CARLYLE - Hockey fans from all over southeast Saskatchewan have seen Rob Klassen officiate countless games over the years.
He and Melissa moved from an acreage 25 kilometres south of Carlyle to a residence at White Bear Lake in 2021. Rob, 46, is the health and safety co-ordinator for Canadian Energy Services. Melissa is leaving her Alameda hairdressing business after 23 gratifying years and is now employed at the Moose Mountain Lodge.
They have three children, Dahlyn, 21, Brittney, 19, and Aidria, 16. Dahlyn lives in Saskatoon and installs overhead garage doors. Brittney works at the Kenosee Inn and Aidria is in Grade 10.
Klassen started officiating when he was 13. He started doing lines for Big Six hockey games at age 15. In 2002, while working an Estevan Bruin SJHL game, he severely injured his knee, completing tearing his MCL.
This serious injury took two years to heal and after briefly returning to officiating, took an extended leave of absence in 2006 when he became manager and or coach of his son and daughter’s respective minor hockey teams.
In 2018, he went back to full-time officiating only to have two years of the pandemic severely limit the number of games played. Recently, he just completed officiating a full season.
Klassen is now a seasoned referee and is well respected in all hockey circles including the Big Six senior league. He has worked countless midget and senior provincial and playoff games over the years. He absolutely loves officiating and the friends he has made through his many connections within the sport.
Said Klassen, “We have a great group of guys and are like a brotherhood. The game is a lot faster than it was 20 years ago and the four-man system (two referees and two linesmen) has been a welcome change. There is a lot more finesse now with less body contact but more stick checking. Having an extra pair of eyes on the ice is appreciated.”
Recruiting and retaining officials is very much on the mind of Klassen, Hockey Sask. and the game of hockey in general. He added, “Senior officials go out of their way to mentor as many young officials as possible and provide them with positive feedback to help them become the best that they can be. We have a small nucleus of good kids coming up. While there is perceived zero tolerance for abuse of officials, every town and every team have their troublemakers and they must be singled out at every opportunity. Young officials are very fragile, and we must do our part to keep them in the sport.”
Klassen estimated that he has officiated over 100 games this past winter. He has loved every single minute of it and, while he is looking forward to a great summer of relaxation and rejuvenation, definitely plans on lacing them up again next fall.
