Wild host referee clinic to train up next generation of hockey officials

The Minnesota Wild hosted an event Sunday to prepare the hockey referees of the future.

Those who attended the first-year youth hockey referee clinic at Xcel Energy Center had a chance to complete the seminar requirement for their Level 1 certification, get on the ice for practice and participate in a Q&A session with NHL officials.

“Our goal is really to get these kids to want to be officials, to want to eventually give back to the game, probably make some money — and especially as they move on to college, they got an awesome part-time job waiting for them as well,” said Mark Verplaetse, seminar coordinator for the Minnesota Hockey Officials Association.

Later, the referees-in-training earned free admission to the Wild’s first preseason game Sunday afternoon against the Colorado Avalanche.