Sport: Hockey

Most everyone who is part of the international hockey world knows the name Bob Nadin. One of Canada’s most highly decorated officials, Nadin has made a name for himself as a referee and referee supervisor during a career that has taken him to multiple Olympic Games and international hockey events around the world.

“I guess it all started when I first learned to skate when I was about three years of age,” Nadin said in a documentary about his illustrious career. He was born in Toronto on March 15, 1933, and has spent the bulk of his 80 years in hockey either on the ice or studying the game he learned as a child.

Nadin played hockey throughout his youth, but it was a request from the players in his university inter-faculty league that changed the course of his life and career. “Because I was playing for the university team, they thought I knew something about hockey, so they asked me if I’d referee the games in the inter-faculty league at the university,” he said. “From then on, I liked it and just kept on with it from there, really.”

The University of Toronto student did not expect to play elite-level hockey, so at age 17 he first picked up a whistle and donned the referee’s stripes. “The fact was, I just liked the refereeing,” Nadin said. “I think I got more pleasure from refereeing in the end than I did from playing.”

Nadin started officiating university games before moving up to the Ontario Hockey Association, eventually becoming the referee-in-chief of the CAHA (today known as Hockey Canada) from 1976 to 1986. As head ref, Nadin created the CAHA’s referee certification program, and introduced officiating casebooks for Canadian and international hockey.

The pinnacle of Nadin’s on-ice work was officiating seven games at the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo, Japan, and working the World Junior Championship in Russia two years later. At the same time, Nadin became a referee supervisor for the Ontario Hockey Association and the Ontario University Association. In 1984, the OHA awarded Nadin – who had been elevated to the league’s referees’ honour roll three years prior – the Gold Stick for outstanding service to the game.

For the greater part of his career, Nadin has been known in international circles as a referee supervisor, travelling the world to support, analyze, and assist officiating crews at every level of the game. He supervised National Hockey League referees from 1992 to 1996, and selected and supervised referees at the 1998 Nagano Games, 2006 Torino Games and other international events. “So it’s just a matter of basically starting at the university and working my way up through the minor hockey system for a few years, andinto the junior system, and then into the international system,” Nadin said humbly.

For almost 30 years, Nadin has been a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation’s Rules and Referee Committee. He is tasked with writing and interpreting new rules, replacing outdated rules, and fielding questions about the rulebook from all corners of the hockey-playing world. “Really, any place where international hockey is played and there’s any rule situations or questions from referees, coaches and players, they always refer to me to give the answer to the rule,” Nadin said. “As a result of that, the president of the ice hockey federation refers to me as the pope of the rules.”

Nadin could also be referred to as the pontiff of hockey stamps. He parlayed his love of the sport and a childhood interest in stamps to amass one of the greatest hockey-themed stamp collections in the world. “There are probably about 600 stamps featuring hockey from around the world,” Nadin told IIHF writer Andrew Podnieks. “And I’m missing about 50, including four from Paraguay.”

“I go through each volume and mark the hockey stamps, and then I try to find them,” Nadin continued. “Each stamp has a number, and I go to stamp stores or go online looking for individual stamps or collections. I think I’ve built up a pretty good collection,and I take my list with me whenever I travel. I always make sure to go to the post office in every city to see what they have. I know the location of every post office as well as I know where the hockey arenas are!”

The basement of Nadin’s Weston home, Podnieks wrote, is “a memorabilia shrine that documents his decades in the game. Mementos from Sapporo and on, thousands of pins, mugs, photos, pennants, and other miscellany fill his walls and shelves.” Nadin said he appreciates the stories behind the stamps. “Hockey stamps aren’t incredibly valuable. Themost expensive is maybe $50, but I think it’s pretty amazing where they come from and I love collecting them.”

Nadin is one of four Canadians to have received the IIHF Paul Loicq Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the IIHF and international ice hockey. He also received the Pierre de Coubertin Medal from the Olympic Committee in May during a ceremony at the world championship in Stockholm, Sweden, one of the highest hockey honours that can be bestowed at the international level.

The accolades are appreciated, but Nadin especially values the friendships he has formed with referees and officials from around the world. “It’s something you can’t replace, really,” he said of those bonds. The energetic hockey enthusiast’s schedule is busier than ever. Nadin attended the 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women’s World Championship Division I in Romanshorn, Switzerland, over New Year’s, and is preparing for the men’s U18 tournament in Sochi, part of a full slate of events lined up for 2013-14.

“He’s a hockey nut…all he thinks about is hockey,” Nadin’s old friend, Henry Seykyrka, said in the documentary. “He puts his whole life into it. He’s just a terrific guy. Hockey is his life.”

Lou Cavalaris Jr., dreamed of being a baseball pitcher, and played ball right up until his university days. But after serving in the Merchant Marines during World War II, Lou returned home to Hamilton, Ohio.
Lou’s father was in the restaurant business for many years, but also owned many horses… and this is what caught Lou’s attention… horse racing. He started his career at the Detroit Racecourse but later moved to Toronto in 1947, where it didn’t take him long to establish himself as a great trainer.

In 1966, he was named North America’s best trainer, by winning 175 races… and was third leading trainer for races won, in 1967 and 1968.

Lou trained some of Canada’s most outstanding horses, including Victorian Era, Ice Water and Carneys Point. One of his proudest moments, was winning the Wood Memorial in 1968 with horse Dancer’s Image.

In 1978, he became the highly respected Racing Secretary for The Ontario Jockey Club, but after 10 years in the role, Lou couldn’t resist the urge to train horses again.
His achievements were recognized when he was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 1995.
Lou is now retired from racing. He and his wife Helen are long-time residents of Etobicoke.

Mike Walton’s story is one of immediate impact and enduring success in the world of professional hockey. From his early days playing junior hockey to his distinguished career in the NHL and WHA, Walton left an indelible mark on the sport with his exceptional skill and charismatic personality.

Raised in Kirkland Lake and later settling in Sutton, Walton’s journey to hockey stardom began on the ice of his local rinks. He quickly made a name for himself with his explosive speed, dazzling stickhandling, and knack for finding the back of the net. His standout performances in junior hockey caught the attention of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who signed him to their Ontario Hockey Association farm team, the Marlboros.

During his time with the Marlboros, Walton showcased his scoring prowess, contributing significantly to the team’s success, including a Memorial Cup win in 1964. His impressive play earned him recognition as a top newcomer in both the Central Professional Hockey League and the American Hockey League in consecutive seasons.

Walton’s dream of playing for his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs became a reality during the 1965-66 season when he received a call-up to the NHL club. His electrifying play on the ice and his larger-than-life personality quickly endeared him to Leafs fans, earning him the nickname “Shakey.”

Throughout his NHL career, Walton continued to dazzle fans with his speed, skill, and creativity on the ice. He was known for his unique techniques, such as taping his stick with white medical tape and warming his sticks in the stove to give his shots more life. Walton’s ability to anticipate plays and make intelligent decisions with the puck made him a formidable opponent and a fan favorite.

After stints with the Philadelphia Flyers and the Boston Bruins, Walton transitioned to the World Hockey Association, where he continued to excel, leading the league in scoring and earning All-Star honors. His dynamic play and contributions to the game were recognized with induction into the inaugural class of the WHA Hall of Fame.

Off the ice, Walton remained a beloved figure in the hockey community, running sports camps and staying involved in the game long after his playing days were over. His enduring love for hockey and his contributions to the sport have left a lasting legacy that continues to inspire players and fans alike.

Today, Walton resides in Etobicoke, where he has lived for nearly five decades. His inclusion among Etobicoke’s sporting greats is a testament to his impact on the game and his status as a true hockey legend.

Left-winger Mark Osborne played over 900 NHL games with four different teams – Detroit, New York, Toronto and Winnipeg. He scored more than 200 career goals, but was best known for winning battles in the corners.

Mark was born in Etobicoke and at age 17 became a walk-on for the Niagara Falls Flyers in the OHA. In 1980, he was drafted forty-sixth overall by the Detroit Red Wings, and as a rookie scored 26 goals for the club during the 1981-82 season.

He was soon traded to the New York Rangers as part of a multi-player deal. He worked hard as a consistent two-way forward and helped the Rangers reach the semi-finals in 1986.

In 1987, Mark was sent back to his hometown to play with the Toronto Maple Leafs. With the Leafs, Mark played on the “GEM” line with Ed Olczyk and Gary Leeman, and during the 1989-90 season scored a career best of 73 points.Mark Osborne retired in 1998.

Ken Dryden spent just eight years guarding the nets for the Montreal Canadiens, but ask any long time Habs fan and he’ll speak of Dryden with the reverence reserved for the likes of Jean Beliveau, Dickie Moore, Maurice Richard or Jacques Plante.

The reason is quite simple. In his comparatively short professional hockey career, Dryden backstopped the Canadiens to six Stanley Cup championships, the only measure of success Montreal fans accept.

Born in Hamilton, Ontario, but raised in Etobicoke where he played minor hockey in the Humber Valley league, Dryden wasted little time working his way into the hearts of Habs fans and hockey fans alike once he reached the NHL.

In his first year with Les Canadiens in 1971, after playing only six regular season games, Dryden shocked the hockey world with his veteran like performance in the playoffs in earning his first of six Stanley Cup rings.

The upstart netminder was awarded the Conn Smythe trophy that year as the most valuable player in the playoffs. The awards and trophies continued to pile up over the ensuing years. The following season, Dryden’s true rookie year, he was awarded the Calder trophy as the league’s rookie of the year. He also won or shared five Vezina trophy awards as the NHL’s best goaltender as voted on by the league’s general managers.

Four years after retiring from the game in 1979 to practice law, Dryden was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Jack’s hockey playing days began when he was a student at Upper Canada College in the mid-thirties. In 1939, Jack played for the Marlboro Juniors, who became OHA finalists, and in 1940 he graduated to the Senior Marlboros.

Jack joined the Canadian Navy and played for the Navy team in 1941, effectively bringing his budding career to a close. He later played briefly for the Stafford company team in the senior OHA, after the war in 1945-1946. In 1953, Jack joined the NHL Oldtimers and played on this team for several years.

After Jack’s playing years, he co-founded the Humber Valley Hockey Association (HVHA), and he was the driving force behind its success. The Humber Valley Hockey Association began with two teams, the Redman and the Hornets, and has grown well beyond Jack’s fondest dreams.

The HVHA now holds some 1500 registered players, and serves our community with quality hockey competition unrivalled in the Metro area. This is a tribute to the volunteers who have followed in Jack Stafford’s footsteps. All because a devoted father wanted his children to have the same pleasures, the game of hockey gave to him years before.

Ian “Scotty” Morrison has been involved with the game of hockey in numerous capacities. He was a player, a referee, a National Hockey League executive, and a Chair of the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

Born in Montreal, Morrison played hockey with the likes of Jean Beliveau and Boom Boom Geffrion as a member of the Montreal Canadiens organization.

After finishing in junior hockey, he began his career as a referee with the Quebec Amateur Hockey Association and then the Quebec Senior League. At the age of 24 he became the youngest man to work as a National Hockey League referee.

After two seasons, he left the league to pursue business interests but returned to the NHL in 1965 as Referee-in-Chief. In 1981 he was made an officer of the league and appointed Vice President, Officiating.

In 1986 he was given the position of Vice President for Project Development, Site for the Hall which opened in downtown Toronto in 1993. At that time he was named Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the Hall. He retired from that position in 1998.

Morrison lived in Etobicoke from 1965 until his recent move to Haliburton after retiring. Along with his work with the Hockey Hall of Fame, Morrison helped establish the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame. In 1999, Morrison was inducted into the hockey Hall of Fame in the Builder category.

Glenn Goldup was born in 1953 in St. Catharines, to a large and growing family. He was the fifth of eight children, that later moved to Etobicoke in the fall of 1956.

As a boy, he heard many hockey stories from his father, Hank Goldup, who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and NY Rangers during World War II. This undoubtedly sparked Glenn’s desire to play in the NHL.

Glenn started playing hockey as an enthusiastic 7 year old in the Humber Valley minor hockey program. He soon joined the Toronto Marlies as a Pee Wee and later the Toronto Marlboros of the OHA in the late sixties where he refined his game. The more he played, the more he grew to love the sport.

He was drafted 17-th overall and made his NHL debut on November 7, 1973 with the Montreal Canadiens. One of his proudest moments was winning the Calder Cup in 1976, while he played for the Nova Scotia Voyagers, where he led the league in goals and penalty minutes during the playoffs.

In 1976, Glenn was traded to the LA Kings where, for five seasons, he put up respectable offensive numbers. In 1981, Glenn was dispatched to the Kings AHL affiliate in New Haven where he rounded out his on-ice career. He retired from official play in 1983.

Today, Glenn is actively involved in coaching and supporting the many sports his children participate in, including soccer, ringette, swimming and skiing.

Glenn and his wife Wendy are long time residents of Etobicoke.