John D'Amico (ice hockey) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John D'Amico |
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| Hockey Hall of Fame, 1993 | |||
| Born | September 21, 1937 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
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| Died | May 29, 2005 (aged 67) | ||
| Position | Linesman | ||
| Playing career | 1964–1988 | ||
John David D'Amico (born September 21, 1937 – died May 29, 2005) was a Canadian National Hockey League (NHL) linesman. He later became a supervisor for all the officials in the league.
Contents
Early Life and Education
John D'Amico grew up in Toronto, Canada. He attended and graduated from De La Salle College in his hometown.
A Career in Hockey
John D'Amico started his exciting NHL career as a referee on October 12, 1964. He was 27 years old at the time. After refereeing just 19 games, he switched roles and became a linesman, which is the job he became famous for.
Long-Standing NHL Official
When John D'Amico retired after the 1987 season, he was the very last on-ice official who had worked during the famous Original Six era of the NHL. This shows how long and dedicated his career was!
During his time as a linesman, D'Amico worked an amazing 1,689 regular season games. He also took part in seven All-Star games, including the 1979 Challenge Cup and Rendez-vous '87. He was also a part of 247 Stanley Cup playoff games, which included 52 Stanley Cup Finals. His last Stanley Cup Final game was in 1987. He also worked at the Canada Cup, an important international hockey tournament.
A Memorable Last Game
In 1988, D'Amico was watching a Toronto Maple Leafs game on TV at home. Suddenly, a linesman in the game got injured and had to leave. John D'Amico quickly went to Maple Leaf Gardens, the arena, and finished the game! This unexpected moment marked his very last time on the ice as an NHL linesman.
After Retirement
After officially retiring from being an on-ice official, John D'Amico continued to work for the NHL. He became a supervisor of officials, helping to guide and train new linesmen and referees. He held this important role until he passed away in 2005.
In recognition of his incredible career and contributions to hockey, John D'Amico was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1993. This is one of the highest honors a hockey professional can receive.
Family Life
John D'Amico was married to his wife, Dorothy. Together, they had three sons and one daughter.
