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3 NHL greats retiring

Ray Scapinello, Randy Mitton and Terry Gregson are retiring

Published: April 02, 2004

The NHLOA would like to recognize the outstanding service of three of their most honored members who will be working their final National Hockey League regular season games this weekend. Retiring after long and successful careers.

Ray Scapinello, Randy Mitton and Terry Gregson have exemplified the professionalism, class and honor that the NHL and NHLOA strives to represent.

These three Officials have been a credit to the Officiating profession, the National Hockey League, to their peers and themselves, and are a shining example of hard work, dedication and ethical conduct.

Not only have these men represented the NHL and the National Hockey League Officials Association well throughout their distinguished careers but each are fine citizens and will be joining the proud members of the NHLOA Alumni Association.

Terry Gregson has served the NHL and NHLOA well and often, working 1427 NHL Regular Season games. He has always led by example and we are all better people for knowing him. His unselfishness and tireless efforts on and off the ice are goals for any official to strive for. He led the NHLOA through some very significant changes and inspired a number of his colleagues to become involved in the direction and evolution of the NHLOA. His leadership, class and integrity will be missed.

Ray Scapinello has inspired a new generation of officials into realizing that by hard work and a maximum effort anything is possible. He has always been a shining example of the best of what the officiating business has to offer and that a long and distinguished career is possible. His zooming around the ice at top speed no matter the time or score will be missed. From Bobby Orr to Gordie Howe to Marcel Dionne, Ray has zipped and zoomed with the best of them, working 2500 NHL Regular Season games.

Randy Mitton's honesty and good nature will also be missed as well as his hard working, dependable effort that he gave every night, game in and game out. Randy has been a mentor and role model for many of his fellow officials and should be justifiably proud of everyone's success. He has always been the consummate professional, fully dedicated to his National Hockey League career as a Linesman, working 2107 Regular Season games.

These three officials have worked a total of over 6000 NHL Regular Season games. A very impressive stat, to say the least. A tip of the hat to each of these men and a tug at the heart as they will be sorely missed. Congratulations Randy, Ray and Terry.

NHLOA Executive Board



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The NHLOA (National Hockey League Officials' Association), was born in 1969 out of a need to improve working conditions, salaries and other benefits for officials of the National Hockey League.
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