WHL’s Vancouver Giants to wear special jerseys for Referee Appreciation Night

Now, this is unique.

The WHL’s Vancouver Giants have released the jerseys for their first-ever Referee Appreciation Night, taking place Sunday, Oct. 22 at 4:00 PM local time against the Spokane Chiefs.

In a team statement, the Giants said they’re wearing the jerseys “in an effort to acknowledge and show support for the thousands of ice hockey officials in British Columbia and across Canada.”

“Our goal with this game is twofold: first, to acknowledge the hard work that on-ice officials do to ensure the game is safe and fair, and second, to shine a spotlight on officiating at the grassroots level here in B.C.,” said Pete Toigo, the team’s VP of operations. “Hockey can’t be played without officials. By hosting this game, we want to encourage youth to get involved in officiating and also show support for officials at all levels, who deserve more respect.”

Refs are a constant source of jeering from pretty much any fanbase. But this promotion is definitely a one-of-a-kind.

The Giants will wear the black and white striped uniforms, while the officials will wear special jerseys for an evening. The player uniforms will be available for auction from Oct. 8 until Oct. 24.

The Giants currently sit second in the B.C. Division with a 2-1-0 record. Prince George leads the way with a 5-1-0 record since the campaign opened up late in September. The Giants have two NHL draft picks, both belonging to Calgary: Samuel Honzen and Jaden Lipinski. Forward Adam Titlbach is one of the top European-born prospects for the 2024 NHL Draft.

The Giants were eliminated in the first round of the 2023 WHL playoffs, and last won the title in 2006.

Other special event nights for the Giants in 2023-24 include the team’s annual teddy bear toss on Dec. 9 against Everett and a Nickelodeon Night on March 3 against Seattle.