It’s a familiar honor for Shane Froebe, but no less special—he’s been named Zone 4 High School Hockey Official of the Year for the 2024-25 season. This marks the seventh time Froebe has earned the title, a testament to his dedication, skill, and passion for officiating the game he loves.
A love for the game that never fades
With 25 years of experience as a referee, Froebe’s journey into officiating started thanks to a simple conversation with a friend.
“Chomper Giesbrecht, he’s actually the one that got me started into it,” Froebe recalls. “One day we were talking, and he said, ‘You should start reffing.’ I said, ‘Really? This is a thing?’ I tried it out, and I fell in love with it instantly.”
Even after two and a half decades on the ice, the passion remains as strong as ever.
“It’s the relationships, and it’s the sport,” he says. “I love hockey, and I love the connections I’ve made over the years. Most of the time, I don’t even recognize people without their helmets on! But they remember me, and that’s a cool thing.”
Refereeing is a team effort
Froebe is quick to acknowledge that officiating is more than just making calls—it’s about constant learning and teamwork.
“We’re making decisions nonstop throughout the game, split-second calls,” he explains. “Sometimes, sure, you’d like to have one back, but that’s where we work on getting better. We learn from each other, we mentor each other.”
He credits mentors like Scott Beattie and Josh Ginter for shaping his career, even sharing a unique reversal of roles with Ginter.
“I mentored him when he started reffing, and then he advanced to a Level 5 official,” Froebe says with a smile. “Before I knew it, he was mentoring me!”
A high-speed, high-stakes game
High school hockey in Zone 4 is intense, and Froebe embraces the energy that comes with officiating the sport at this level.
“I go back to the finals this year—just a great game, both teams at the top all year long,” he says. “Honestly, I told the players this was probably the fastest-paced final I’ve ever done.”
For the players, the game feels like the biggest stage in the world, and Froebe believes they deserve the same level of commitment from officials.
“I want to give them the respect for whatever effort they put into the game,” he says. “I want to make sure I’m not settling for second best.”
A need for more refs
While Froebe has logged an impressive number of games—an estimated 60-70 this season and as many as 174 in his busiest year—he knows more officials are needed.
“We never have enough refs,” he says. “If anyone’s interested, reach out to your local minor hockey association or check the Hockey Manitoba website. The game needs good officials.”
With seven Official of the Year titles under his belt, Shane Froebe continues to set the standard for excellence in refereeing. His dedication to the game and those who play it proves that a great official isn’t just about making the right calls—it’s about making a difference on the ice.