Officiating Program

Hockey Canada Officiating Pathway


Interested in becoming an on-ice official? Here is what you need to get your officiating career started.

The Hockey Canada Officiating Program (HCOP) offers the opportunity for participants of all ages to be involved in the game beyond playing. By following the levels of development, along with hard work and dedication, officials can find fulfillment in the form of advancement while making the game safe, fair and fun for all participants.

The Officiating Pathway is the foundation for the training, development and advancement for all officials across Canada. Hockey Canada has categorized the hockey played in Canada into five basic streams, each with different priorities. They include:

  • Introduction
  • Recreational
  • Competitive
  • High Performance
  • Adult Recreational

The Hockey Canada Officiating Pathway has been developed to address the following components of the program at both the Member and national levels:

  • Be inclusive and gender neutral.
  • Defining a process to allow individuals to join the system at the appropriate level.  
  • Providing equal opportunities for officials of the same skill level.
  • Developing a national standard that is adhered to by Members.
  • Building flexibility into a linear system.

Download the Officiating Pathway document here.

For more detail on how to begin your officiating career please reach out to your Member or local hockey association referee-in-chief