Hockey Canada Network vs Ref Buddy
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Hockey Canada Network
Access over 1,500 drills with diagrams and videos, hundreds of coach skill demonstrations, and comprehensive skills manuals. Create and share custom training plans, and receive weekly recommended practice plans. This app is designed to help coaches and players improve their hockey skills.
- 1,500+ drills with diagrams and videos
- Coach skill video demonstrations
- Skills of Gold collection
- Skills Manuals with lesson plans
- TSN World Juniors drills
- Customizable training plans
- Weekly recommended practice plans
Read full descriptionHide full description
The Hockey Canada Network gives coaches and players the tools to succeed with drills, skills, videos, practice plans and articles on your tablet or phone. Your subscription will provide you with access to: • More than 1,500 drills, each including a drill diagram, video demonstration, skill description, key teaching points and a Team Canada game clip highlighting how each skill is used in a game. • Hundreds of coach skill video demonstrations. • The entire Hockey Canada Skills of Gold collection. • Hockey Canada Skills Manuals, including 32 lesson plans for each level. • TSN World Juniors drills from 2010 to 2020. Subscription holders will also have the ability to create, customize and share Training Plans and will receive Hockey Canada’s recommended practice plans specific to their program level at the start of each week. Canadian minor hockey coaches should reach out to their Member or local hockey association for additional information prior to purchasing a subscription. Subscription Info • Download the app and try it absolutely free. • For complete access to every video, article and drill, subscribe to the Hockey Canada Network for $5.49/month or $47.99/year through the app. • Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is disabled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. • Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current subscription period, and will identify the cost of the renewal. • No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period. • To review Hockey Canada’s privacy policy, visit http://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/Corporate/About/Privacy-Policy.aspx. • To review the Hockey Canada Network Terms of Use, visit http://www.hockeycanadanetwork.com/terms.
Ref Buddy
This app helps sports officials manage their game assignments and track statistics. Assignors can easily schedule officials, while officials can view their upcoming games, accept or decline assignments, and access game details. It also features dedicated game chat and notifications for updates.
- Stat tracking
- Game assignment scheduling
- Accept/decline assignments
- View assigned games
- Game chat
- Notifications for updates
- Dark day setting
Read full descriptionHide full description
Ref Buddy makes managing your officiating schedule simple, organized, and connected. View upcoming assignments, confirm games, manage your availability, track expenses, submit game reports, and stay connected with your officiating community—all in one place. With Ref Buddy, officials can: - View and confirm game assignments - Keep track of upcoming games and schedules - Set availability and dark days - Put eligible assignments Up for Grabs when plans change - Browse and take available games from other officials - Track mileage and officiating expenses - Complete game and video reports - Connect with officials through Ref Room - Follow league scores, standings, playoffs, and statistics - Access important game, venue, team, and crew details League administrators can manage schedules, officials, assignments, reports, and other league settings directly through Ref Buddy’s connected platform. Available features may vary depending on your league’s configuration.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Ref Buddy at 100% against Hockey Canada Network's 18%. Ref Buddy also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.6) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). Hockey Canada Network's advantage is ratings volume (5 vs 1). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Hockey Canada Network sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Ref Buddy asks for nothing beyond the download.
Ref Buddy holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hockey Canada Network has 5 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 18% of Hockey Canada Network's written reviews are positive against 100% of Ref Buddy's.
Hockey Canada Network ships an update every 5 months, Ref Buddy every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Hockey Canada Network | Ref Buddy |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.6 (5 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 17.9% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 5 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Subscription | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 49 MB | 57 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Hockey Canada | Jonah Duckworth |
Customer experience
Hockey Canada Network
Ref Buddy
In-app purchases
Hockey Canada Network
- Premium Content Subscription1 Month trial$3.991 Month
- Premium Content Subscription1 Month trial$34.991 Year
Ref Buddy
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Hockey Canada Network free?
Is Ref Buddy free?
Which has better reviews, Hockey Canada Network or Ref Buddy?
Do Hockey Canada Network or Ref Buddy have ads?
Which is updated more often, Hockey Canada Network or Ref Buddy?
Other comparisons















