Referee Mark Sampson earns his 'stripes' |
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March 24, 2010.
SPRINGFIELD -- The Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League (AHL), will host their 5th annual Referee Appreciation Night on April 2, when the Falcons host the Portland Pirates at the MassMutual Center.
On this special evening, the fifth recipient of the Golden Stripes Award, Mark Sampson, will be honored prior to the game.
Sampson has been a member of the officiating community for 30 years, originally starting his referee and linesman duties with the New England Junior League in 1980. Sampson remains the current president of the Pioneer Valley Ice Hockey Officials Association, a post he has kept since 2000.
He also was one of the three founding members of the Northeast Hockey Officials School from 2001-2004.
"It's with tremendous honor that we present this special award to a gentleman so well deserving," Falcons Vice President of Business Operations Bob Oliver, said. "His devotion to the duties of officiating, the sport of hockey and our community is something that we all strongly admire."
Sampson has officiated at the youth, high school and college levels throughout his career. He has been a member of the National Ice Hockey Officials Association's Western Mass. Chapter since 1990, as well as being a member of the Eastern College Athletic Conference starting in 1992. Sampson was also selected to officiate in Hockey East from 1995-2000.
A graduate of Holyoke High School in 1977, Sampson has been a member of USA Hockey since 1975. During his time with USA Hockey, he has been named a USA Hockey Instructor since 1988 and has been chosen to attend USA Hockey Instructor Camps since 1995.
The Golden Stripes Award is awarded annually to an On-Ice Official whose work within Western Massachusetts has selflessly demonstrated the essential characteristics of dedication, fairplay, positive attitude and communication skills. This individual has also shown an overwhelming desire to "give back" to the officiating community by volunteering his time off the ice as well, all the while leaving a positive lasting impression on his peers.
Previous Golden Stripes Award winners include: Joe Buchholz (2009), William Sapelli (2008), Alfred Pinciak (2007), Alfred "Fred" Zanetti (2006).
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