Hockey P.E.I. is concerned that an increase in abuse of officials could make recruiting referees even more difficult.

'We're concerned with any type of physical abuse.'— Rob Newson

So far this season referees have been physically abused on seven occasions, as compared to only four incidents reported all of last season.

"These range from a push. We've had a head-butt. We've had an actual punch," said Rob Newson, executive director of Hockey P.E.I.

"We're concerned with any type of physical abuse, but the ones at the high end of the scale are the ones that really concern us."

The officials abused included men and women, one as young as 17. All the abuse came from players ranging from midgets (15-17 years old) to adults. Punishments have ranged from five games to indefinite suspensions.

Fewer officials this year

This year hockey officials across Canada began enforcing certain rules more stringently, things like hooking and holding, but Newson doesn't think frustration with the new rules is contributing to the problem.

"We can't attribute it to that, we don't think," he said.

"We think it may just be a lack of respect, a lack of us educating the players and coaches about respect for the officials."

Newson is hoping more education and awareness will help, and worries the incidents could make another problem worse. This season there are 40 fewer officials than last, and it's getting tougher to attract them to the job.