The Vancouver Giants are excited to announce details for their first ever Referee Appreciation Night, which will take place on Sunday, October 22 at 4 p.m. against the Spokane Chiefs.
The Giants will be wearing black and white striped jerseys for the game in an effort to acknowledge and show support for the thousands of ice hockey officials in British Columbia and across Canada. There has been a Canada-wide shortage of referees in many sports, including ice hockey, since the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our goal with this game is twofold: first, to acknowledge the hard work that on-ice officials do to ensure the game is safe and fair, and second, to shine a spotlight on officiating at the grassroots level here in B.C.,” said Pete Toigo, Giants VP, Operations. “Hockey can’t be played without officials. By hosting this game, we want to encourage youth to get involved in officiating and also show support for officials at all levels, who deserve more respect.”
With the Giants wearing black and white, the on-ice officials for the game will wear special jerseys as well, which will be revealed at a later date.
Prior to the game on Oct. 22, a referee hotstove will take place in the banquet hall of the Langley Events Centre. Participants on this panel will also be announced at a later date.
All player jerseys will be auctioned off online in the days leading up to the game. The auction will start on Sunday, Oct. 8 at 8:30 a.m. PT and end on Tuesday, Oct. 24 at 12 p.m. PT