Empire-Advance

    I have already mentioned Randy Kalynuk and Frank Taylor in my top three officials, so this brings me to my favourite referee. This does not mean that there were no other guys who were great officials, it is a matter of preference along my own journey.
  Bob Thompson was maybe the best I ever worked with or watched officiate hockey games. He was already a great athlete and an outstanding ball player for the Brandon Cloverleafs and was even a better person!  Bob always had time for me and any questions I had pertaining to officiating. He shared his experiences from previous games he had worked and I always came away enriched from our conversations. Possibly he had a big influence on me because I was young and just starting out officiating but with Bob I think I was just a sponge, soaking up all I could learn from him. He never got rattled. He was always so cool, calm and collected. Just a terrific gentleman, very well respected!
  He was a strong skater and skated more upright than other officials I saw. He seemed to tower over players and the contest. I believe the reason so many people appreciated Bob was he was such a humble man. I think that was why we all looked up to him. He had worked higher levels of hockey than us but he was just a down-to-earth guy.
  Bob and I still talk about hockey, officiating and how the game has changed. When we see controversial calls, I am still asking him, “what would you call?”
  One of the things we see is the general lack of respect that players have for each other. I think we both agree if they took out the instigator rule, the game would change in a hurry, for the better. Agitators would not be hiding behind the skirts of the rule and maybe get a good thumbing!
  The other night, Mason Marchment slashed a referee on the leg. The referee did not penalize him and neither did the league. This has just opened up the door because maybe next time the slash may be harder. We do not see how that could be overlooked, unless of course the official was wrong. Lack of respect for an official, you betcha!!
  Bob told me he officiated over 3500 games. Like that is a record! I think the reason he did all those games was because of the type of official he was and the person he is. Thank you Bob for all those great memories of when you came out to the barn in Kenton and shared all those experiences. Memories that will never be forgotten. Thank you, my friend!