Portfolio: Officials
PAUL KRESTANOWICH
Born in Winnipeg and raised in River Heights, Paul Krestanowich's involvement in hockey spans over five decades, as a player, official, coach, and administrator. After playing his minor hockey at River Heights and Sir John Franklin Community Clubs, Paul played for the Charleswood Hawks of the Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League (MMJHL) from 1989 -...
RON OTTAWA
There's a saying that goes, 'You don't notice the referee during the game unless he makes a bad call.' and Ron Ottawa was determinedto remain unnoticed on the ice. Born in Winnipeg, Ron took to the outdoor rinks at Sinclair Park, CPAC and Northwood Community Club in Winnipeg's North End to play hockey. In 1966,...
ROB HAITHWAITE
Born in Neepawa, MB, Rob Haithwaite grew up in Brandon, spending his winters playing minor hockey throughout Southwest Manitoba. At 12, he decided to make some extra money as an official. Under the guidance of MB Hockey Hall of Fame member Andy Gurba, Rob earned $30.00 for 30 games in his first year. Eager to...
Rob Martell
Rob Martell was born in Winnipeg and became a minor league official under the guidance of Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame member Perry Allan, working AA and AAA games in Stonewall, the Interlake and in Winnipeg, and then in Junior B, MMJHL, MJHL and CASH leagues. In 1987, Martell attended the NHL summer camp and...
Kerr, Gordon
Coming out of Winnipeg's West End, Gord Kerr was an exceptional right wing for the West End Orioles. Drafted by the Montreal Canadiens he turned pro with Seattle Ironmen of the PCHL and played several years of professional hockey in various leagues. After an industrial accident in 1963 cut his professional career short, Kerr picked...
Gurba, Andy
Referee. Born in Brandon, Gurba started to referee minor hockey and Big 4 League games in 1947 in his hometown. He officiated 13 inter-provincial series for the CAHA and worked in the Western Pro League until 1958. In 1961, he refereed an exhibition game in Brandon, between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red...
Irvin, Alex
Born April 3, 1890 in Hamilton, Ontario. Alex was Captain of the 1915 Allan Cup champion Winnipeg Monarchs alongside his brother Dick. Irvin turned pro with the Vancouver Millionaires of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association in the 1918/19 season. He joined the Victoria Aristocrats in 1919 for a final season. After Irvin's playing career ended...
Davis, Dick
Born in Lachine, Quebec, Dick Davis enjoyed a fine amateur hockey career. He played on the 1924 Winnipeg Tammany Tigers team that claimed the Manitoba Junior hockey title and competed in the Memorial Cup. Davis began his officiating career in Winnipeg in the 1930s with local leagues. He rapidly advanced to the junior, senior, and...
Beatty, Hyland
Born in Winnipeg, Hy Beatty played his Junior hockey with Winnipeg Monarchs. He was part of the team that took the 1946 Memorial Cup championship. He later played Senior with the Winnipeg REO Flyers and with the Winnipeg Maroons. For 15 years Beatty was a referee in the MJHL, WHL and OHA. He was Referee-in-Chief...
Van Hellemond, Andy
Born in Winnipeg, Andy Van Hellemond's hockey career as a player began in Winnipeg's Isaac Brock area. He spent three seasons in the MJHL and was a member of the 1967/68 MJHL Champions, St. James Canadians. After junior, Andy began to officiate in various Manitoba leagues eventually moving on to the WCJHL and then working...
Varnes, Gerry
Gerry Varnes began officiating in the elementary and junior high leagues before moving up to the Winnipeg B Bantam League and then to the MJHL in 1957 as a referee in the two referee system. He oversaw university and Intermediate leagues along with Senior and International games involving Father Bauer's Canadian National team. Gerry was...
Allan, Perry
Born in MacGregor, Allan was one of the most visionary and accomplished individuals in Manitoba's hockey officiating history, on and off the ice. He worked in all levels of hockey - Provincial, National and International. He had an outstanding knowledge of the Rules of the game and applied them with integrity, courage and common sense....
Ulrich, Bud
After his junior career with the Winnipeg Monarchs ended, Bud Ulrich started refereeing in the Greater Winnipeg Minor Hockey Association in 1961. He worked all levels and later spent two years as a division referee-in-chief. Combining a strong knowledge of the rules with a sense for the game, he soon moved up through the officiating...
Loeppky, Laura
Laura (Vanderhorst) Loeppky grew up in Charleswood and started officiating minor hockey in Assiniboine Park. She worked her way up through the AAA bantam and midget levels and became the first female to officiate men's junior hockey in Manitoba. In 1996-97 Hockey Canada named her as Manitoba's most promising official. In 1998 she worked the...
Thompson, Bob
Bob Thompson from Oak Lake refereed 3000 games in 25 years in southern Manitoba. He began by officiating 75 games in 1970 in Brandon. By 1972 he was a linesman in the Western Junior League and at the University level. He obtained his level 6 papers in Toronto and officiated at the World Junior Championships...
Joyal, Lou
Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Lou played three seasons in the MJHL with the Winnipeg Blackhawks and the Winnipeg Barons. Joining the senior Winnipeg Maroons in 1954, he was with them for ten years and part of their 1964 Allan Cup championship team. Lou then turned to refereeing for ten years, handling Junior, Senior and...
McKerlie, Almer
Referee. Born in Miami, he was considered by many to be one of the best hockey referees in the province. Almer McKerlie officiated for some 40 years in Manitoba handling minor, junior, intermediate and senior hockey leagues. He was Referee-in-chief of the South Eastern Region, South Central, Pembina Valley and junior B hockey. Almer McKerlie...
Kurdydyk, Danny
Born in New York City, NY, he moved to Winnipeg as a young boy and became an MAHA referee in 1954. Danny Kurdydyk officiated in Allan and Memorial Cup playoffs and finals in the 1950's and 1960's. He was also involved with international hockey and officiated at world hockey tournaments from 1966-1969. He refereed until...
Kuryk, Don
Referee. Born in Winnipeg, Kuryk was rated one of Manitoba's top level 6 referees in the game and officiated many crucial hockey games during a 35 year career. He officiated in the Winnipeg minor hockey system, MJHL, MMJHL, CIAU, WHL, IIHL, and worked in the World Hockey Championships, Allan, Centennial and Hardy Cup finals. Don...
Paradice, Alan (Al)
Referee. Born in Winnipeg, he played all of his minor and junior hockey in Winnipeg. In 1953 he started officiating amateur hockey in Manitoba. Over a forty-year career he refereed in the Western Hockey League, the International Hockey League, international hockey and in all levels of the CAHA, including the Memorial and Allan Cup finals....
Ormshaw, Earl
Born in Winnipeg Earl began a 40 year career in officiating in the early 60's in playground hockey and worked his way through all levels of Winnipeg minor hockey from Bantam to Juvenile. In the 1970's he officiated Intermediate hockey in the Provencher League, Pembina Valley, Interlake, South East, Assiniboine, Manitoba Eastern, University, CASH, MJHL,...
Orchard, Lloyd
Born in Miami, MB, Lloyd Orchard officiated all over Manitoba for more than 50 years from the US/Canada border to as far north as Snow Lake. He was referee-in-chief of the Pembina Valley Minor Hockey Association from 1979-1995. His many awards include the 1984 MAHA award, the 1990 CAHA award for service to minor hockey...
Lyndon, Lorne
Referee. Born in Dunrae, Lorne "Windy" Lyndon was one of Canada's most renowned officials for 20 years, 1933-1953. He officiated six Allan Cup finals (1936, `37,`46, `47, `49, & `53), Memorial Cup finals from 1950-1952 and the Alexander Cup in 1951. As a player he was a member of Winnipeg's 1932 World Champions and Allan...
Meyers, Morley
Linesman/Referee. Born in Winnipeg. Morley Meyers started a 35 year officiating career at age 14 in minor hockey in his hometown and, in 1958-59, became a linesmen in the MJHL. He also worked in the 1959 Memorial Cup final. From 1960 to 1966, he officiated junior, intermediate and senior hockey in the province. He refereed...
Vinet, Joe
Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba Joe played in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League for two years and later in the Manitoba Senior Hockey League before turning to officiating in the early 50's. Vinet was an excellent skater and had a great interpretation of the rules which led the CAHA to assign him to Memorial Cup and...
Sweeney, Ed
Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba Ed has been a dedicated hockey researcher for over forty years and a writer of books and articles pertaining to Manitoba hockey. An edition of The First Fifty Years of Manitoba Hockey (1890-1940) is still in print and he has completed a book on The Manitoba Junior Hockey League with statistics...
Blondal, Ted
Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Ted Blondal officiated in the Manitoba Junior and Senior Hockey leagues in the 1920s and 1930s and handled many playoff games. Ted also refereed in the “Big Four” Hockey League in 1928 and 1929. He worked most of the very important games including the 1929 and 1930 Memorial Cup Finals.
