OJHL officials Brendan Kane, (from left), Adam Burnett, TJ Hunter and Josh Schein were selected by Hockey Canada to officiate at the 2024 Centennial Cup in Oakville. The 10-team national Jr. A championship tournament begins Thursday. (Photos by OJHL Images)
By Jim Mason/OJHL Communications
The Collingwood Blues and Oakville Blades aren’t the only ‘teams’ from the Ontario Junior Hockey League taking part in the 2024 Centennial Cup.
The national Jr. A championship tournament begins Thursday and runs through May 19 at 16 Mile Sports Complex in Oakville.
A squad of four officials from the OJHL and the Ontario Hockey Association were selected by Hockey Canada to work games during the 10-team event: referees Brendan Kane and Josh Schein and linespeople Adam Burnett and TJ Hunter.
As Rob MacGregor, the OJHL’s Director of Officiating, says, the officials take just as much pride in being at a national championship as the players.
Josh Schein, who refereed in the Ontario Hockey League from 2016-21, has been an OHA and U SPORTS ref since 2009.
Large events he has worked include the 2017 Dudley Hewitt Cup in Trenton, the 2019 World Jr. A Challenge in Dawson Creek, BC and the 2022 U SPORTS Men’s Championship in Halifax.
Any advice for those officials who are new to a national championship?
“Enjoy the experience,” Schein told the OJHL. “Officiating at a national tournament is a privilege and a unique experience. Embrace the opportunity to be part of something special and enjoy the excitement of high-level hockey.”
What does Schein enjoy the most about officiating?
“The challenge and adrenaline,” he said. “Officiating at this level can be incredibly challenging, both mentally and physically. The fast pace of the game, combined with split-second decision-making, can provide an adrenaline rush that keeps you engaged and excited throughout the game.”
Brendan Kane started officiating in 2007 at the age of 14.
“My brother had been an official within our local hockey organization for a few years in Sault Ste. Marie, ON and I wanted to follow in his footsteps, as I did with many things he did growing up,” he said. “Pretty quickly, it turned from a hobby where I could make some extra spending money, to a passion with goals and dreams that I would chase for the next 15 years. Ultimately, staying competitively involved in the game that consumed a huge part of my childhood was extremely important to me.”
A member of Hockey Canada’s National High Performance Officiating Program, Kane has been a part of the OHA since 2015-16, including refereeing Junior hockey since 2019..
He has worked in the Ontario Hockey League since 2019, including three years as a referee.
Kane officiated at the 2023 World Under-17 Challenge in Prince Edward Island.
Any surprises along the way?
“For me, the biggest surprise about officiating came in the form of building amazing relationships since the day I started,” he said. “The thing about officiating is that we come from all walks of life. I have met future co-workers, created professional relationships, and have best friends that I’ve been connected with for years.”
“People close to me are often shocked about how many people I know in all of the cities I travel to. I have friends in Canada from coast to coast, and without officiating, I would have never had the opportunity of meeting.”
Adam Burnett played in the OJHL at Milton, Stouffville, Hamilton and Burlington.
“The biggest thing that translates (from playing) to officiating is anticipation and skating,” he told the OJHL. “Seeing plays develop before they happen and putting myself in the best position possible to make the correct call is a big advantage. Also having an understanding for their emotion and commitment, makes it easier for me to manage the emotions of the game when it comes to dealing with coaches and players.”
He’s busy, working as a linesperson at five different levels (AHL, OHL, PWHL, OUA and OJHL) on top of holding down a full-time job as a sales director.
Why officiate?
“I am a hockey nerd,” he said. “ I love being at the rink and wanted to stay involved and give back to the game that gave me so much opportunity. Officiating allows me to have the best seat in the house watching some of the best hockey around.”
TJ Hunter’s transition into officiating came naturally.
“I have a huge dedication to the game of hockey,” he said. “My family eats, breathes, sleeps hockey. When I was born, my dad just transitioned his career from playing to officiating. He reffed in the GTHL for close to 10 years then switched over to the OMHA and has been officiating for 26 years now. Needless to say I would go watch my dad officiate when I was super young and he reffed in the GTHL. It was watching the line brawls that used to be allowed – that got me super interested. When I turned 16 I registered to become an official with Hockey Canada and it took off from there.”
The officials have a lot in common with the players, he agreed.
“What surprised me most is how much fun we have, not only on the ice but also off the ice as officials,” he said. “Driving in the cars to games, sometimes over two hours one way, it can be a long car ride but not when you are with the crew. The high level of camaraderie between officials is amazing to see day in and day out.”” We take care of one another and look out for each other exactly like it was when you played and you had your team behind you. It’s that feeling of being a part of a team, the exact same as when I played, and I think that’s the main reason a lot of us do what we do.”
Hunter officiates all minor hockey levels in the Ontario Minor Hockey Association.
He’s a linesperson for the OHA, covering the PJHL and OJHL, and in the OHL.
Highlights the 2020 Ontario Winter Games in Orillia and the U18 All Ontario Regional in Sault Ste. Marie this past April.
“Over the past two seasons I have been selected as a linesperson for the Buckland cup (OJHL Finals),” he said. “Nothing as big as this one which lies ahead, the Centennial Cup. It will be a lot of fun and I am looking forward to my first national event.”
For more information on the Centennial Cup, click here: https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/national-championships/men/national-junior-a/2024
