Frank Udvari
Inducted In
1978
Born in Yugoslavia, Frank Udvari came to Canada with his parents at the age of seven, and grew up in Kitchener. Interested in hockey at an early age, he refereed in the minor hockey leagues for three years and joined the NHL in the 1951-52 season, handling twelve games. He remained a referee to the 1965-66 season, handling 718 regular games and 70 playoffs. Recognized as the best on the staff, he was appointed supervisor of the NHL officials in 1966. He conducted many hockey schools across Canada and the USA, and two in Germany for the Canadian Army.
Udvari was influential in helping many junior members to ultimate success. Carl Voss, referee-in-chief, who brought him into the NHL stated that he had never been associated with a person who had higher personal standards.
Photograph courtesy of the Hockey Hall of Fame, Toronto, Ontario.