Rimouski Jonathan Girard will take a big step forward on Sunday at the Colisée Financière Sun Life, when he will work in a 250e regular season game as an official in the QMJHL.
Its first game dates back to September 28, 2012 during the visit of the Saguenéens de Chicoutimi to Rimouski.
“I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to graduate in the QMJHL. When I started as a minor hockey referee, I went to see Océanic games and my dream was to be able to referee in that league. One thing led to another, with sacrifices and efforts, I graduated. I want to thank Richard Trottier, my superior since I arrived in the league. He gave me the opportunity to start as a linesman in the QMJHL,” he says in an interview with Le Soir.ca.
He was barely 13 years old when he wore the striped sweater for the first time and, a few years later, graduated to midget AAA, before the QMJHL.
Sunday will be his 250e game in addition to six others in the playoffs including the three in the series against Cape Breton which were played in Rimouski last spring.
Also chief referee
Of the 249 games in season on his CV, 89 were with the orange stripes of the chief referee. This is because in 2015, he decided to move to the Montreal region, to Saint-Jérôme, to facilitate his assignments as head referee in various provincial leagues.
“It was easier to reach higher levels and gain experience and background in the university and junior AAA leagues. It also allowed me to travel throughout Quebec in the QMJHL with the objective of perhaps reaching the professional ranks. But, I didn’t have this opportunity,” mentions the one who has a level 4 from Hockey Canada.
Three years later, Girard has turned this page.
“I had a decision to make. I saw how things were shaping up. I could see that the doors were starting to close a little. I asked Richard (Trottier) if it was possible to come back as a linesman if I returned to Rimouski. He said yes. »
At Desjardins
In 2018, he returned to Rimouski in a new job as a wealth management advisor at Desjardins.
This allows him to continue to referee school and college hockey, while doing some minor work where he can help young people.
Without forgetting his assignments, mostly in Rimouski, in the QMJHL. He also worked in a match in Quebec recently and will be in Bathurst in two weeks.
There were others
If the arrival of the Océanic in 1995 facilitated the presence of players from the region in the circuit, it also opened the doors to officials from Bas-Saint-Laurent. Girard is currently the only one in the region to work in the circuit.
Others preceded him, all as linesman. Let us think of Luc Langlois, Tony Belzile, Olivier Therriault, Dominic Bélanger, Stéphane Ouellet, David Boucher and Jean-Philippe Michaud, who quit last year.
There is no question of retirement for him.
“As long as I have the ability to continue, I want to be there, I still have the passion. The fact of no longer having to travel throughout Quebec also helps with my job. »
On the other hand, on occasion, he has to travel: this year, he worked in a match in Quebec and will be in Bathurst in two weeks.
Thanks and advice
“I would like to thank all the officials who helped me in my development,” he said. And he has advice for young officials.
“No matter what level you referee, give your best in every match, be honest and authentic. »
Speaking of advice, he remembers the one given to him by Johnny Murray who had a long career in the NHL. “He told me that the goal is not to be loved, but rather to be respected. »
Bon 250e match Jonathan Girard !
