Jagger Bitz of Warman has been named the Most Promising Official for Zone 5 by Hockey Saskatchewan.
Bitz was one of four young officials in the province’s northern zones (Zones 5, 6, 7 and 8) to receive an award through the Hockey Saskatchewan Officiating Development Program (ODP). This program focuses on developing officials and supporting their advancement through the officiating pathway
Each season, the program selects four zone award winners in the category of Most Promising Official. This award recognizes a younger official who shows strong potential to progress to higher levels of hockey.
Bitz returned to Saskatchewan this season after spending time in the United States as a student-athlete, pursuing golf opportunities. Since returning, the now 20-year-old picked up right where he left off. Bitz rejoined the Officiating Development Program (ODP) and stepped into roles in the AAA and Prairie Junior Hockey League as a linesperson, while also officiating numerous minor hockey games, including Under-15, Under-16, and Under-18 AA levels. He also participated in the Sask First high-performance program, where he was ranked as one of the top officials at the Northern Regional Camp in December. He capped off a strong season by officiating the ‘A’ Final at the Sask First Male Under-18 Tournament in April.
This season featured a particularly strong group of candidates from Zones 5, 6, 7, and 8, making the selection process highly competitive. The northern zones (5–8) are recognized this year, as the selection alternates each season with the southern zones (1–4). In addition to receiving the award, each of the four winners is also nominated as Saskatchewan’s representative for Hockey Canada’s Most Promising Official Award.
The Hockey Saskatchewan Officiating Development Program (ODP) is committed to enhancing officiating standards across all levels of hockey in the province. Through recruitment, education, and support, opportunities are provided for officials to excel and contribute to the vibrant hockey community in Saskatchewan.