RED DEER - Ron Panchyshyn, one of the founders of the Officiating Program in Alberta, passed away on February 27 at the age of 82, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Ron started his officiating career in 1964, working at all levels including University and Major Junior, and multiple national and international championships. Ron was one of the first Level 6 officials in Alberta and Canada, when the Level system started in 1976. Off the ice, Ron was a tireless volunteer who served as tournament chairman at dozens of local and national events. He spent four years as the North Zone Chair, 13 years as the Past Chair, and was the third Provincial Chairman in Alberta (1986-90). Ron also served 14 years on the Board of Directors for Hockey Alberta.

Ron was inducted into the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004 and was named a Life Member of the Hockey Alberta Officials Committee in 1998.

Ron was also an influential referee supervisor, mentoring officials such as George McCorry, Mike Rebus, Dave Shaw, and Lance Roberts, who all became Level 6 officials. He was committed to Grassroots officiating, teaching clinics as early as 1973 and was the first referee coordinator for the Edmonton Minor Hockey Week which started in 1964. One of his proudest accomplishments was negotiating the donation of officiating services to that tournament, a tradition that carries on to this day.

Ron was a loving and devoted husband to his wife, Joyce, and a man who lived and loved for his children and grandchildren. One of Ron’s favourite things was to watch his grandchildren play hockey and football.

The family is asking for those that wish to do so, donations be made in Ron’s name to Crohn’s and Colitis Canada.