15-year-old Félix Savage doesn't dream of one day refereeing in the National Hockey League. He would rather be a police officer, hence the idea of drawing public attention to what he experienced a few weeks ago when he left a skating rink in the Quebec region.
The teenager was paid a little less than $30 that day to serve as head referee of an M13 C game, commonly called Pee-Wee C, at the Marc Simoneau Sports Center in Beauport. During the game, he was insulted by some of the players' parents, could not contain his emotions and burst into tears after the game.
“The most important thing for me as a referee is to ensure the safety of the players on the ice,” he said spontaneously. I am a calm and respectful person on the ice. I expect the same from coaches and parents in the stands… Because behind the referee there is someone who has feelings, and if there is no referee, there is no one in hockey.
Félix's story is unfortunately not unique, but certain coaches and certain parents will never make too many demands for respect and courtesy towards referees. The issue of the shortage of referees in Quebec has been discussed again and again for several years and does not only affect the sport of ice hockey.
Verbal violence
It was Stéphanie Denis, Félix's mother, who first contacted Le Journal to report her son's latest misfortune. The teenager who lives in Sainte-Brigitte-de-Laval loves ice hockey but also has other interests similar to those of young people his age. A music student at La Seigneurie High School, he says he loves anything related to creation, including the popular game Minecraft.
“As a human being he can make mistakes, but is that so bad? his mother asks. Personally I don't think so. He often has to deal with the frustration of coaches who unfortunately lack respect for him. You have to remember that he is only 15 years old and is just starting out in this field.”
“During the last game I attended, I was deeply disturbed by the comments made against my son,” she added. A mother, clearly unhappy with her boy's team's defeat, attacked him inappropriately. This goes beyond simple dissatisfaction and hearing such comments about one's own child is heartbreaking for a mother.
Have fun…
In addition to verbal violence, Félix is said to have been the victim of physical threats from the affected mother.
“As referees, we do our best,” explained the young man. Like the players, we are still evolving. What bothers me is that there are parents who sometimes want more than their children and forget that the main goal is to have fun.
Félix is categorical: it is not one or two more difficult games that prevent him from continuing to referee. Rather, he hopes to use this role to boost his confidence, as he admits he sometimes tends to doubt himself. All he asks in return is a minimum of respect.