Devorski helps referees celebrate
The Guelph native will not be refereeing the OHL game, but will participate in a pre-game ceremony honouring the Guelph Hockey Referees’ Association’s 60th year. He’ll be joined on ice for the ceremonial puck drop by Ron Asselstine, a past GHRA member and retired NHL linesman, and GHRA president Jeff Baker.
Working the lines in the OHL game will be GHRA graduates Ben and Ryan Wilson, Devorski’s grandsons.
Devorski, who turns 80 next week, is the lone surviving member of the nine who founded the GHRA in 1949.
Other founders were Reg Berry, Doug Brill, John Glover, Ed Kenny, Bill Lindley, Lou Maschio, Jack McKinnon and Ralph Milne.
Since its inception, more than 700 people have been members of the association. They include many who went on to be NHL referees or linesmen such as Bill McCreary and Ray Scapinello.
Devorski feels the success the association has had in getting its members into the higher echelons of the sport is a result of mentoring.
