PEIA new initiative aimed at promoting respect for young officials will take effect at Hockey P.E.I. games beginning this season, the organization says. On-ice officials under 18 to wear green armbands as part of their uniformGwyneth Egan · CBC News · Posted: Sep 25, 2025 5:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 4 hours agoA new initiative aimed at promoting respect for young officials will take effect at Hockey P.E.I. games this season, the sport organization says. All on-ice officials under the age of 18 will wear a green armband as part of their officiating uniform. (Gwyneth Egan/CBC)A new initiative aimed at promoting respect for young officials will take effect at Hockey P.E.I. games beginning with this season, the organization says. All on-ice officials under the age of 18 will wear a green armband as part of their referee uniform.”We’ve decided to launch this program this season… as another initiative to kind of reduce maltreatment and abuse of officials in the game,” said Tami Lewis, executive director of Hockey P.E.I., adding that some young referees have been subjected to being yelled at by spectators. “I think every season there’s always a few circumstances where spectators get a little too — let’s say, passionate.”Other hockey associations across the country have also implemented the green armband initiative in their leagues in an effort to reduce abuse directed toward officials. ‘It’s got to stop’ When it comes to aggressive behaviour and abuse, Keith Ford says there’s no need for it. ‘You can be passionate, enjoy your sport, but anger is not good,’ says Keith Ford, president of the Greater Charlottetown Minor Hockey Association. (Kirk Pennell/CBC)”We’re passionate people for our sport, but we’ve got to control that passion,” said Ford, the president of the Greater Charlottetown Minor Hockey Association. “There’s passion and then there’s going over the top with anger, which is not the same thing. You can be passionate, enjoy your sport, but anger is not good.” Ford said he hopes the green armbands will be a step in the right direction when it comes to fostering respect on the ice and in the stands. “We want to grow those young people and we don’t want to grow the abuse,” he said. “It’s got to stop, and we’ve got to let the young referees know that we respect them, we’re going to stand behind them, and we’re not going to put up with abuse.” Supporting young officialsHockey P.E.I. isn’t the only sporting body that’s drawing a line when it comes to harassment of young officials. A similar initiative involving pink shirts was put in place by the province’s soccer association this summer. Officials with the association said the initiative was a success and it plans to continue it going forward. Lewis said she hopes more sport associations continue efforts like these. “Collectively all our sport communities need to support our young officials, because without them… the games don’t take place.”ABOUT THE AUTHORGwyneth Egan is a reporter with CBC Prince Edward Island. She is a graduate of Carleton University’s master of journalism program and previously interned with White Coat, Black Art. You can reach her at gwyneth.egan1@cbc.ca
Hockey P.E.I.’s armband initiative reminds spectators not to hurl abuse at young referees
