Former NHL Referee Bruce Hood dies at 81.
The NHL officiating fraternity lost a friend and a great ambassador yesterday afternoon (Friday Jan. 5) when former NHL referee Bruce Hood passed away after a lengthly battle with prostate cancer. Hood who was a key member that led to the formation of the NHL Officials Association (NHLOA) in 1969, died peacefully at age 81 surrounded by his family at Hospice Wellington in Guelph, Ontario. Husband of Daphne, Hood is survived by his children; Randy, Kevin and Marilyn and by Daphne’s children; Grant, Kevin and Jennifer. He is also survived by his four grandchildren and by Daphne’s seven grandchildren.
Hood officiated 1,033 NHL Regular Season Games and 153 NHL Playoffs Games during his 21 seasons with the National Hockey League. His impressive resume also included three NHL All-Star Games, three Canada Cups and four Stanley Cup Finals. He was also on the ice for the legendary Bobby Orr’s overtime goal in Game 4 of the 1970 Stanley Cup Final, his left hand can be seen at the bottom right of the famous picture of Orr flying through the air after scoring the iconic goal.
Hood was inducted this past November into the Milton Sports Hall of Fame at the Milton Town Hall into the builder’s category.
At Bruce’s request, the funeral service, celebration of life and interment will be private at the Canadian Legion Branch 422 on January 12th and at J. Scott Early Funeral Home the following day. In lieu of flowers, Bruce would appreciate memorial donations to Prostate Cancer Canada, www.prostatecancer.ca; St.Andrew’s Special Friends Club, www.wwhealthline.ca; The Owl Foundation, www.theowlfoundation.ca; or Hospice Wellington, www.hospicewellington.org.
The NHLOA would like to extend their deepest condolences to the Hood family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.