Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League referee Josh Chernoff is adding an umpire’s mask to his uniform stripes.
Chernoff has been officiating as a linesman in the VIJHL since 2016 and recently started refereeing, also lines BC Hockey League games, and has been given a scholarship by the British Columbia Umpires Association to attend the Wendelstedt Umpire Academy in Daytona Beach, Florida in January.
The month-long course will give him an opportunity to work alongside current Triple A and Major League Baseball umpires, and potentially grant him opportunities to officiate higher levels of baseball.
“This is a huge opportunity to learn from the best officials in their respective sport,” says Chernoff, who lives in Powell River. “I intend to soak up any knowledge they provide, and bring it back to British Columbia ready for the new season. I also intend to return to the VIJHL and BCHL in February to get ready for the end of the regular season.”
Carl Poole, Director of Officiating and Player Safety for the VIJHL, states: “Josh is an excellent referee in the VIJHL and has shown tremendous dedication to officiating. Josh travels to the island once a month to work game in the VIJHL, and worked the VIJHL finals as a referee last year. He is well regarded as one of the top referees in our league by both his peers and coaches.”
Chernoff has been umpiring minor baseball for one season and enjoys it.
“I have taken a lot of what I learned on the ice as a referee, which has made the transition from on ice officiating to on umpiring very smooth,” he notes. “I owe a lot to people such as Brad Lazarowich, Carl Poole, Steven Brown and Matt Williams, to name a few, for making me the official I am today.
“I also owe everything to my parents Bill and Tara who have travelled to my games since I started officiating, putting in countless hours on ferries to and from Powell River, supporting me at the rink and most recently, on the field.”
VIJHL President Mark MacDonald adds “Our league is all about giving young people an opportunity to grow as individuals and in their skills which we hope will enable them to reach higher goals in life. We couldn’t be prouder of Josh and what he has already, and look forward to his bright future.”
