Kim Kay's still in the game after more than 30 years of officiating hockey

Hockey official Kim Kay
C. Davis photo

Lloyd Lybbert, Student Voice

If you have ever seen a hockey game you probably know him. He wears a black and white jersey and isn’t allowed to body check. His name is Kim Kay and he is a veteran official.


Kim has been referee for over 30 years in Pincher Creek, and he has also refereed in other arenas including at Fort Macleod and Crowsnest Pass. Kim has been referee here in his hometown so long, it can be little bit harder than when he referees in other places, because there is always the possibility that it may appear you are picking a side.

Kim Kay taking it in stride 
C. Davis photo

When asked what he does with rude and unruly people he said 'Most times I will just ignore them unless they are coming to the point that it disrupts the game." Sometimes he may have to throw people out for being obnoxious and insulting to the referees, so Kay gives one chance to the player, coach, and/or supporter, and then if he must, he will throw them out of the arena. This goes for all people in the arena. Also, Kim says that many of the problems in the arena are caused by parents fighting in the stands.

Kim Kay officiates Midget Huskies/Irvine game
Lloyd Lybbert photo

Kim is one of the most experienced referees in Pincher Creek, and because of this experience he is the minor hockey assigner for the referees in here. For the list of the assigned referees there needs to be at least 8 or 9 senior referees so the senior teams don't see the same referees again and again.

Another Task that Kim is assigned to do is to stand in for other referees that are not able to make it to a game. He often spends 6 to 7 hours refereeing in a day.

Another day on the job - Kim Kay breaks up a fight between Pincher Creek and Warner Midget players
C. Davis photo

Throughout his years of referee Kim has seen a lot of changes. Some of these changes include the no hitting rule in Atom and Peewee. His opinion is that they should still have hitting in the lower levels, because it teaches the kids to hit properly and to take a hit before they get into the higher levels were there can be more of a weight difference. In fact one of my earliest memories of Kim is of when I was sent to the bench for a perfectly executed hit, just made 1 year too early.

Another change Kim has notice throughout his 30 years is the publicity and new rules about head hitting. He says that when he was playing hockey that the head hits were still there but the kids were taught to “shake it off” because there was no real knowledge of the effects of head hitting.

Kim has been a very good inspiration to younger officials in this town.

He says “Just remember we couldn’t have hockey without referees”.