NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE
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The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) today announced that 10-year OHL officiating veteran Mike Hamilton is the 2021-22 recipient of the Ken Bodendistel Character Award for Officials as voted by his peers.
A product of Barrie, Hamilton began his OHL tenure as a linesman before wearing the bands as a referee for the past six seasons.
“It is such an honour to be this year’s recipient of the Bodie Award,” said Hamilton. “To be recognized by my peers and by the league and officiating staff is humbling, something I don’t take for granted. When I see the list of past Bodie recipients I’m so fortunate to join that group of officials.”
Hamilton is currently working his sixth OHL Championship Series, the second he’s done as a referee. He skated as a linesman at the 2014 Memorial Cup in London.
“It’s an honour to present Mike with the prestigious Bodie Award,” said director of OHL officiating Conrad Haché. “Not only is he a successful referee; he’s also a mentor to our younger officials, a leader on our team and is highly respected by our OHL clubs. His commitment and dedication to the OHL is second to none. He has a strong willingness to continue to develop and brings that to every assignment that he works.”
Hamilton works as a member of Aviva Canada’s National Appraisal Team. In addition to his work in the OHL Championship Series and Memorial Cup, he’s also skated in a pair of Canada Russia Series match-ups in addition to the 2018 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Guelph.
Established in 2013, “the Bodie” is presented annually to the OHL official who demonstrates a passion and dedication to officiating and the game of hockey, who best exemplifies leadership on and off the ice, professionalism, and is respected by OHL member teams, players, and fellow officials. The award is named in recognition of former OHL senior officiating manager Ken Bodendistel, who served 40 years in the league beginning as a supervisor in 1974-75. Bodendistel passed away in November 2013 at the age of 73 after a courageous battle with cancer.
This year marked the ninth year “the Bodie” has been presented, with past recipients including Jason Faist, Geoff Rutherford, Kevin Hastings, Joe Celestin, Mike Cairns, Steve Corlyon, Sean Reid and Scott Oakman.
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