Bob Hodges

Bob Hodges, a lifelong resident of Cambridge (Hespeler), played minor hockey and was the goaltender of two championship teams including the Hespeler Juveniles in 1963-64 and the Hespeler Jr. C Shamrocks in the mid-1960s.

Hodges began officiating minor hockey games in 1968. He progressed to the Ontario Hockey Association in 1969 and was picked to work the Memorial Cup in Ottawa in 1971. That same season he was scouted by Frank Udvari of the National Hockey League and was asked to work in the American Hockey League on weekends. Hodges worked 52 games that season while still maintaining his job in a local machine shop.

Hodges graduated to the National Hockey League (NHL) at the age of 28 in 1972, and over the next 25 years he officiated in 1,701 regular season games, 157 playoff games, three All Star Games and three Stanley Cup Finals. He also worked some international hockey games. Following his retirement in 1997 he supervised in the OHA for eight years, to help young officials.

Hodges’ longevity in the NHL is testimony to his conditioning, ability, and dedication. Officials are “always on the road”, “on the ice for every shift” and “involved in every fight”.

Hodges was inducted into the Cambridge Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.

Hodges’ only regret is that family life suffers. However his dedicated wife Gail raised their two children, Michelle and Shawn, “alone in the winter”. The Hodges continue to live in Hespeler and remain dedicated to their community.