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Pytka honored for 30 years of service to area hockey |
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May 23, 2012
By Chris Maza
chrism@thereminder.com
WEST SPRINGFIELD — So often in sports, careers come and go in the blink of an eye.
So when people hear a story about a man whose career is still going strong after 30 years, they might just wonder if he's Superman.
Greg Pytka may not be a superhero, but his 30 years of service as a hockey official in Western Massachusetts has made him a legend in the hockey community.
Pytka, a West Springfield resident and Indian Orchard native, recently received the Matthew J. Ryan Jr. Award at the 46th Annual Amo "Betts" Bessone Awards Banquet in recognition of his outstanding contributions to high school hockey in Western Massachusetts.
"The award is definitely extremely rewarding," Pytka said. "Looking at the past recipients of this award made me feel pretty proud that someone recognized me as in the same category as some of those great people."
Pytka has officiated youth hockey with USA Hockey for 30 years, while also reffing at the high school level with the National Ice Hockey Officials Association and at the college level with the East Coast Athletic Conference for 20 years.
He has also officiated for the New England Junior League and the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.
In addition to his on-ice duties, he has served as the Western Massachusetts Hockey Commissioner for nine years and is the secretary/treasurer of the NIHOA's local chapter. He is an observer for the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association and an assistant site supervisor for the high school hockey tournaments. He is also an annual volunteer at the charity sled hockey tournament at Amelia Park Ice Arena in Westfield.
In 2011, Pytka received the Golden Stripes Award presented by the Springfield Falcons at their annual Referee Appreciation Night.
In addition to his contributions on the ice, Pytka, who has a bachelor's degree and MBA from Western New England College, has been an active part of the community off it. He has been a volunteer in the East Longmeadow elementary schools as well as being active with the March of Dimes and the Pioneer Valley United Way.
He has served as the manager of Human Resources for Hasbro since 1998.
After 30 years, one thing has kept him going.
"You have to have a passion for this in order to do it and do it well," Pytka said. "It can be extremely rewarding when you see kids develop through the years from both a hockey and a character standpoint."
In three decades, the sport of hockey has undergone significant changes, but they've all been for the better, he said.
"It's becoming a lot more structured and more organized," Pytka said. "You're seeing more year-round programs and as a result you're seeing more kids playing on a one-sport basis as opposed to changing with the seasons and that only makes their skills that much better. Because of that, the quality of the play has increased."
Pytka added that better scientific understanding of the body has also helped the game.
"There is more and more emphasis on nutrition, weight training and physical fitness," he said.
So how much longer does Pytka plan on doing this? Let's just say Superman has yet to find his kryptonite.
"As long as I can, I'm going to continue to do this," he said. "From the administrative standpoint, even if I'm unable to continue the on-ice officiating, I'm going to do it for years to come.
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