RI HOCKEY LEGACY

Putting on the Stripes

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In the early days of hockey, the referees would be clad in a vest and tie along with their pants and carry a bell, not a whistle, to stop the game in progress. Later, referees wore cream-colored sweaters over a shirt and tie with a cap, from the 1930s to the early 1950s until the black-and-white-striped jersey was introduced in 1955. Many star amateur hockey players from Rhode Island also became ice officials during and after their playing days. One of the earliest was Jimmy "Ace" Hart who refed in the Interscholastic League as well as amateur leagues at the R.I. Auditorium in the 1930's through the 1950's. Howie Crins officiated for many years before embarking on a very successful coaching career at Cranston East High School (1955-1966). John "Red" Dawber, Jimmy Reynolds, Ted Dooley and Ralph "Swede" Erickson officiated in the 1950's and 1960's. Henry Coupe played in the IHL and several R.I. amateur outfits officiated games in the 1960's. After his playing days, 1948 US Olympian Ralph Warburton became a pioneer on-ice official and mentor to dozens of hockey referees and a builder of the RI Hockey Officials Association.​
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​There is no denying the impact Providence Reds have had on the hockey culture in Rhode Island. Many former Reds stayed in Rhode Island after their playing careers and became long lasting on-ice officials going back to the 1930's. Paddy Byrne, Art Lesieur and Gus Rivers all played for the Reds in the 1930's and became mainstays in interscholastic and amateur circles in the 1930's into the 1950's. Chuck Scherza, Andy Brannigan, Zellio Toppazzini and John Sleaver would follow. These individuals all had tremendous influence by also coaching youth hockey and contributing to the growth of the game in Rhode Island.
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  • Home
  • Schoolboy
    • 1900s
    • 1910s
    • 1920s
    • 1930s
    • 1940s
    • 1950s
    • 1960s
    • 1970s
    • 1980s
    • 1990s
    • New England Championships
    • All-State >
      • All-State Teams
      • All-State Photos
    • Journal Honor Roll
    • Divisions
  • Schoolboy Stories I
    • Opening Night
    • Schoolboy Polo to Hockey
    • Battle of School Leagues
    • Flying Frenchmen
    • Flying Green Thunderbolt
    • Packed House
    • All Stars at the Garden
    • Big Night for Cougar
    • One, Two, Three Punch
    • Mighty Blue Wave
    • Maroon Between the Pipes
    • Premèire Femelle
    • Arlington Here We Come
  • Schoolboy Stories II
    • New England OT Thrillers
    • Doubleheader at the Park
    • Bay State Battle
    • California Dreamin'
    • Bienvenue a R.I. Montréal
    • Third Time's A Charm
    • The Kids Called Her Coach
    • Dueling Opinions
    • And The Winner Is ...
    • Eight Ways to Sunday
    • Not One But Two!
  • Sr Amateur Teams
    • Providence Hockey Club
    • Richard J. Dennis Post
    • Canadian Club of Rhode Island
    • East Side Hockey Club
    • Providence Club
    • Flying Frenchmen of Woonsocket
    • Rhode Island Marquettes
    • Club Marquette of Woonsocket
    • Sandager Club
    • Dunnes of Cranston
    • P & Q of Woonsocket
    • Providence Chicks
    • Eastern Olympics
    • Cranston Hockey Club
  • Se Amateur Leagues
    • Industrial Hockey League
    • Blackstone Valley Amateur Hockey League
    • Rhode Island Amateur Hockey League
    • Rhode Island Amateur Hockey Association
    • Inter-City Amateur Hockey League
    • CYO Senior Hockey League
    • Rhode Island Senior Hockey League
    • Rhode Island Amateur Hockey Assoc.
    • Rhode Island Amateur Hockey League
    • Old Colony Hockey League
    • Massachusetts Hockey League
  • RI Scarlets
    • RI Amateur Hockey Club
    • RI Scarlets 1930s
    • RI Scarlets 1940s
    • RI Scarlets 1950s
    • RI Scarlets 1960s
  • Did You Know? I
    • Hooray For Hollywood
    • Maryland, My Maryland
    • Across the Pond
    • Goodbye Detroit Hello Prague
    • Fisticuffs in Stockholm
    • The Diamond to the Blueline
    • Little Rhody on the Reds
    • First Dominicans on Ice
    • Brown Finally Plays Harvard
    • Amateurs at the Auditorium
    • Can You Spare a Goalie?
    • In The Army Now
    • Mademoiselles Play Too
  • Did You Know? II
    • East Side Skating Club
    • USA versus RI
    • Down East Hockey
    • Olympic Tune-up
    • Title Quest
    • Anthony's Skating Rink
    • Scout's Honor
    • Putting on the Stripes
    • The Under Card
    • The Great Outdoors
    • Kid to the Rescue
    • The Pride of Chambly Basin
    • The Sharpshooter
    • Tennis anyone?
  • Junior Hockey
    • Providence Jr Hockey League
    • Jr Amateur Hockey League
    • Jr AHA
  • College
    • Brown University
    • Providence College
    • Bryant College
    • Roger Williams College
  • All-American
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  • Origins
  • RI In The Pros
    • NHL
    • AHL
    • IHL
    • EHL
    • CHL
  • Dick Ernst Articles
  • Contact