Andy Van Hellemond
NHL referee, Hall of Famer, and Guelph city councillor.
Andy Van Hellemond, born February 16, 1948, is a Canadian former NHL referee who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1999. He also served as a city councillor in Guelph, Ontario, from 2010 to 2018.
His NHL officiating career started in 1969 and included 19 Stanley Cup Finals. In 1984, he became the first on-ice official in the league to wear a helmet; four years later, the NHL made helmets mandatory for all officials, though those already going without could continue to do so. Several officials followed his example, and by the 2006–07 season, all on-ice officials were required to wear helmets. Van Hellemond worked 1,557 regular-season games and 227 playoff games, and was named the league’s top referee 14 times in a row. He also officiated two All-Star Games, the 1979 Challenge Cup, and Rendez-vous ’87.
From 1977–78 to 1993–94, officials’ jerseys displayed their last names on the back; because his name was long, it appeared on two lines. From 1994–95 until his retirement in 1997, he wore number 25, later used by Marc Joannette. After retiring, he worked in management for the East Coast Hockey League until the NHL hired him in 2000 to replace Bryan Lewis as Director of Officiating. He held that role until July 2004, when Colin Campbell asked him to resign due to concerns over his personal gambling debts.
In July 2011, Van Hellemond served a notice of intention to sue for libel against the creators of the comic strip *Adam@home*, which had referred to him as “the worst and most evil ref ever.” Newspapers carrying the strip, including the *Toronto Star* and *The Boston Globe*, were also served.
In the 2010 Guelph municipal election, Van Hellemond ran for city councillor in Ward Two and won with 29.86% of the vote, defeating both incumbents. He was re-elected in 2014 but did not run in 2018.
His honours include the MJHL First All-Star Team (1968), being named Manitoba’s Referee of the Century, induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame (1999), and recognition as an “Honoured Member” of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 1948-02-16
- Birth Place
- Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Occupation
- Ice hockey referee
- Years Active
- 1969–1997
- Employer
- National Hockey League
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Van Hellemond's 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; four years later, the NHL made helmets mandatory for all on-ice officials, though officials not wearing a helmet at the time could continue helmetless. He also officiated 1,557 regular season games and 227 playoff games, and was the NHL's #1 referee for 14 consecutive times. He officiated in two All-Star games, the 1979 Challenge Cup, and Rendez-vous '87.
From the 1977–78 to 1993–94 seasons, NHL officials' jerseys displayed their last names on the back; due to its length, his name was displayed in two lines. From the 1994–95 NHL season until his retirement in 1997, he wore uniform number 25. After retiring as an on-ice official, he held a management position with the East Coast Hockey League until being hired by the NHL in 2000 to replace Bryan Lewis as Director of Officiating. He remained director until July 2004, when he was asked by Colin Campbell to resign due to concern over his personal gambling debts.
In July 2011, Van Hellemond served the creators of the comic strip Adam@home with a notice of intention to sue for libel over a comic that used the word 'evil' in referring to him as 'the worst and most evil ref ever.' Newspapers carrying the strip, including the Toronto Star and The Boston Globe, were also served.
Reader's Guide
Andy Van Hellemond's significance stems from his long NHL officiating career, which began in 1969 and included 19 Stanley Cup Finals, 1,557 regular season games, and 227 playoff games. He was the first NHL on-ice official to wear a helmet in 1984, a move that preceded the NHL making helmets mandatory for all on-ice officials four years later, though with a grandfather clause. His legacy also includes being the NHL's #1 referee for 14 consecutive times and officiating in two All-Star games, the 1979 Challenge Cup, and Rendez-vous '87. After retiring, he became the NHL's Director of Officiating in 2000, replacing Bryan Lewis, but resigned in July 2004 due to concerns over personal gambling debts. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1999 and later served as a municipal politician in Guelph, Ontario, from 2010 to 2018. His off-ice notoriety includes a 2011 libel notice against a comic strip that called him 'the worst and most evil ref ever.'
Did You Know?
- He officiated 19 Stanley Cup Finals during his career.
- He was elected to Guelph City Council in 2010 and served until 2018.
More in Hockey Hall of Fame Players, Part 3 1-24
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