SAINT JOHN - When you're still officiating hockey at this time of year, it's an honour.

When you're on the ice for a championship series, it's what officials in any league strive for all season.

Dieppe's Christian Boudreau and Jeff Hopkins of Quispamsis have been working together as linesmen throughout the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoffs. They were on the ice Tuesday and Wednesday in Gatineau for Games 3 and 4 of the final between the hometown Olympiques and the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.

The two New Brunswickers are at different stages of their careers: Call them the old dog and the workhorse.

For the 26-year-old Hopkins, it's his first QMJHL final, while it's the third for Boudreau.

Hopkins already has two years of pro experience under his belt, and was officiating some level of hockey almost every night of the season. Boudreau has a full-time job and worked between 40 and 50 games this year.

"I am 32 years old, losing my hair a bit," laughed Boudreau, a 10-year veteran of the Q who has worked a Memorial Cup and two University cups.

"After you hit a certain age, reality needs to set in. Nowadays, the guys who make it up top are big, young, strong and fast," he said. "For us old dogs, we need to try to maximize where you work and hopefully guide the younger ones."

Hopkins has also done a pair of University cups, and worked a Central League final. His next goal is the 2009 Memorial Cup, to be held in Rimouski.

Despite being at different stages of their careers, they both absorb their share of on-ice knocks. Linesmen, of course, have the unenviable task of breaking up fights, and occasionally catch a shot to the head in a scrum.

"After a while you learn: If they're still swinging, don't get in," said Boudreau. "Sometimes you learn the hard way."

He said linesmen prevent a lot of fights by being aware of big hits and intercepting angry players before fires get started. But in some cases, the fight card is set before the game. When everyone on the ice knows two heavyweights are going to drop the gloves immediately after a faceoff, there's only one thing to do, said Boudreau.

"Get the biscuit down," he said. "You know when it's coming, you say, 'I'm going to drop the puck, line up,' and you let them do their business."

Hopkins broke his nose working an American League game last year. After he dropped the puck on a faceoff, a player fired a quick slapshot that deflected and flew up under his visor.

"We try to pretend we're tougher than the players, so I stayed in. I just threw some cotton in my nose and tried to use the one eye I could see out of as best I could," Hopkins laughed. "It's all part of the job, there's pucks and bodies flying everywhere and you just try to do the best you can to stay out of the way."

He said more experienced officials such as Boudreau and Serge Carpentier, an 18-year veteran working his 12th final, serve as role models.

"You definitely always look up to the guys who have come before you and accomplished the things you're looking to accomplish," said Hopkins. "We work as a team and give a lot of feedback to each other."

Boudreau in turn said he looks up to others such as NHL referee Chris Lee, of Saint John, QMJHL ref Guy Pellerin, who's at the World Championship, and linesman Derek Doucette, who worked the 2006 Olympics.

"We're not going to stop learning by any means," said Boudreau. "You've just got to be on your feet and if there's a situation you did not handle right or know how to handle, it's important to communicate with the guys you're working with, guys who have experience, and the supervisors."

Boudreau said he's even learned from coaches.

"Over the years I've learned we're not always right and they're not always right," he said. "If you realize (you made a mistake) after it's been pointed out to you, you might as well have that respect to admit it and just move on."

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