SHOA Fightin' Zebras

The Sault Hockey Officials Association is excited to invite all local officials, alumni, and supporters to attend the 1st Annual SHOA Fighting Zebras Golf Classic on Sunday, June 28th at Root River Golf Club.

Golf starts at 12:00 PM, with the SHOA Annual General Meeting to follow at 6:00 PM, including voting for executive positions and presenting the 2025-26 Official of the Year Awards.

Please RSVP for golf to [email protected] and submit your vote for this year's award nominees - Senior/Junior Official of the Year, Most Dedicated Official, Most Improved Official and Rookie of the Year

Golf Rates
9 Holes
$30 – Walking
$40 – With Cart

18 Holes
$45 – Walking
$65 – With Cart

Whether you're a current official, former official, or simply a friend of the association, we'd love to see you out for an afternoon of golf, camaraderie, and good times.

Not golfing? No problem! We encourage everyone to join us for pizza, wings, and pop prior to the AGM and take part in the evening's activities🍕🍗

Please mark your calendars and plan to attend. We look forward to a great day on the course and an excellent turnout for our AGM and awards presentation.

See you there!

Sincerely,
Sault Hockey Officials Association Executive🦓⛳️

The Sault Hockey Officials Association is proud to congratulate local Fighting Zebras officials Brandy Beecroft and Nick Dicandia, who were both recognized last evening at the annual NOHA Awards Banquet held at the Quattro Hotel in Sault Ste. Marie.

Brandy was honored for representing the Northern Ontario Hockey Association at the 2026 IIHF Division I Women's World Championship in Budapest, Hungary while Nick was recognized for his selection to officiate at the 2026 Central Region U18AAA Championship in Markham, Ontario.

These prestigious assignments reflect the dedication, professionalism, and commitment that Brandy and Nick bring to the game, and we are proud to see local officials representing our community and Northern Ontario on major championship stages.

Pictured alongside former NHL Coach of the Year Ted Nolan, a proud member of Garden River First Nation, the recognition serves as a reminder of the opportunities that hard work and passion for officiating can create.

Congratulations, Brandy and Nick! Your Fighting Zebras family is incredibly proud of your accomplishments and wishes you continued success on and off the ice👏🦓

🚨ATTENTION: SHOA Officials🦓

Applications are now OPEN for the 2026 Kenneth R. Stiles Memorial Scholarships!

The scholarship program recognizes and supports the educational goals of hockey officials across Canada. Eligible male and female officials may receive up to **$10,000 annually** in scholarship awards.🎓📚

The Sault Hockey Officials Association encourages all eligible officials to review the scholarship package and apply.

📅 **Application Deadline:** June 19, 2026

For eligibility requirements, application details, and submission instructions, please refer to the scholarship package.

🏒🚨NOHA OFFICIALS UPDATE | 2026-2027 Season

First off — THANK YOU to all of our officials for a fantastic 2025-2026 season! 👏👏👏

We will have more details regarding our SHOA year-end meeting and awards night in the coming days - Please also keep an eye out for an announcement on a date for the 2026 SHOA Fighting Zebras Golf Classic👀⛳️

Here’s what you need to know heading into next year:

🔹 Level Advancement
• Level 1 Officials (16+ by Dec 31, 2026)
➡️ Register for the Level 2 Online Clinic

🔹 Recertification Requirements
• Be prepared — HCOP exam requires minimum 80% pass
• Recertification clinics are ONLY for current officials
• New officials should visit NOHA website to get started

🔹 Screening Policy (OHF)
• Officials 18+ must have a valid Vulnerable Sector Check
• Expired or No VSC = Not eligible to register or officiate
• If VSC is still valid, complete online declaration
• The submission portal is OPEN (as of April 1, 2026)

🔹 Clinic Timeline
• Online recertification clinics expected July/August

🔹 IMPORTANT REMINDERS
• HC insurance is inactive until you register for '26-27 clinic
• Do NOT accept games outside of RIC or Assignor
• Watch for email updates on the move to Spordle Play
• 2026-2027 RULE CHANGE YEAR
➡️ In-person clinic attendance is mandatory for ALL levels

Let’s stay prepared, stay sharp, and continue raising the standard of officiating in our community💪🦓

Enjoy your summer — we’ll see you back on the ice soon! ☀️🏒

SHOA OFFICIAL OF THE MONTH – FEBRUARY 🦓👏🏒

The Sault Hockey Officials Association is proud to recognize Drew Hankinson as our February Official of the Month, proudly sponsored by !

Drew continues to set the standard every time he steps on the ice. His tremendous attitude at the rink, strong work ethic, and commitment to improving his craft make him a standout official. Whether it’s game performance or development, Drew is always willing to listen, learn, and get better—consistently attending each and every one of our monthly meetings.

Now in his 3rd year as an official, Drew has taken big strides this season reffing U13AAA and lining U18AA. Most recently, he did an outstanding job lining the NOHA U15AA/AAA Tournament of Champions after earning his spot at the NOHA Officiating Development Camp this past summer. 💪

Your dedication to officiating and passion for the game do not go unnoticed. Keep up the great work, Drew—and thank you for everything you bring to the ice!

OfficiatingExcellence

👏👏Huge thank you to everyone who came out to our monthly meeting last night! It was a great evening connecting with our officials while taking in an exciting NOJHL matchup between the Soo Thunderbirds and Timmins Rock 🏒

We’re looking forward to carrying that energy into this weekend as we get set to host the U13AAA and U15AAA NOHA Tournament of Champions right here in Sault Ste. Marie!

Best of luck to all teams, and thank you to our officials for your continued dedication and professionalism. Let’s have a fantastic weekend of hockey! 💪🔥

Hockey Canada Rule of the Week🏒🇨🇦

When NOT to Call a Penalty! 🚨

This week we break down situations where a whistle isn’t always the right call — And why. Understanding when not to call a penalty is just as important as knowing the rules themselves.

Good officiating isn’t about spotting every technical infraction — It’s about reading the game, managing play, and ensuring fairness on both sides of the ice.

👉 We focus on:
• Advantage vs. disadvantage — Possession, Scoring opportunity
• Impact on the play — Is there a meaningful effect?
• Consistent game management — same standard for both teams
• Safety — non-negotiable and always #1

📺 Watch this week’s Rule of the Week:
https://youtu.be/jaJCRHHytxM?si=KaX3FdKq-zCSkhT0

Make the smart call — see the difference it makes💪

SHOA Official of the Month – January 🦓👏🏒

The Sault Hockey Officials Association is proud to recognize Madison Lang as our January Official of the Month! 🌟

Madison is a 1st year official who has already demonstrated outstanding professionalism and determination while navigating some very challenging situations early on in her referee career. Her composure, confidence, and commitment to doing the right thing have not gone unnoticed.

What stands out most is Madison’s growth mindset. She continues to actively work on improving her officiating skills and is using every experience as a learning opportunity to sharpen her abilities and become even stronger on the ice. That dedication is what makes great officials. 💪

Keep up the fantastic work, Madison! We are cheering you on every step of the way and you have our full support. 👏🏒

🚨 POLICY REMINDER – GREEN ARM BAND 🚨

The Northern Ontario Hockey Association (NOHA) continues to work hard to reduce instances of maltreatment in minor hockey — and one important tool that supports this effort is the Green Arm Band Policy.

Recently, Minor Hockey Associations have noted that some young officials are not consistently wearing their green arm band during games. This is a reminder of why it matters 👇

🟢 What the Green Arm Band Means

- It identifies officials who are under 18 years of age

- It reinforces the importance of respect toward young officials

-It allows for double suspensions under Rule 11 for those who violate maltreatment policies

- It does not indicate you are a first-year official

If you are 17 or younger, please remember to wear your green arm band for every game. Your visibility helps protect you and strengthens accountability within our game.

Officials over 17 — your leadership matters. Please mentor younger officials and help ensure they understand and follow this policy. Setting the standard on and off the ice makes a difference.

Respect for officials at all levels is essential to the growth and safety of our game.

Thank you to all officials for your continued cooperation and professionalism. 🏒💚

Hockey Canada Rule of the Week🇨🇦🏒

What’s the Call? — Slew Footing

This week we’re looking at a real game scenario: A player gets taken down while trying to get up — but was it accidental contact…or a penalty? 👀

👉 Slew footing is more than just a trip — It’s an action that can dangerously take an opponent’s feet out from under them.

The question for every official: Did you make the right call?

Hit play, watch closely, and see what the proper call should be based on positioning, intent, and player safety.

📺 Watch this week’s video:
https://youtu.be/XrpGphxFGas?si=1iDFLFNDW3LbDrY0

Stay sharp. Stay confident. Ref with purpose. 💪