GUELPH — Renowned for his consistent blend of toughness and fairness, Bill Devorski was a legend in Guelph officiating circles. A mentor for many, he instilled his refereeing talent in two of his sons and two of his grandsons, and leaves a legacy as a founder of the Guelph Hockey Referees Association and mentor to many.

Devorski passed away early Wednesday morning after a year and a half long battle with cancer. He died at home, surrounded by his large family. He was 85.

His son, recently retired National Hockey League referee Paul Devorski, said his father was a no-nonsense man on the ice, and a tough but fair dad. He dedicated his life to officiating, to his family and faith, and to a beloved garden that he kept religiously each year.

Paul and his brother Greg, a linesman, had lengthy professional careers in the NHL. They are from a family of eight siblings. They grew up travelling with their father, said family friend Ron Asselstine, a retired NHL lineman who was mentored by Bill Devorski. The boys learned by watching their father, Asselstine said.

Two of the man's nine grandchildren, Ben and Ryan Wilson, followed in his skate blade tracks as hockey referees.

Paul, who initially resisted a career as a referee, said his father was constantly officiating either hockey or soccer. Bill worked in maintenance at the University of Guelph, and worked the lines when he wasn't working his day job.

"He had a big family, four boys and four girls, a good Catholic family," Paul said, adding his father maintained a strong religious faith throughout his life. Grace was always offered at the dinner table.

"He had eight kids and he treated everybody equally," Paul added. "But he was gone a lot, gone four nights a week, roughly."

Devorski is survived by his wife, Bernadette, and seven of the couple's eight children — sons Paul, John and Greg, and daughters Anne, Mary, Margaret and Dana. Son Mark passed away nearly 25 years ago.

"I started with the Guelph Hockey Referees Association in 1969, and at that time Bill was one of the top hockey officials in the OHA," Asselstine said. "As I progressed in my amateur career, before I turned pro in 1972, Bill was one of the referees who took me under his wing and taught me the ropes."

Devorski officiated year-round, in the cold season he was on the ice, and in the warm season he was on the soccer pitch, where he was also respected as a top referee.

"His officiating background was very extensive," Asselstine said. "He influenced the lives of a lot of young officials who went on to become successful at their level, whether it was in the Ontario Hockey Association, the American Hockey League, or the National Hockey League. He influenced a lot of lives."

A life-long resident of Guelph, Devorski grew up playing hockey and soccer. He reached the Junior "B" level on the ice and then began officiating at the age of 20. He spent 35 years as a referee at all levels of the OHA, a record that has not been surpassed.

Jack Fischer said he refereed with Devorski for those 35 years.

"He was the best referee that never made the NHL," Fischer said. "He had a good attitude for dealing with people. All those Devorskis are pretty good skaters. Bill was a good skater, too."

Carl Embro also refereed with Devorski in the OHA, and described him as an honest man who was quick to defend his fellow referees.

"He treated the referees really good," Embro said. "He stuck up for the referees, so nobody would give us hell on the ice. He would be there to say, 'Leave the guy alone, he's doing a good job.' He didn't take crap from anybody, and he was the boss of the ice. They respected Bill. He took control."

Devorski was known to warn teams before games, saying if they wanted to play good, clean hockey he would let them play. But if they wanted to run each other, he would not tolerate it. That appeared to be one of the keys to keeping games under control.

Devorski was one of the first referees to do international games involving Soviet Block countries, and he refereed professional soccer matches in Toronto, as well as international games.

He is on the honour rolls of the National Referees' Association and the OHA, and is a honourary life member of the Guelph Hockey Referees Association. He was the last surviving founding member of the association.

Family will receive friends on Friday at the Gilbert McIntyre & Son Funeral Home, Dublin Chapel, 252 Dublin St. N., Guelph, from 2-4 p.m. and again from 7-9 p.m. A vigil will take place at the funeral home on Friday at 8:45 p.m.

A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, at 10:30 a.m., at Basilica of Our Lady, 28 Norfolk St. Cremation will follow. Donations to the Church of Our Lady Building Fund or charity of one's choice are welcome.
 

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