Ontario Soccer proudly recognizes the outstanding Match Officials who were appointed to the 2024 OPDL Gary Miller Charity Shield, held from October 26-27, 2024. As one of Ontario Soccer’s most high-profile events and an annual highlight for the soccer community, being selected to officiate this tournament is a distinct honour. This year’s event also celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Ontario Player Development League (OPDL), marking a decade of excellence in high-performance youth soccer and development for players as well as Match Officials. 

Representing six districts, the selected Match Officials displayed exemplary professionalism on and off the field all weekend long.

“Across the weekend, the Match Officials performed at a very high level,” said David Barrie, Manager of Match Official Development at Ontario Soccer. “Major decisions were given with confidence, and I was impressed by the work rate and desire to be in the right position. There are few opportunities to bring in Match Officials from across the province and it was fantastic to see the relationships between the group grew off the field.”

The referees were as stylish as they were skilled, dressed sharply in the Ontario Soccer x O’Neills Match Official kits. A special representative from O’Neills Sportswear North America was even on-site to see the gear in action.

Congratulations to our appointed Match Officials, whose talent and dedication were showcased throughout the tournament. We look forward to watching you continue to grow and inspire others in Ontario’s officiating community!

“The Match Officials were chosen due to their performances over the course of the season,” Barrie explained. It was also an opportunity to observe Match Officials who recently moved to Canada, and wish to continue their refereeing careers in Ontario. For example Amir Saman Soltani, who refereed the Boys U17 is a former professional referee from Iran who moved to Canada a few months ago.”

We also extend our appreciation to Kurtis Portengen and Arshia Aliakbari, who joined the officiating team on short notice due to injury. We commend their attitude and willingness to serve the soccer community.

“The Gary Miller Charity Shield features some of the best youth players in Ontario. The intensity and importance of these games make it more challenging for the Match Officials. It is also an opportunity for the referees to get feedback and education from more experienced people,” Barrie said.

On Saturday evening, the Match Officials attended a dedicated education session focused on skill refinement. Key themes including Penalty Area Positioning and Team Tactics were reviewed, with officials encouraged to integrate these insights into their officiating for the remainder of the tournament and beyond. Additionally, the group had a candid discussion about making big game decisions early on in a match, reinforcing the officials' ability to manage games confidently.

 “Officiating in the OPDL is a critical step in a Match Official’s journey. This is their first exposure to the talented pathway, where all of the games are recorded and a chance to get support before they progress to senior Provincial leagues,” said Barrie. “We’ve seen several referees officiate in the OPDL who are now on the Canada Soccer National List of Officials and I want to see that continue.”

The 2024 OPDL Gary Miller Charity Shield raised funds that will be directed toward meaningful causes, continuing the event’s tradition of combining soccer excellence with community support. We appreciate everyone who contributed to this year’s event and look forward to doing it again in 2025!