Have you ever received a phone call that completely shocked you? Well such was the case with a young referee from Kelowna.
From his perspective it might have been the Christmas gift he’s been waiting to get, but just been out of the loop.
Steve has been a WHL referee for eight (8) seasons and is currently working several games in the American Hockey League (AHL) and is still looking at the Pro Level of the game.
Like all officials he got his start working in the minor hockey and obviously showed some amount of talent
He had individuals who helped him throughout his career and all deserve special thanks for the hard work and dedication they gave to him.
Earlier in the week Steve (29) was in Portland getting set to work a WHL game when he got the call that made all the hard work worth it. The voice on the other end simply welcomed him aboard as he had been hired to work this year’s World Junior Hockey Championships.
Steve told the media “It was a pretty cool moment, it’s one of those goals that you have as a kid.” He continued “To get a call like this makes everything worthwhile, considering this is one of the biggest tournaments over the holidays. I’m a big fan of the World Junior tournament and obviously you would like to play in it. But when I start refereeing I didn’t think I would ever get this chance. It’s worked out. I’m still just in awe that this has happened.”
Steve is one of 12 referees that will work the round robin portion of the World Junior Hockey Championships, being held this year in Malmo, Sweden which beginning on Boxing Day.
There is no set number of games he will work but will be watched closely by the IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation). This is the body that will supervise the games then select the top referees to work the playoff and medal round games.
This will be the first time he has been away from his 20 month old son on Christmas, but to get the chance to work the world junior, makes his career choice special.
“As a fan growing up you would always watch it and want to play in it,” he said. “Now just to think I’m going to be there at Christmas instead of waking up and watching it with my Dad and my brother. I’m sure when I get over there it will start to sink in.”
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The NHL oversees referee development for the AHL and like players who are hoping to eventually hit the ice in the NHL,
“In the future there will be some turnover (amongst NHL referees),” he said. There are a lot of guys looking for those spots and I guess I’m on the radar. The chance is still there but it’s definitely a fine line if they are hiring at the right time and you are the right guy. Eventually you have to decide if you want to keep pursuing it. The next couple of years I will really know if the door is going to open.”
Working games at the WHL level is far from a full-time job as the men in stripes also have careers.
In his real life he works full-time sales jobs with Falcon Railing out of Kelowna and gets great support on the home-front since he and his wife became parents for the first time.
Steve continued “Being a father is definitely a lot of fun but it’s challenging when you are traveling a lot and have goals that you want to chase,” he said. “But I have a great wife at home who is very understanding and that makes it a lot easier.”
The World Junior Hockey Championships open on Boxing Day. As a Canadian, Papp will not be refereeing any of Team Canada’s games as per IIHF rules.
Sportswave Congratulates Steve on being selected.
