” said Geeraert. “I had a lot of fun doing that.  Also, getting invited to and attending the Hockey Alberta Referee Development Camp last summer was something that was a really cool experience for me.”

He’s already been hired to work as a linesman for the Alberta Junior Hockey League next season, with the hope that the Western Hockey League is not too far behind.

“Justin’s goal is to be in the WHL with his friend Clayton Hall, who won the Peterson Award in 2010,” Kim said. “Winning the Peterson Award is just another step towards that goal for him.”