Reffing hockey - part 1

The sport I've been playing since the age of 5 is quickly becoming one of the most dishonorable games in my books. I'm assuming its always been this way, but I am only coming to a better realization of the fallacy, the stupideness, the idiocy, barbaric and the primitive behaviors many humans still exhibit while participating in sports. Naturally, there is a deeper confusion or conflict which causes us to engage in such ridiculous battles on the ice. However, the true battles lies in the ego.

I was the referee of a semi-final Peewee A game, ages 11-12, and it was what I thought a great game. One team was favored to win, yet they were down 2-0 early. The favorites slowly clawed their way back to winning the game 4-2. Now, I've learnt to be very objective and I honestly believe I know when things go a little rough during games as an official. It's difficult to see every single act out there and sometimes you know you either made a weak call, or missed a big call. But it usually evens out in the end and the better team will more often than not, win the game. Anyhow, after this particular Peewee game was done, I said to myself I had done a clean game and felt relatively invincible to all (which is the objective of the refs). Then, before the teams shook hands the head coach of the losing team was looking at me for a bit, and after shaking hands and saying "good game", "good luck in the finals", "good job", "well played" ... and whatever else he might have said to a younger person, he came to me and proceeded to tell me this :

"I've been coaching for a few years now and I've never said anything to any ref. But this was the worst officiating I've ever seen."

Let me just leave it at that for now. I'll formulate more later.