Heather Wright/The Independent

John VanLieshout has spent a lot of time at the Watford Arena. And now, his name is on the walls in honour of his service to the community.

On April 8, VanLieshout retired as a minor hockey referee after a game in Forest. He’d been helping young hockey players for 42 years.

Friday night, VanLieshout came to the Watford arena with his family for a surprise honour from Warwick Township. The community has renamed the referee’s room in his honour and inside the tiny space, his name looms large on one wall.

Mayor Todd Case thanked VanLieshout for his service to minor hockey, presenting him with a plaque for his 42 years of service.

Case also thanked him for all he had done in the community over the years.

VanLieshout served on the township’s Parks and Recreation Committee and the Silver Stick Committee, coached minor hockey, served as president of Minor Hockey in East Lambton, chaired the Watford-Alvinston Road Race Committee, and worked as a teacher with the St. Clair Catholic District School Board at both St. Peter Cansius in Watford and St. John Fisher in Forest.

He also mentored young referees along the way.

VanLieshout started when he was a young man, heading out on the ice to help with minor hockey until he graduated from high school and went off to university.

Armed with his teaching degree, VanLieshout became active in minor hockey in Watford. “We were short of referees, so I like stopped that, and then started refereeing,” he told The Independent last Friday at the ceremony.

His sons were 10 and 12 when VanLieshout put on the stripes. And he loved being on the ice with the kids.

“The stories we hear and talking to the kids and also the camaraderie with the other referees – that was all part of it,” he says of why he kept skating so long.

Most referees are subject to cat-calls from over zealous parents or fans, but VanLieshout says it was never really a problem for him.

“If you had a little respect for them, they give you respect back,” he says.

And if that didn’t work, he says, “Shake it off if you have to. I didn’t let it bother me too much.”

VanLieshout isn’t on the ice with minor hockey anymore, but he can still be found at the rink.

“I’m still doing a little bit of men’s league,” he says with a smile. “That’s all. Sunday nights here.”

And he spends time watching his grandkids play hockey and ringette.

Very often, VanLieshout is recognized by someone he met because of hockey. “All the kids I know that come back and still say hello, right? You know, when you see them, it’s ‘Hey, Mr. V!” and I give them a hard time, they give you a hard time back, and it’s been good.”