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Ref Memories

    We have had a bit of a cold snap lately which reminded me of some cold nights on the road officiating hockey games. I was working a game in Foxwarren one night between the Foxwarren Falcons and the Shoal Lake Eagles. It was -35 and windy as well. This was back in the 1980’s. Vehicles were not nearly as good as they are today, but the game must go on. 

    Foxwarren, Cardale, Miniota, Angusville and the old Souris arena were the coldest as best as I can remember. Anyway, back to Foxwarren. The game itself was fast with only about 8 minor penalties, but man it was cold. You can only put on so many layers to keep warm and on that evening there were not enough layers. I had a pair of curling gloves on my hands which did nothing, but the game was played.

    In this game a puck was split into 2 pieces due to the cold. I never saw that ever again, that is how cold it was.

    In Cardale one night it was extremely cold and the Cardale Cougars were hosting the Miniota Night Hawks and it was COLD. With natural ice, it was cracking. It was so cold so we had to put snow over the crack, then pour water on top of the snow so it would freeze. Talk about cold hands! This was another fast game, as both teams just played hockey. Maybe I just did not call many infractions so we could get back to the dressing room. Cardale had a small officials’ room but it was one of the warmest in western Manitoba!

    Another night in Miniota it was the same thing, the ice was cracked right across the blue line and needed to be repaired as it was not safe to play on. I thought I had Bob McKenzie talked into giving us northern pay due to the weather. Bob, of course, just laughed and stayed in the waiting room. 

    Angusville was also cold and there were some interesting nights with long drives home when it was so brutally cold.

    Lots of cold nights on the road, but the games had to go on. Stay warm folks, until next time!