There were tears the first time Michael Girard stepped onto the ice.
Today, he’s a Greater Toronto Hockey League official, but his love for hockey didn’t come instantly – it took time to grow.
“My dad was excited to get both my brother and I on the ice as soon as he could,” Girard said. “I hated it. I cried because the gear felt so bulky and uncomfortable.”
As Girard adjusted, he found his attitude towards the game turning.
“Once I got used to the equipment and found my footing on the ice, everything changed,” said Girard. “That’s when I really started to fall in love with the game.”
Girard’s love for playing hockey has stayed with him ever since, but it wasn’t until years later that he started thinking about donning the stripes. His path to officiating begins where most would least expect it – on a tennis court in the middle of the desert.
“I spent about 10 years living and working overseas in places where ice wasn’t exactly a priority. Jordan, Iraq, Yemen – definitely not your typical hockey environments,” said Girard. “A few friends and I actually started the Amman Ball Hockey League, and we played on a tennis court at the U.S. Embassy.”
A world away from his home, the league allowed Girard to keep his passion for hockey alive. He recalls staying up all night to watch the Stanley Cup Playoffs – this gave him the chance to keep talking hockey with his friends at home. He brought a hockey stick when he moved to Yemen and would take any opportunity to stickhandle or shoot a ball around inside the compound.
“Even the guards would sometimes join in and try to take a shot,” Girard recalled. “It turned into this funny little moment of cultural exchange in what was otherwise a really tough place to live.”
While providing a bridge between cultures – and an escape from the harsh realities of life in a war zone – Girard’s hockey stick also served as a reminder of what the game meant to him. When he returned to Canada in 2021, he began looking for ways to get involved in hockey again. The idea to try officiating came from his father.
“My dad got into refereeing later in life, and it was like this new spark in him that I hadn’t seen for years,” Girard said. “While I was overseas, he’d always call me up with referee questions, like ‘what call would you make here?’ or ‘how would you handle this situation?’”
“At the time, I thought he was just picking my brain,” Girard laughed. “But looking back, I realize he was actually using me to prep for his certification exams.”
Girard’s father encouraged him to give officiating a shot, and while initially hesitant, he eventually capitulated.
“I finally decided to take his advice and registered for the Level 1 clinic,” said Girard. “[My dad] was so excited that he even bought me my first set of referee gear.”
From there, Girard fell in love with a new side of the game – officiating – and the opportunity to reconnect with hockey was all the more meaningful when shared with family.
“My first game was extra special, because I got to skate it with my dad as my partner,” Girard said. “That’s a memory I’ll never forget.”
With his first game out of the way, Girard dove headfirst into wearing the stripes. His eagerness helped him get past his initial doubts but also was a cause of frustration.
“I had to learn to be patient,” Girard explained. “Early on I wanted to be everywhere on the ice, and make sure that everything was perfect.”
Despite the early difficulties, Girard learned quickly. In the four years since, he has quickly risen up through the ranks. He has been selected to officiate several high-profile tournaments, including the Under-13 ‘AAA’ Ontario Championship and the OHL Cup. What he’s most proud of, however, is something bigger than a game.
“One of the things I’m most proud of is being welcomed into the team of supervisors in the GTHL recently,” said Girard. “I know how much I learned from people who guided me early on, so it feels great be able to give that back.”
Girard is grateful for the opportunity to share his lessons with new and aspiring officials. Only a few years removed from his debut, he’s aware of the challenges and doubts that come with trying to get started.
“I’ll be honest, those first few games can be overwhelming. What looks simple on paper quickly turns into players flying in every direction,” said Girard. “But once you push through, you realize how much fun it actually is. With time and experience, you start to get more comfortable, and the game slows down for you.”
Girard is also well aware of the microscope that officials are under. In a fast-paced environment, mistakes happen and calls inevitably get missed. Girard encourages all participants in the game to take a step back and recognize the efforts that officials are putting in.
“We are all trying our best, and we are committed to ensuring a safe and fair game for everyone,” said Girard. “We take pride in our work, and we hope that it shows through just how committed we are.”
