By Brady Lang

growing the game

Father-son duos don stripes for SHA provincial game

Feb 7, 2019 | 1:00 PM

Shaping character for life.

That’s one part of the Saskatchewan Hockey Association’s mandate for players, coaches and officials. Last night in Biggar, it was realized in more ways than one when four officials took the ice for a provincial playoff game between Biggar and Meadow Lake.

Sheldon Revet and his son Marc, along with Curtis Simon and his son Jonah, donned the stripes for the family affair.

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Both kids loved having their fathers on the ice, providing them tips all night, rather than a post-game talk. Both said the constant communication made them feel more comfortable.

Veteran official Sheldon said it was an incredible experience, and to do it with Curtis and Jonah, made it all the more special.

“It’s like a dream come true working with your kid, especially in a four-man system,” he said. “You get into a small town rink where the intensity is high. Everybody’s pumped up, the kids were fighting hard, it was a blast.”

The game was also a sight to behold. The second game of a two game total point series ended up going into double overtime, and the atmosphere was electric, according to Curtis.

“As officials, we were treating it just as it was a Stanley Cup game. It was great, and a pleasure to be able to do this game,” he said. “Sheldon and I do this because we love it, it’s a great sport and we just love the game.”

‘More than a game’ is the second part of the SHA vision and mandate. The coordinator for Zone 7 for SHA – which stretches from just north of Stewart Valley, up to just north of Waterhen Lake, around the Alberta border and west of Borden – Philip McGee, said this opportunity shows that officials are people with families and friends, not just skaters on the ice to give headaches to coaches, players and fans.

“I think opportunities like this acknowledge that officiating is more than just black and white and penalties,” he said. “This sees fathers and sons, mothers, daughters and siblings go out and become equals on the ice, and a great opportunity for each other to learn from.

SHA hopes to continue to grow this program, and make hockey more than parents coming by and dropping their kids off at the rink.

“Why (don’t parents) throw on some skates and become an equal on the ice and learn with their child, and advance through the system,” he said. “This highlights that officiating is a brotherhood or a family, in this instance, it definitely is.”

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brady.lang@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @BradyLangBFN