Andy Van Hellemond
Encyclopedia
Andy Van Hellemond is a former National Hockey League
referee
and a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame
since 1999.
His NHL officiating career began in 1969 and included 19 Stanley Cup
Finals. In 1984, he became the first NHL on-ice official to wear a helmet
. Subsequently, several officials followed his lead and beginning with the 2006–07 NHL season, all NHL on-ice officials must wear helmets.
From the 1994–95 NHL season until his retirement in 1996, Van Hellemond wore uniform number 25, which is now worn by Marc Joannette
. Prior to the 1994-95 season, NHL officials' uniform shirts displayed their last names on the back.
After retiring, Van Hellemond went to the East Coast Hockey League, where he held a management position there until being hired by the NHL in 2000 to replace Bryan Lewis
as Director of Officiating
. Van Hellemond remained director of officiating until July 2004 when he resigned to pursue other interests.
On September 3, 2010 Van Hellemond declared he would run for Ward Two City Councillor during the October 25, 2010 Guelph municipal election
in the city of Guelph, Ontario
.
On October 25, 2010 Van Hellemond was elected to Ward Two of the Guelph City Council
, winning with 29.86% of the vote over both incumbents.
On July 1, 2011 it was reported Van Hellemond served the creators of the comic strip Adam@home with a notice of intention to sue for libel over a comic which used the word "evil" in referring to Van Hellemond as "the worst and most evil ref ever." Newspapers carrying the strip on May 28, 2011 were also served, such as the Toronto Star
and The Boston Globe
.
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
referee
Official (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, an official is a person who has some responsibility in enforcing the rules and maintaining the order of the game. There are two categories of officials, on-ice officials, who are the referees and linesmen that enforce the rules during game play, and off-ice officials, who have an...
and a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
since 1999.
His NHL officiating career began in 1969 and included 19 Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
Finals. In 1984, he became the first NHL on-ice official to wear a helmet
Hockey helmet
A hockey helmet is worn by players of ice hockey and inline hockey to help protect the head from potential injury when hit by the puck, sticks, skates, boards, other players, or the ice.-Construction:...
. Subsequently, several officials followed his lead and beginning with the 2006–07 NHL season, all NHL on-ice officials must wear helmets.
From the 1994–95 NHL season until his retirement in 1996, Van Hellemond wore uniform number 25, which is now worn by Marc Joannette
Marc Joannette
Marc Joannette is a National Hockey League referee, who wears uniform number 25. As of the end of the 2007–08 NHL season, he has officiated 470 regular season and 28 playoff games. His first game was on October 1, 1999...
. Prior to the 1994-95 season, NHL officials' uniform shirts displayed their last names on the back.
After retiring, Van Hellemond went to the East Coast Hockey League, where he held a management position there until being hired by the NHL in 2000 to replace Bryan Lewis
Bryan Lewis
Bryan Lewis is a Canadian municipal politician and a former referee and Director of Officiating for the National Hockey League. His first NHL experience was in the 1966–67 NHL season. He worked more than 1000 games at the NHL level, and was named Director of Officiating in 1989, following the...
as Director of Officiating
Director of Officiating (NHL)
The Director of Officiating for the National Hockey League heads the league's officiating department and reports directly to Colin Campbell, the senior vice president...
. Van Hellemond remained director of officiating until July 2004 when he resigned to pursue other interests.
On September 3, 2010 Van Hellemond declared he would run for Ward Two City Councillor during the October 25, 2010 Guelph municipal election
Guelph municipal election, 2010
The 2010 Guelph municipal election were held on October 25, 2010 in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, to elect the Mayor of Guelph, Guelph City Council and the Guelph members of the Upper Grand District School Board and Wellington Catholic District School Board...
in the city of Guelph, Ontario
Guelph, Ontario
Guelph is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Known as "The Royal City", Guelph is roughly east of Waterloo and west of downtown Toronto at the intersection of Highway 6 and Highway 7. It is the seat of Wellington County, but is politically independent of it...
.
On October 25, 2010 Van Hellemond was elected to Ward Two of the Guelph City Council
Guelph City Council
Guelph City Council is the governing body for the city of Guelph, Ontario.The council consists of the Mayor of Guelph and 12 ward councillors. Each ward elects 2 members to represent them. The council operates in the Guelph City Hall....
, winning with 29.86% of the vote over both incumbents.
On July 1, 2011 it was reported Van Hellemond served the creators of the comic strip Adam@home with a notice of intention to sue for libel over a comic which used the word "evil" in referring to Van Hellemond as "the worst and most evil ref ever." Newspapers carrying the strip on May 28, 2011 were also served, such as the Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
and The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
.
Awards and achievements
- MJHL First All-Star Team (1968)
- Selected as Manitoba's Referee of the Century
- Inducted into the Hockey Hall of FameHockey Hall of FameThe Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
in 1999 - “Honoured Member” of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of FameManitoba Hockey Hall of FameThe Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum was established in 1985 when the first honoured members were named and plaques were erected in their honour. The first group of inductees was large in order to recognize the accomplishments of Manitoba players, coaches, builders and teams at the...