How should I handle a complaint about an official?

Two Hockey Canada sources apply, and they cover different things.

Policy matters raised with a supervisor. The Hockey Canada supervisor's handbook says supervisors will be confronted by players and team officials in some situations, and must not become involved in policy matters. They should refer problems relating to policy to the appropriate league or branch authority. It also says a supervisor must never influence an official's decision or cause an official to change it during or after a game, because the final decision on all game matters rests with the officials on the ice. (This handbook is the Canadian Hockey Association's 2001 edition, published on cdn.hockeycanada.ca. It uses the term "branch".)

Complaints of Prohibited Behaviour, including maltreatment. Under Hockey Canada's Maltreatment Complaint Management Policy (effective July 1, 2026):

• Officials are within the policy's definitions of National Participant and Member Participant.
• Any individual or organization can submit a complaint, but must give their full name and contact information.
• Complaints against a Canadian Safe Sport Program participant must first go to Sport Integrity Canada (SIC).
• Complaints against a Member Participant go directly to the provincial or territorial safe sport body if one applies, or otherwise to Hockey Canada's Independent Third-Party (ITP).
• Complaints are made in writing through the ITP's online form, linked from the home page of Hockey Canada's website.
• If Hockey Canada, a Member or an MHA receives a complaint directly, it redirects it to the ITP only if the complainant consents in writing.

Sources: Supervisor's handbook (CHA, 2001), Role of the Supervisor; Maltreatment Complaint Management Policy, paragraphs 7 and 9 to 11.