Red Storey facts for kids

Roy Alvin "Red" Storey (born March 5, 1918 – died March 15, 2006) was a famous Canadian athlete. He was also a respected referee and a broadcaster. Red Storey played three different sports: football, lacrosse, and ice hockey. Even while he was playing, he started working as an official (referee) in all three sports. He continued to be an official after he stopped playing. When he played for the Toronto Argonauts football team, they won the Grey Cup championship two times. Later, he became a referee in the National Hockey League (NHL). After that, he worked as a radio and television commentator in Canada.

Red Storey's Early Life and Sports Career

Red Storey was born in Barrie, Ontario. He was working in a rail yard when he got an amazing offer. The Toronto Argonauts football team wanted him to play for them! He joined the team and played for six seasons, from 1936 to 1941. During this time, the Argonauts won the Grey Cup in 1937 and 1938.

Football Highlights and Injuries

In the 1938 Grey Cup game, Red Storey was a star. He scored three touchdowns in just twelve minutes! All of these touchdowns happened in the fourth quarter against Winnipeg. His amazing performance helped the Argonauts win the game. After this, he received offers from big American teams. The New York Giants and the Chicago Bears from the National Football League wanted him. But Red Storey decided to stay in Canada. Sadly, he had to stop playing football because of a knee injury.

Playing Lacrosse and Baseball

While he was playing football, Red Storey was also a competitive lacrosse player. He played for Orillia in the Ontario Lacrosse Association. In 1941, he was an all-star player with the Hamilton Tigers. Storey was also a great baseball player. He even received an offer from the Philadelphia Athletics, a professional baseball team.

Hockey and Officiating Beginnings

As a defenceman, Red Storey played hockey in New Jersey for the River Vale Skeeters in 1941. He then moved to Montreal and joined the Montreal Royals hockey team in the 1941–42 season. He continued to play lacrosse for Lachine in 1942 and 1943. Later, he played for the Montreal Canadiens lacrosse team in 1946. By the mid-1940s, Red Storey was very busy. Besides his regular job, he was also officiating football, lacrosse, and hockey games. He was a football official for 12 years in the "Big Four" league, which later became part of the Canadian Football League.

Red Storey's NHL Refereeing Career

Red Storey became an official (referee) in the National Hockey League (NHL) in 1950. He worked in the league until 1959.

The Final Game and Resignation

On April 4, 1959, he was refereeing Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinal. This was a big game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Chicago Black Hawks. Montreal won the game and the series, scoring the winning goal with only 88 seconds left. Chicago fans were very upset. The Black Hawks coach, Rudy Pilous, said that Storey didn't call penalties against the Canadiens late in the game.

Red Storey was supposed to referee the next game in the series. But a sports editor reported that the NHL president said Storey had "frozen" on two calls. This meant he didn't make calls that should have been penalties. Because of this, Red Storey immediately resigned. He never returned to the NHL.

A Popular Referee

During his NHL career, Red Storey refereed 480 regular season games. He also worked in seven straight Stanley Cup finals from 1952 to 1958. Players liked him because he would talk to them during games. Gump Worsley, a famous goalie, once said that he would ask Red Storey where he was going to get a beer after the game, and Storey would usually tell him!

Life After Refereeing

After leaving the NHL, Red Storey stayed active. He played in oldtimers' games and worked as a TV commentator. He was also known as a great storyteller.

Awards and Recognition

Red Storey received many honors for his contributions to sports.

• He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1967.
• He joined Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1986.
• He was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 1991.
• He was also inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.

Red Storey passed away in Montreal at the age of 88 after a long illness. His son, Bob Storey, also became a successful football player. Bob won the Grey Cup two times, in 1967 and 1970.

Honours and Tributes

• The athletic field at Barrie Central Collegiate, Red Storey's old school, was named in his honor.
• He was made a Member of the Order of Canada (CM) in 1992.
• He received the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal in 1992.
• He was awarded the Canadian Version of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002.