The Ontario Hockey Federation's Annual General Meeting was hosted on June 25th in Toronto where they recognized their 2021-2022 award recipients.
Among the recipients were ALLIANCE Hockey's Technical Director of Officiating,
Marshall Copp who received the
2021-2022 OHF Officiating Award.
The OHF Awards Program was introduced during the 2001-2002 season to formally recognize the efforts and achievements of volunteers and administrators who dedicate countless hours in putting the interests of our game ahead of their own.
M. Copp & C. Houben
MARSHALL COPP - OHF Officiating Award 2021-2022
This award recognizes individuals actively involved in the officiating program for their contribution to the game, for their officiating skills and for what they put back into amateur hockey within the Branch.
Marshall Copp is the current ALLIANCE Hockey Technical Director of Officiating and has held this position for the last fifteen years. Prior to becoming Technical Director, Marshall was heavily involved in the officiating program in the roles of Supervisor of Officials and Clinic Instructor, roles he continues to fill today.
As an active Level five Official, Marshall has over 47 years of experience wearing the black and white stripes. He began his officiating career in 1975 working in the OHL at the age of 18. With two years of experience under his belt, he quickly found himself working Junior D hockey games, including finals from 1977 through 1982. Copp also has experience working games in the OHA from 1975 through 2000. Copp has been a constant on-ice presence within the WOAA where he has skated games since 2006 and continues to do so today. He has worked the final in the WOAA throughout his entire on-ice career, a special feat indeed. Adding to his on-ice resume, Marshall officiated in the 2015 Canadian Tire Para Hockey Cup World Sledge Hockey Championships in London, ON.
While Copp has an abundance of on on-ice experience, his off-ice contributions are noteworthy. Copp has been a Referee Supervisor and Clinic Instructor since 1993. As a Supervisor, Copp has dedicated hours upon hours of time evaluating the on-ice structure of officials within the game-setting. Following all games, an in-person conference with the officiating crew to review the game is held as well as a game write-up allowing feedback for the officials. Supervision allows for positive and constructive consideration that is intended to improve game management and overall officiating. Copp has always taken pride in being able to evaluate and supervise all levels of officials.
Along with supervisions, Copp has dedicated years to the coordination and instructing of certification and re-certification clinics within both ALLIANCE Hockey and the OHF. His instructing experience spans from entry-level clinics all the way through to the Level 4/5 Upgrade Seminars, where he has contributed to the teaching and grading components on behalf of the OHF and Hockey Canada. Clinic involvement includes not only the in-class module preparation and instruction but also on-ice evaluation. Follow up exam grading and work with officials are key areas that Marshall has committed to over the many years.
Marshall has always been a big proponent of mentorship within the Officiating program. He has always stressed the importance of providing mentorship to all levels of Officials which helps to provide further growth and development. It has become an important component of the officiating program and has assisted in the retention of numerous officials. By creating this avenue for officials who may want to speak to someone about an on-ice experience or bounce a rule question off of, Copp’s goal has been to help make the job of an official a little less intimidating through support and guidance.
On top of his role as Technical Director of Officiating, Marshall sits on the ALLIANCE Hockey Board of Directors as a voting member. He attends all Board Meetings, Association Meetings, Referee Working Group Meetings and oversees Discipline while always providing a strong voice for the Officials. He has also represented ALLIANCE Hockey at various Championships and events throughout his years of service. His consistent dedication and commitment to the game and the Officials is commendable.
Away from the ice, Marshall is an avid Ball Hockey Official. He has taken his skills from the ice and translated them to the floor allowing him to continue to instruct and mentor officials. There is no argument that the two sports intersect and both benefit from his involvement.
It is easy to recognize that Marshall is not only good at his job but also truly enjoys all aspects of officiating. This is evident through his coaching and mentoring of fellow referees, his availability to always answer questions, his commitment to problem-solving and his ability to provide an on-ice viewpoint. Combine these things with his wealth of knowledge and it is easy to see why Marshall Copp is the recipient of the 2021-2022 OHF Officiating Award.