For Colton Peak, hockey was never just a sport. It was simply part of growing up.
“I absolutely loved hockey. I [wanted] everything to do with it.”
From playing minor hockey in Burlington to officiating major games in Ontario, Peak has spent much of his life at the rink. This season, he enters his sixth season with the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) and his 11th year as an official, a journey that began with a simple desire to stay connected to the game he loved.
As soon as he was eligible at the age of 14, he signed up and began working games in Burlington while continuing his own playing career with the Burlington Eagles. What started as a first job quickly became a lasting passion.
More than a decade later, he’s still doing exactly that.
After working mainly locally, Peak joined the GTHL during the 2019-20 season. Although that first year ended abruptly due to the pandemic, he was immediately drawn to the high level of competition and the opportunity to learn from experienced officials.
One of the things he enjoys most about working in the GTHL is the variety.
He noted that the GTHL offers exposure to a wide range of environments across the Greater Toronto Area. Peak estimates he has skated in more than 50 arenas throughout his officiating career, giving him the chance to experience different teams, coaches, and game situations along the way.
Among those rinks, one has become especially familiar.
“Westwood seems to be a home for me,” Peak said.
Westwood Arenas has produced some of his favourite memories, both on and off the ice. Peak jokes about the crowded officials’ room during busy tournament weekends, where officials squeeze in between games, share stories, and build friendships that often last well beyond the season.
Those relationships are one of the biggest reasons he continues to officiate. The camaraderie has been just as rewarding as the hockey itself. At the same time, the relationships have kept Peak motivated to improve and take pride in his officiating assignments.
He routinely works five or six shifts a week during the season, giving himself plenty of opportunities to learn and gain experience. Still, he believes development goes far beyond simply collecting more games. All officials and supervisors play a part in analyzing and improving everyone’s officiating skills. Figures such as Ken Cox and Jim Carman played important roles in his development by offering advice and perspective throughout his journey.
The Burlington native has also learned the importance of staying physically prepared.
As hockey continues to get faster, officials need to keep pace. During the offseason, he focuses on fitness through cardio training, running, biking, and maintaining healthy habits. He believes strong conditioning gives officials a better chance to be in the right position and make the right decisions, especially when games become faster and more competitive.
Staying in shape is just as important as maintaining an open mindset.
No matter where the feedback comes from, Peak sees every game as another opportunity to learn. Even after more than a decade in officiating, he still approaches each assignment with the goal of improving.
That mindset has helped him thrive when the pressure rises.
One of Peak’s standout memories came during a Under-16 AAA championship game at Westwood Arena. The building was packed, every seat appeared occupied, and the atmosphere was unlike anything he had experienced earlier in his career. While some people might shy away from those situations, Peak embraces them.
“Personally, I love to thrive under pressure,” he said.
He believes officials are at their best when they remain calm, especially when important decisions need to be made. As a few officials have mentioned, great officials often go unnoticed throughout a game until a key moment arrives when they are needed most.
Peak deals with big game pressure very well, and it’s opened him up to opportunities across Ontario.
Peak was selected as an official for the Ontario Winter Games. He describes the event as a “mini Olympics” because it featured multiple sports, opening ceremonies, and athletes from across the province. The experience gave him the chance to meet people from different sporting backgrounds while representing the GTHL on a larger stage.
Peak has also worked multiple OHL Cup tournaments, including back-to-back gold medal games, and recently attended the Telus Cup in Peterborough. Experiences like those have shown him just how far officiating can take someone who is willing to put in the work.
Away from the rink, Peak is preparing to begin a career in policing with Peel Regional Police, but the skills he learned on the ice will contribute to his success in his new career path. Not surprisingly, he sees many similarities between the two worlds. Teamwork, decision-making, and managing challenging situations are all skills he developed through officiating and hopes to carry into his professional career.
While he continues to pursue new opportunities, his perspective on officiating remains refreshingly simple.
“It’s not always about getting to the next level. It’s about creating an environment where kids can have fun and enjoy the game.
For Colton Peak, that’s what has made the journey worthwhile. From those first early-morning games in Burlington to championship finals and provincial events, hockey has allowed him to give something back to the game that gave him so much.
