I typically ref 5-10 games most weekends. I wear these little gel pads: Otherwise my ankles would just be a mess of blisters. Might be worth looking at.
It needs to be seen in. I would recommend buying both black and white stupid. Are the fuzzy side to your sweater. Use the hooks on the crest. I bought this for the crest. Last all season and very sticky. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AI28QFU?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
This sounds like something right out Patrick O'Sullivan's Autobiography
Glad the police got involved, shame the guy took off :(
I think that a lot of my surprise was that playing as long as I did, I saw a lot of scrub looking refs that were still great refs. Still do in my mens leagues. When I was playing AHA in college that was a different story, but I am not reffing AHA, I am reffing youth hockey.
I already got a new helmet specifically for reffing as well as a visor for the same.
Thanks for the whistle comment! I live in a very remote part of the country and ordered this whistle followed by this whistle before I broke down and paid the insane shipping to get it from officials wearhouse. According to the August 2013 Officials manual there is no requirement on what kind of whistle to purchase other than " Whistles should be finger type that provide a deep, loud blast. White tape should be placed on the mouthpiece and finger clasps to protect you from the sharp and hard edges." so I was going with the resources I had in front of me.
Agree with the ROI on doing a few games. Am now planning on putting aside all of my reffing income and using that to buy new skates when I work enough games to cover the investment.