Bruce Hood

Bruce Hood (b. 1937cite web|url=http://www.hockeyrefs.com/print/print.php?page=/intheheadlines/2005/01/07b.php|title=NHL considering Hood for director of officiating job|publisher=HockeyRefs.com Press release|date=2005-01-07|accessdate=May 8|accessyear=2007] ) was born in Campbellville, Ontario, Canada. He has been an author, businessman, politician, and professional ice hockey referee in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Officiating record

During his 21-year NHL career, Hood officiated 1,033 regular season games, 157 Stanley Cup playoff games, three All-Star Games, and three Canada Cupscite web|url=http://www.hockeyrefs.com/interviews/brucehood.php |title=Interview with Bruce Hood|publisher=HockeyRefs.com|date=2006-01-04|accessdate=May 8|accessyear=2007] . He was also the first professional to referee a World Championship game in 1985 the then Prague, Czechoslovakia. As an NHL referee, Hood was also instrumental in the formation of the NHL Officials Association in 1969.

He was the last official to wear a number one on his jersey and the last to officiate in all Original Six arenas. In 1994, Hood was nominated to the Hockey Hall of Fame by 12 existing members, including former players like Bobby Hull and Maurice Richard.

Controversies

Over the years, Hood acquired the nickname "turn em loose Bruce". One of the last NHL games that he officiated was an infamous playoff match between the Montreal Canadiens and Quebec Nordiques on April 20, 1984, in which the teams brawled for a full hour after the end of the second period. Hood's decision to restart the game was extremely controversial, particularly when the announcement of penalties at the start of the third period provoked another brawl between the teams. He retired after the 1984 NHL playoffs, and there is credible speculation that he did so at the behest of NHL officials. [cite web|url=http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/4-28-2003-39653.asp|title=A good ol' hockey fight relived|publisher=buzzle.com courtesy of Sports Central|date=2003-04-28|accessdate=May 7|accessyear=2007]

Hood was involved in another controversy during the 1984 playoffs. In Game 2 of the Campbell Conference finals between the Minnesota North Stars and Edmonton Oilers, Hood allowed a goal by the Oilers' Jari Kurri that proved to be the difference in a 4-3 Oiler victory, even though it appeared that the puck did not cross the goal line. Hood ruled that the puck had crossed the line while it was being cradled in the catching glove of North Stars goalie Don Beaupre. Edmonton would sweep the series by winning Games 3 and 4 in Bloomington, Minnesota en route to the franchise's first Stanley Cup championship.

Business

For eighteen years, Hood operated developmental camps for hockey officials, which attracted students from several countries. He also designed a successful line over officiating equipment, many of which are either still used or were the basis for modern designs.

Hood operated a series of local travel agencies in the late 1980s and 1990s, serving as vice-chair of the Travel Industry Council of Ontario and president of the Association of Canadian Travel Agents. He was appointed as Air Travel Complaints Commissioner in the summer of 2000, [cite web|url=http://www.cta-otc.gc.ca/media/speech-discour/2001/010329h_e.html|title=Statement of Mr. Bruce Hood|publisher=Canadian Transportation Agency|date=2001-03-29|accessdate=May 8|accessyear=2007] and served until 2002. David Jeanes, the president of Transport 2000, claimed that Hood had accomplished "an excellent job establishing this new consumer-protection office". [cite web|url=http://www.transport2000.ca/Hotlines/hl020907.htm|title=New Air Travel Complaints Commissioner announced|publisher=Transport 2000 Canada Hot Line|date=2002-09-07|accessdate=May 7|accessyear=2007] After leaving this position, he worked in mediation and marketing.

Hood also authored two best-sellers, "Calling the Shots" in 1988 and "The Good of the Game" in 1999.

Politics

He sought the Ontario Liberal Party nomination in Halton North for the 1987 election, and the federal Liberal nomination in Oakville—Milton in 1993, but lost both times ("Guelph Mercury", 29 June 2004).

Hood received 19,173 votes (38.21%) in the 2004 election running in the newly formed riding of Wellington—Halton Hills, finishing a close second against Conservative candidate Michael Chong.

External links

* http://www.brucehood.com/bio.html - Brief biography

References