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Ref Memories

  The game I will refer to was between the Hamiota Huskies and the Melita Bisons southwest hockey league played in the old Hamiota arena. The old rink had no glass around the boards, which meant the fans were right on top of you and leaning over the boards, it was awesome back in the day, not like today. The only thing back then was the lighting was not that great, sorta dark compared to the rinks today.

    Melita Bisons were in Hamiota to play the Huskies, this was early in the season. Maybe it was even exhibition hockey, which I really disliked doing because it tended to get rough because players were not in shape.

    The first period there was a lot of energy to say the least and both teams were flying up and down the ice. There was lots of hitting, but it did not take long for gloves and elbows to rise and, of course, some players who were not used to getting hit much were taking their share of bumps. Then the chippy play started which led to a couple of fisticuffs. A steady stream of players were heading to the penalty box and neither team seemed to be concerned that this was happening. Both teams had full benches so, what the heck, more body space on the bench.

    When the first fight broke out, I was yelling for players to go to their respective benches. This was a new rule that season and Brian Franklin had told the officials to really crack down on this in the exhibition games, so players would know when the regular season began. This was the way it was going to be officiated. If you did not go to where the referee instructed you, there would be game  misconducts assessed.

    A fight breaks out after some collisions along the boards and a player from each team gets at it. I am yelling at the players to go to their respective benches. Nobody is going to their benches and others are pushing and shoving and telling each other how they are going to beat them up etc. etc. I am sure you get the picture! There were already 3 or 4 players in the penalty box and I just did not see the sense of putting 8 other players in the penalty box. After the linesmen had escorted the 2 original players who were fighting off the ice, I assessed a Game Misconduct penalty to the hard of hearing 8 players. I figured the benches would not be so crowded and it would take the silly rough stuff out of the game.

    Now none of the players were very happy about leaving the game via Game Misconducts. Gordie Lyall was standing by the blue line where I was standing watching the parade of players leaving the ice surface. Gordie said, “Gerry, what did you give them for penalties?” I told Gordie I had given them all game misconducts for not going to their players' bench. He just laughed and said I would have done the same thing!

    Brad Oliver from Melita was especially unhappy about being kicked out of the game as I think he had a score to settle with a Hamiota player. Brad was cursing at me and said he would have started fighting if he knew I was going to assess him a Game Misconduct. I said to him, so you’re saying you didn't hear me yelling to go to the benches? He said. “Yes I heard you.” I said you have no excuse then for not going to your player’s box. I also said and maybe I should not have, but I said if you fight like you listen you would have come out second in that too. He is skating away and about 20 feet away stops and turns back and gives me the what for statement. I said look at the bright side, you get all the hot water you want and maybe the coldest beer of the night.

    The old Hamiota rink holds some really special memories of hockey games played there and of some of the crazy things that took place in the old barn. I am sure this will not be the last time I will have an article about the old Hamiota arena!