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Official
Brad Howard
Brad Howard has been a cornerstone of hockey officiating in Saskatchewan. Over four decades, his contributions span officiating, supervision, instruction, and administration, making a lasting impact on officials at the local, provincial, and national levels.
Howard began officiating at age 13 and progressed through the ranks to become a Level 6 official. He worked in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) and Western Hockey League (WHL), officiating key events such as Hanbidge Cup Finals, Air Canada Cup Final (1985), Canada West CIS Finals (1989, 1990), and a CIS Final (1989).
Following his on-ice work, Howard dedicated himself to officiating development. He has been a clinic instructor and branch supervisor since 1983, mentoring elite officials working toward their Level 4 and 5 certifications. His administrative roles include serving as the branch referee-in-chief (2010-13), southern representative of officials (2001-09), southern clinic coordinator (1998-2001), and assistant Regina zone coordinator (1996-98). He has also been a director of officials for the SJHL, Saskatchewan Male U18 AAA Hockey League, and Canada West men’s hockey conference.
Howard’s national contributions include serving as a Hockey Canada national supervisor since 2000, overseeing Level 6 certification and mentoring top officials. He has facilitated numerous Hockey Canada master course conductor seminars, presenting on instructional methods, adult learning, and supervision modules. In addition, he was committee chair for the development of Hockey Canadas’ officiating workbooks for junior, intermediate, and senior officials.
His leadership in officiating has earned multiple honours, including the 2015 Hockey Canada Officiating Award and both the Hockey Saskatchewan and Hockey Canada Most Deserving Official Awards in 2021. He was instrumental in developing the Saskatchewan Officiating Development Model (SODM), which provides structured support for referees and linespersons, helping them advance within the game.
Howard continues to shape the officiating landscape through his work as a WHL staff supervisor (since 2001) and his involvement in national and international tournaments. He has served as referee-in-chief for major events, including the Centennial Cup (1999, 2017, and 2022), U Sport men’s national championship (2013 and 2014), the Under-17 International Challenge (2005 and 2012), and the World Jr. A Challenge (2016 and 2019). With a lifelong commitment to improving officiating, Howard’s contributions have strengthened officiating programs across Saskatchewan as well as Canada. His mentorship, leadership, and dedication to the craft have left an enduring mark on the hockey community, making him a deserving inductee.