Hockey Community Mourns the Loss of Beloved Former NHL Referee
The NHL world has done plenty of mourning in recent times, and now the league has announced the passing of former official Mike Hasenfratz.
Being an official in the NHL is one of the toughest and most thankless jobs in the sporting world, with many officials facing backlash and plenty of criticism if they are anything but 100% perfect.
Over the years however, there's been plenty of officials that gain respect and admiration for not trying to make the game about themselves, and simply doing their job to the best of their ability.
One such name that did that between 2000 and 2014 was Regina native Mike Hasenfratz, who served the NHL in over 700 games, doing his job well and with pride over that stretch of time.
However, the NHL has now announced the passing of Hasenfratz, as the entire NHL world comes together to mourn the 58-year-old after his tragic passing on Monday.
While his name may not carry the notoriety of a Tim Peel or a Wes McCauley, it's a testament to just how good he was at his job, as he simply did the job with honor and put hockey first as opposed to trying to put the spotlight on himself.
The Regina native grew up working to become an official, working through the SJHL and the WHL before making his debut in the NHL during a game between the Islanders and Capitals on Oct. 21, 2000, and through 14 solid years as an official, he grew to become one of the most respected in the entire league.
Hasenfrantz dealt with health issues that sidelined him for two seasons which was because he suffered an aortic dissection requiring surgery, returning to the ice after recovering. He refereed his final game on March 16, 2014 before retiring.
Like the NHL, we take the time now to send our condolences to the friends, family, and former colleagues of Hasenfratz.
May he be remembered for his passion and love for hockey, and hope that in these dark times, his friends and family can find some joy in the memories he brought to them over the time spent together.
| POLL | ||
How do you remember Mike Hasenfratz's contribution to the NHL? | ||
| A traiblazer for officiating excellence | 14 | 3.6 % |
| Known for fairness and integrity | 52 | 13.5 % |
| Memorable calls during historical games | 20 | 5.2 % |
| I have never heard of Mike before | 298 | 77.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
