The League brought our whole family to New York City for my 1,000th game as a referee in March of 1985. My boss, Scotty Morrison, was in attendance, and we all had a grand time. One of the finest compliments was extended to me at that time by a writer for the New York Post, Hugh Delano, who wrote:
Ron Wicks, the NHL’s senior referee, is one of the best in a tough business. Maybe the best. A good man who cares about his job, he officiates with common sense, not his ego.
He’ll let the game flow without needless penalties, but won’t shun a tough call, and he has something all good referees must have, respect from players and coaches.
Press clipping, 1,000th game.
New York Post
On December 14, 1985, I worked my 1,034th game as an NHL referee in Minnesota, breaking my pal Bruce Hood’s record. I now held the record for most games refereed in the League. I said at the time that a short memory and a good sense of humour were the main qualities an official must have.
Of course, it helps if you can skate like the wind and have exceptional eyesight. It really is a job where eyes in the back of your head would be a big asset. Especially in the days of the one-referee system!
Ron, Barb, Scotty Morrison (referee-in-chief), Brian, and Lisa.
Author’s Collection
I had bounced around North America for over twenty-five years on buses, trains, and airplanes, with numerous red-eye flights to and from the West Coast. My body and mind were telling me that I had had enough.38
The politics of the officiating end of the business was getting to me, and I figured it was time to quit while the job was still fun. When people ask me why I left the business when I may have still had a few miles in the tank, I reply that I left because of illness: “I got sick of them, and they got sick of me.”
Barb had been raising the children, and I figured it was time to be a dad for a change, so I packed it in after the 1985–86 season. I had dabbled in real estate sales for ten off-season periods, so I went into it full time.
Flashback — 1,034th game — NHL record.
Toronto Star / Hockey News
NHL All-Star Game, 1986, Hartford, Connecticut; Mario Lemieux,
Ron, and Wayne Gretzky.
Paul Bereswill, Hockey Hall of Fame
All-Star Game program, 1986, Hartford, Connecticut.
Goal Magazine
In order to wean myself from hockey, I coached my son Brian’s juvenile hockey team, and we had a ball. I stayed on for several years. We won the League Championship and I went out a winner. Later on, I coached my daughter Lisa’s hockey team and I enjoyed the ladies. I remember after one of our wins I told them they had played pretty well for “a bunch of girls.” I had to hide behind the door as fifteen hockey sticks were flung in my direction! Easy, ladies!
Ron upon retirement, 1986.
Brampton Guardian
38 It has been estimated a referee skates seven miles during a game. I have done about 2,500 games over the past fifty or so years, totalling about 17,500 miles — that’s back and forth five times across Canada!