Raynald Groleau: Ice Justice Keeper

He's been refereeing for 30 years and currently serves as Director of Officiating for the Trois-Lacs region. Raynald Groleau spends 20 to 30 hours a week recruiting referees, training them, scheduling games, supporting young officials, and of course, officiating himself. A police officer for the City of Montreal, Groleau may have a thirst for justice, but he’s first and foremost a lover of hockey.

The Human Behind the Stripes

They’re insulted, booed, and berated, yet referees are as essential to a hockey game as the players themselves. They're part of the game, with everything that comes with it:

“I’d love to officiate the game from above and stay out of the way, but that’s not possible,” says Raynald Groleau. “There will always be mistakes. Missing an offside is part of hockey. Sport is human—and so are referees. People often forget that. Coaches and players make mistakes too, but referees aren’t allowed to.”

Groleau reminds us that hockey is one of the fastest sports in the world, and referees must make a decision every second and a half throughout a match. The hardest part, he admits, is managing the emotional intensity on the ice. But that intensity isn't only the referee's burden—it's shared by all:

“Often, I have to call coaches out. I try to make them aware. If you insult young refs on the ice, they’ll quit. I also tell the parents, if you think you’re better than the ref, give me your name—I’m the Director of Officiating. I’ll put you on the ice next season. Prove to me you're better. They never call me back.”

Let the Kids Play

More than enforcing rules, Groleau believes referees are there to keep the kids safe and ensure everyone has fun playing Canada’s favorite sport:

“I could rewrite the rule book and find 5,000 more infractions to call, but would that make hockey more fun? Would it make it easier to manage? No. We have to let the kids play.”

Groleau spends 11 months of the year on the ice, happy to see the young officials he’s trained move on to elite and provincial levels. He compares his crew of about 60 referees to a hockey team:

“You have your top players, some not as strong, and you need to play your whole bench. You also have to help your top guys get even better so they can move up to higher categories.”

According to him, a good referee needs four to five years in one level before becoming truly comfortable. If, as parents and coaches, we agree that young players should first and foremost enjoy the game, maybe we should offer the same mindset to referees. Everyone would benefit—especially the young ones stepping onto the ice, invisible under their black-and-white stripes.

Respecting the Stripes

Referees—no matter the sport—will always be the scapegoats when questionable decisions arise. They’ve long stopped waiting for applause. But here and now, let’s tip our helmets to the justice keepers of the rink and to all the Raynald Groleaus out there: you are essential, human, and welcome as we begin another season sure to be filled with passion and emotion.