When Graham Joynt stepped away from officiating in 2006, he had spent years on the ice as a Greater Toronto Hockey League official. What he didn’t know was that it would be 15 years before he returned to the game.
When he finally stepped back onto the ice, the game – and officiating – had changed considerably.
“That was a real eye-opening experience,” Joynt said. “The biggest change was the way officiating developed.”
Growing up near Don Mills and Finish in Toronto, Joynt played competitive hockey for most of his childhood, representing the Goulding Park Rangers, Toronto East Enders Ticats, and Scarborough Young Bruins, among others.
He spent much of his playing career as a goaltender, a position that gave him a unique perspective on the game and the officials working it.
“Being a goalie, you watch a lot of hockey… you’re not participating in the game the same way as a player,” Joynt said. “You get to talk to the refs a lot [as well].”
Joynt began officiating in Hillcrest’s house league as a teenager. While he can’t recall exactly what prompted him to pick up a whistle, he remembers enjoying the experience from the start.
“I can’t really give you a definitive answer as to what got me into it,” Joynt said. “I just know I enjoyed it when I went out and did it.”
Officiating development looks considerably different today than it did when Joynt first stepped onto the ice. He recalls a time when officials attended on-ice tryouts, with fewer formal development opportunities available than there are today.
“Officials used to have tryouts. I remember going to the tryout at North York Centennial at the time. You’d go out on the ice, and they put you through drills.”
For Joynt, much of his development came through experience, learning from fellow officials and the games he worked. Over the years, he shared the ice with officials who would go on to achieve success at the highest levels of the game.
One memorable experience was working alongside Jacqui Palm, who later officiated at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City.
“It’s kind of cool that I’ve been able to line for an Olympic referee,” Joynt shared.
Joynt continued officiating in the GTHL until 2006, when growing business commitments began to take priority.
“I bought a business in 2005 and that’s why I stopped officiating,” Joynt said. “Then I started another business. I started that in 2009.”
Two businesses didn’t leave much room for officiating on the schedule. Joynt rarely skated or visited arenas during his time away from the game
“I may have gone public skating, but that was about it,” he said. I just focused on my businesses.”
Fifteen years later, a conversation with his father in-law opened the door to a return. After hearing that the GTHL was looking for officials, Joynt decided to reach out.
“I sent a note to Peter Kourtis,” Joynt remembered. “He said we’d love to have you back.”
Before stepping back onto the ice, Joynt prepared by visiting some local rinks before working his first assignment back.
“I went to watch a few games before my first shift,” Joynt recalled. “Just to see the procedure changes and what that looked like.”
After years of managing businesses and employees, officiating offers Joynt something different: the chance to focus solely on the game in front of him.
“I show up and I’m responsible for my own actions,” Joynt stated. “I can go out and focus.”
Joynt has adjusted to the modern game and appreciates the opportunity to contribute to minor hockey across the Greater Toronto Area again. And while much has changed since his first days as an official, his enjoyment of the game remains the same.
From someone who grew up watching the game unfold from the goal crease, Joynt still appreciates the moments that make hockey special.
“I still like it when goalies make big saves. That still makes me smile.”
After 15 years away, Joynt found his way back to the game, still with the best seat in the rink waiting for him.
