Instead, he’s making the best of an opportunity to remain in the game as an on-ice official.
Dauphinee, a 20-year-old Kentville native, came up through the Kentville and Acadia minor hockey systems and capped his hockey-playing career as a four-year member of the NKEC Titans.
A smart, hard-working forward, he was part of two NSSAF provincial championship teams at NKEC, and in Grade 12, served as the Titans’ team captain.
“I’ve always loved the game, but I’d decided I’d gone as far as I could as a player,” Dauphinee said of his decision to end his serious playing career with his graduation from high school.
Another role on the ice
Dauphinee started officiating hockey about five years ago and has had Level 3 certification as a hockey official for the past two years. This allows him to referee high school games and minor hockey up to major bantam. He can also be a linesman up to the major midget level.
“I always enjoyed watching hockey officials, and watching them work,” he says.
To advance to Level 3, “you have to take both a written test and a fitness test.”
This past August, Hockey Nova Scotia Nova Zone co-ordinator of officials (and VHSHL referee-in-chief) Scott Russell put Dauphinee’s name forward to attend an invitation-only officiating camp in Antigonish.
“It was a great experience,” Dauphinee said. “I learned a lot, and I got to meet some of the NHL and QMJHL officials that were at the clinic, and talk with them.”
The camp was organized and run by Antigonish native and current NHL linesman Matt MacPherson along with Truro native and current NHL referee Jon McIsaac.
“I learned the way they deal with the game, and how they handle things when they get out of control,” Dauphinee said.
“It’s not all about going out, doing the game and getting out of there. There’s a lot more to it. It’s about training, eating right, staying in shape.”
Looking forward
As for where he would like to go from here as a hockey official, Dauphinee said in order advance to Level 4 or beyond, “you have to be asked if you want to go.”
He acknowledged, “I’d like to be asked.”
Although he says he is “living my dream right now” in being able to be an active hockey official at any level, “I’d like to someday be able to officiate in the Q. And my real dream is to one day be an NHL official.”
A top official
Russell, a still-active veteran official himself as well as the regional supervisor, said Dauphinee, Ryan O’Rourke and Riley Guest “are the top three young officials in our area right now – the future of officiating around here.”
“(Dauphinee) loves the game. I believe he has all the tools to become a very good official, and he’s dedicating himself to that,” Russell said.
Not only does Dauphinee have what it takes to be a top-level official, he’s doing it right, and is “a really good role model for younger kids,” he said.
“Dylan’s passion for the game shows in his officiating, and reflects his knowledge of the game and the levels at which he has played it.”
One of the things that impresses Russell with young officials is their ability to be objective in their job, regardless of the teams and players that are involved.
Dauphinee, he said, “has had no problem officiating games NKEC is playing in, and he has refereed major bantam games in which his younger brother was playing.”
At the camp in August, Dauphinee was named the most valuable official.
“He has the kind of maturity you don’t expect from a young official,” Russell said.
“He referees major bantam and high school right now, and he’ll probably be looked at for major midget next year” – when he will still be just 21 years old.
Instead, he’s making the best of an opportunity to remain in the game as an on-ice official.
Dauphinee, a 20-year-old Kentville native, came up through the Kentville and Acadia minor hockey systems and capped his hockey-playing career as a four-year member of the NKEC Titans.
A smart, hard-working forward, he was part of two NSSAF provincial championship teams at NKEC, and in Grade 12, served as the Titans’ team captain.
“I’ve always loved the game, but I’d decided I’d gone as far as I could as a player,” Dauphinee said of his decision to end his serious playing career with his graduation from high school.
Another role on the ice
Dauphinee started officiating hockey about five years ago and has had Level 3 certification as a hockey official for the past two years. This allows him to referee high school games and minor hockey up to major bantam. He can also be a linesman up to the major midget level.
“I always enjoyed watching hockey officials, and watching them work,” he says.
To advance to Level 3, “you have to take both a written test and a fitness test.”
This past August, Hockey Nova Scotia Nova Zone co-ordinator of officials (and VHSHL referee-in-chief) Scott Russell put Dauphinee’s name forward to attend an invitation-only officiating camp in Antigonish.
“It was a great experience,” Dauphinee said. “I learned a lot, and I got to meet some of the NHL and QMJHL officials that were at the clinic, and talk with them.”
The camp was organized and run by Antigonish native and current NHL linesman Matt MacPherson along with Truro native and current NHL referee Jon McIsaac.
“I learned the way they deal with the game, and how they handle things when they get out of control,” Dauphinee said.
“It’s not all about going out, doing the game and getting out of there. There’s a lot more to it. It’s about training, eating right, staying in shape.”
Looking forward
As for where he would like to go from here as a hockey official, Dauphinee said in order advance to Level 4 or beyond, “you have to be asked if you want to go.”
He acknowledged, “I’d like to be asked.”
Although he says he is “living my dream right now” in being able to be an active hockey official at any level, “I’d like to someday be able to officiate in the Q. And my real dream is to one day be an NHL official.”
A top official
Russell, a still-active veteran official himself as well as the regional supervisor, said Dauphinee, Ryan O’Rourke and Riley Guest “are the top three young officials in our area right now – the future of officiating around here.”
“(Dauphinee) loves the game. I believe he has all the tools to become a very good official, and he’s dedicating himself to that,” Russell said.
Not only does Dauphinee have what it takes to be a top-level official, he’s doing it right, and is “a really good role model for younger kids,” he said.
“Dylan’s passion for the game shows in his officiating, and reflects his knowledge of the game and the levels at which he has played it.”
One of the things that impresses Russell with young officials is their ability to be objective in their job, regardless of the teams and players that are involved.
Dauphinee, he said, “has had no problem officiating games NKEC is playing in, and he has refereed major bantam games in which his younger brother was playing.”
At the camp in August, Dauphinee was named the most valuable official.
“He has the kind of maturity you don’t expect from a young official,” Russell said.
“He referees major bantam and high school right now, and he’ll probably be looked at for major midget next year” – when he will still be just 21 years old.
