Registration remains open for anniversary edition of annual officiating development camp, taking place August 24–26. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
As the GTHL Referee Summer Camp prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary this August, it continues to bring officials together to learn, develop, build confidence, and prepare for the season ahead.
The annual camp will celebrate its milestone anniversary when officials from across the Greater Toronto Area and beyond gather from August 24–26 for three days of classroom education, on-ice instruction, mentorship, and practical game experience.
“When the camp started 25 years ago, GTHL Technical Director of Officiating Steve Wallace had an idea,” said Peter Kourtis, General Manager of the GTHL. “He wanted to blend the summer experience with an opportunity to start thinking about hockey again, while bringing together everyone from first-year officials to experienced veterans.”
That commitment to supporting officials at every stage remains at the heart of the camp today.
Veteran officials have the opportunity to continue their own development while also sharing their knowledge with the next generation. Many former participants who first attended the camp as young officials have since returned as instructors, mentors, and leaders.
“It’s a sense of community,” Kourtis continued. “We now have former students who attended as kids, continued officiating, and come back to give their time to new officials. It’s just like a coaching community coming together to support the new generation of officials.”
Formerly known as “Ref School,” the camp is hosted by the GTHL’s Canadian School of Hockey Officiating and supported by the GTHL Officiating Development Committee (ODC). Instruction, supervision, and mentorship are provided by experienced Ontario Hockey League and Ontario Hockey Association officials, certified Hockey Canada referees, and Ontario Hockey Federation instructors.
The 2026 camp features five officiating program streams designed to meet participants wherever they are in their development:
- Quick Start introduces new officials to the fundamentals of officiating in a supportive and approachable environment. CLICK TO REGISTER.
- Junior Development is designed for officials entering their second or third season who are ready to build on their early experience. CLICK TO REGISTER.
- Enhanced Recertification provides experienced officials with a more comprehensive alternative to a traditional recertification clinic. CLICK TO REGISTER.
- Officiating Advancement supports officials looking to elevate their skills, work at higher levels of minor hockey, or potentially progress toward junior hockey. CLICK TO REGISTER.
- Supervisor and Leadership Development, a newer camp offering, is designed for current or aspiring supervisors, mentors, and leaders within the officiating community. CLICK TO REGISTER.
- Junior Timekeeping Clinics are also available for individuals who are new to timekeeping or have one year of experience. CLICK TO REGISTER.
Throughout its history, the camp has welcomed accomplished officials from the NHL, American Hockey League (AHL), OHL, and other levels of the game.
While their experience may differ from that of a young official preparing for a first minor hockey assignment, many of the emotions are familiar.
“It is amazing to see a 15-year-old official speaking with an NHL veteran and realizing they have experienced some of the same feelings,” said Kourtis. “Professional officials will speak openly about being nervous before games and about the things they think about before stepping onto the ice.”
Those conversations help create an environment in which participants can ask questions, make mistakes, and recognize that confidence develops through preparation and experience.
Participants receive a combination of classroom instruction, video review, on-ice development, and real-time feedback.
One of the camp’s defining features is the opportunity to officiate in a game environment. For new officials, it may be their first chance to manage the nerves that come with stepping onto the ice. Returning officials can use the experience to sharpen their positioning, skating, communication, and decision-making before the season begins.
“A highlight of the camp is getting into a game situation in the evening,” said Stephanie Hyde, the GTHL’s Manager of Development and Community Outreach. “A first-year official can work through those initial jitters and get real-time feedback from leaders in our officiating community. Returning officials can get back on the ice, dust off the cobwebs, and prepare for the season.”
Participants can also earn their certification or complete their recertification requirements during the camp, allowing them to enter the season prepared without attending a separate fall clinic.
More than a clinic, the GTHL Referee Summer Camp is an opportunity for officials to form relationships, learn from one another, and become part of a wider officiating community.
“Our Referee Summer Camp is more than just learning about officiating on the ice,” Hyde concluded. “It’s about bringing together as a whole with the officiating community.”
The 2026 GTHL Referee Summer Camp will take place August 24–26 and is open to participants who will be at least 15 years old by the end of the calendar year. Officials from outside Canada are also welcome to participate.
Registration remains open. To learn more about the available programs and register, CLICK HERE.
