Referee of the Year
This award (legacy) has done in conjunction with the SRA (Saskatoon Referees Association) and SMHA (Saskatoon Minor Hockey Association). The main plaque is kept at the SMHA office, and a keeper plaque is given to each recipient along with $200.
Quinn Stevenson Memorial - Referee of the Year Annual.pdfQS Memorial Ref of Year Plaque.pdfQuinn Stevenson Memorial Referee of the Year Award Recipients:
2024 - Sawyer Harasymchuk
2023 - Dalton Van Der Nest
2022 - Austin Normand
2021 - Brooke Sands
2020 - Justin Primeau
2019 - Hayden McGowan
2018 - Brayden Glynn
2017 - Dawson Holm
2016 - Tyler Schlichemeyer
2015 - Aidan Penner
2014 - Joel Beresh and Aydon Brown
Great work Justin and Brayden! You have to know that Quinn will be with you for every step of hockey official journey.
2024
Sawyer Harasymchuk is this year’s recipient of the Quinn Stevenson Memorial Referee of the Year Award. Sawyer was presented with the award at the 2023-2024 SMHA AGM in April 2024. Along with the plaque and cheque from the Quinn Stevenson Memorial Trust Sawyer received some swag from Al Anderson's Source for Sports.
About Sawyer:
I grew up in Saskatoon my whole life and at the age of 4 I learned how to skate. I grew up playing minor hockey right in the city and at age 13 my parents encouraged me to get a part time job. I loved being on the ice so I decided why not get paid for being out there. Officiating from a young age while playing hockey helped me build a strong hockey sense and skating foundations.
After the Covid-19 pandemic, when hockey started up again, I quickly realized that I didn’t have a chance of making it as a hockey player, and I decided to take officiating more seriously. In the 21-22 and 22-23 season I was a regular in SMHA hockey and was fortunate to receive feedback from Referee in Chief Clint Joyes on a regular basis who helped me tons and has a huge impact on the official I am today. Senior SMHA officials such as Dalton Van Der Nest, Mike Alford, and Evan Koturbash also played a crucial role in helping me develop quickly. At the end of the 22-23 season I earned a roster spot at the u18 Sask First development camp to showcase my skills to provincial supervisors and assignors.
The 23-24 season was a big jump from me earning roster spots in the smaaahl and pjhl. I also did a lot of supervision for younger officials in SMHA. This season I had the privilege of working far into playoffs including the midget AAA and PJHL league finals, as well as various AA league finals. Without senior officials and supervisors taking the time out to come out and supervise me, I would have not developed into the official I am now. I am excited to continue my pursuit of elite hockey with goals of making it to the Western Hockey League.
2023
Dalton Van Der Nest is this year’s recipient of the Quinn Stevenson Memorial Referee of the Year Award. Dalton was presented with the award at the 2022-2023 SMHA AGM in April 2023. Along with the plaque and cheque from the Quinn Stevenson Memorial Trust Dalton received some swag from Al Anderson's Source for Sports.
2022
Austin Normand is this year’s recipient of the Quinn Stevenson Memorial Referee of the Year Award. SMHA Referee-in-Chief, Clint Joyes, presents Austin Normand with his 2022 Quinn Stevenson Referee of the Year plaque (right).
2021
Brooke Sands is this year’s recipient of the Quinn Stevenson Memorial Referee of the Year Award. The write up of Brooke's outlines the achievements that led to her being recognized for the QS Ref Award. It is particularly fascinating to know that Brooke taught herself how to skate at the age of 16, and now is officiating USport Women's and 18U AAA Men's/Women's. That is an amazing accomplishment - congratulations Brooke!
brooke_sands.pdfRef from Elrose winner in city minor hockey - The Rosetown Eagle May 3-2021
ref from elrose winner in city minor hockey - rosetown eagle may 3-2021.pdf2020
Justin Primeau is this year’s recipient of the Quinn Stevenson Memorial Referee of the Year Award.
Justin is 20 years old. He played hockey in the Redwing zone until he was 16 years old. Justin began officiating 8 years, and has worked his way up the ranks to this 2019-20 season where he worked as a linesman in the SJHL, PJHL, and Midget AAA leagues during the and worked as a referee in the Midget AA and Bantam AA leagues. Justin commented that he goal is to be the best official I can be at whatever level I will be working, and someday would like to be a referee in the SJHL. In addition to being an active hockey official, he is a third year Finance student with the Edwards School of Business with a Co-operative placement at FCL.
Justin commented upon receiving the news that he had received the Quinn Stevenson Memorial Referee of the Year Award ... "I am extremely grateful and humbled to win the Quinn Stevenson Memorial SMHA Referee of the Year award! I still remember one of the first games I ever officiated and Quinn came to supervise. I appreciate the opportunity to have received this award, the SMHA and Quinn helped pave the way to the point I am at today! Thank you to the Stevenson family and to SMHA."
It warms our hearts to see young hockey officials like Justin working hard towards their goals just like Quinn had been, especially in the last years of his life. It is neat to see that this years Referee of the Year recipient encountered Quinn at the beginning of his hockey officiating journey. Congratulation Justin! Keep working hard to achieve what you want from reffing and life, and make to sure to enjoy each step of your journey - just like Quinn would have.
This official presentation was done this fall - socially distanced of course.
2019
Bonny's Instagram of the Quinn Stevenson Memorial Ref of the Year awarded to Hayden McGowan.
2018
Congratulations to Brayden Glynn, recipient of the 5th Annual Quinn Stevenson Memorial SRA Referee of the Year Award. Brayden just began officiating hockey a few years ago. Before that, he refereed ball hockey - I believe Brayden still officiates ball hockey. Brayden was recognized as Referee of the Year for his dedication and his steadily improving officiating skills. Bonny and I presented Dawson a $200 cheque from the Quinn Stevenson Memorial Athletic and Spirit Trust, keeper plaque and main plaque at the SMHA AGM (see below). Al Anderson's also awarded Tyler with some swag for refereeing.
2017
Congratulations to Dawson Holm, recipient of the 4th Annual Quinn Stevenson Memorial SRA Referee of the Year Award. Dawson has been officiating for six years and is a dedicated official that has done nearly 100 minor hockey games in each of the past 3 seasons. He is also willing to help out and supervise younger officials where he can. He is passionate about refereeing and has put in many hours on the ice working to improve. Bonny and I presented Dawson a $200 cheque from the Quinn Stevenson Memorial Athletic and Spirit Trust, keeper plaque and main plaque at the SMHA AGM and SRA AGM(see below). Al Andersons also awarded Tyler with lots of swag - a new pair of Bauer skates and referee bag. Dawson Holt Quinn Stevenson Ref of the Year article in SMHA Hockey in Review article Oct 2017.
Dawson had a successful 2016-17 season: he is one of the officials selected to represent Zone 6 at the Bantam Sask First Camp in Regina. He was also selected as one of six linesmen from our province to officiate at the Bantam AAA Westerns this past weekend in Warman.
2016
Congratulations to Tyler Schlichemeyer, recipient of the 3rd Annual Quinn Stevenson Memorial SRA Referee of the Year Award. Joel Beresh began the awards ceremony by talking about Quinn the referee and person. Bonny also talked about Quinn as the referee, how important and fun refereeing can be, and the importance of having energetic and engaged officials for minor hockey. Bonny and I presented Tyler his $200 cheque from the Quinn Stevenson Memorial Athletic and Spirit Trust, keeper plaque and main plaque (see below). Al Andersons also awarded Tyler with a new pair of Bauer skates, referee bag and other things.
Tyler is completing his third season as a SMHA referee. He has progressed very well and very quickly. Tyler has worked over a 100 games per season the past three years! He was recently recognized by SHA as one of just four SMHA refs to be named to work the SaskFirst Bantam tournament April 14-17 in Regina. During the year I found Tyler was always working hard and always seemed to be enjoying what he was doing. These two traits were two things Quinn did very well as a hockey official. Way to go Tyler, you are very deserving of the Quinn Stevenson Memorial SRA Referee of the Year Award!
2015
Congratulations to Aidan Penner, recipient of the 2nd Annual Quinn Stevenson Memorial SRA Referee of the Year Award. Joel Beresh and Aydon Brown, co-recipients of the award last year, began the awards ceremony by talking about Quinn the referee (top picture of the collage below). Bonny, Shea, and I presented Aidan his $200 cheque from the Quinn Stevenson Memorial Athletic and Spirit Trust, keeper plaque, main plaque, and some SMHA mementoes of the award (middle picture of the collage below). Thanks to Al Andersons, Aidan will also receive a high-end pair Bauer skates, referee bag and other things. Aidan's parents and Josh Brown (a friend of Quinn's) from Al Anderson's also joined us for a picture (bottom picture of the collage). SMHA Fall 2015 Hockey in Review article on Aidan.
Some of Aidan's comments from the evening were:
"It's such an honour to receive this award from you guys in memory of Quinn"
"I was very surprised wasn't expecting it at all!" "It was Quinn who had encouraged me to try out at the zone camp for the first time three years ago. Its very humbling to receive this amazing award Thank you so much!"
Over the years, Aidan has reffed a number of games that Shea has played in and I have coached. He is a very confident and competent official, and like Quinn, works hard and you can tell has a lot of desire to become better official. Coincidentally,
Coincidentally, Shea, Aidan and two other Zone 6 are heading to the 2015 SaskFirst Bantam Tournament April 16-19th in Regina. Work hard guys, enjoy the moment, have fun, and know that Quinn will be looking after you all weekend.
refofyear_hir_fall2015.pdfCoach and ref of the year named - thesp apr 18-15.pdf2014
2014 recipients were Joel Beresh and Aydon Brown, best friends and fellow refs with Quinn. The awards were presented at the April 14th, 2014, SRA AGM.
