2022 MHOA Service Award - Darrell Gedney

The Minnesota Hockey Officials Association (MHOA) established this award to honor an individual who has unselfishly made outstanding contributions to the officiating program in Minnesota during many years of service to the hockey community as an official and a volunteer. 

Having been an official for over 40 years, Darrell Gedney's reputation within the Minnesota Hockey community very much precedes itself. Gedney, who lives in Delano but officiates games in District 3 and across the metro area, has become a such a fixture in the youth hockey community that "everybody knows Darrell" is a common phrase heard from coaches, parents, and other officials alike.

Within Beltline Hockey Referee’s Association (BHRA), Gedney has played a critical role in the mentorship and training of countless officials over the past three decades he's spent with this association. His ability to teach new officials is uncanny; he is especially good with those still in high school. When Gedney's on the ice with a young official, you can be sure that new official will be cared for and protected during those games.

His support for BHRA's young officials does not stop at the rink's doors. Gedney is also an active participant in BHRA' s scholarship fund. For the past several seasons, he has been one the fund's largest benefactors. Our association disburses these funds, through an application process, to deserving BHRA members for use towards post-secondary education.

Gedney's contributions to BHRA are not limited to his work with our young officials. He served on the board for 14 years holding the positions of president, secretary and scheduler. He was also the District 3 supervisor of officials for six seasons.

Gedney continues to officiate in excess of 200 games per regular season, doubling, tripling, or even quadrupling officials half his age. In fact, he was back on the ice skating three weeks after having hip replacement surgery, once again impressing everyone with his level of dedication.

Gedney truly cares about the officiating community, the great game of hockey and the kids playing it, and he shows it each day he’s at the rink, consistently making a positive impact on those around him.

The Minnesota Hockey Officials’ Association and Minnesota Hockey would like to thank Darrell Gedney for his passion, commitment and years of service to the officiating community!