Hustling for Mike
Hustling for Mike
Even in the months before cancer finally claimed Michael Dinn, the beloved hockey official was more intent on helping others
KENN OLIVER
The Telegram
It would have been easy to feel sorry for Michael Dinn. A respected hockey official, and father of 11-month-old Joel, Dinn had seen his life turned upside down in recent months as cancer ravaged his body.
But Dinn would have had none of your pity. That's just the way he was.
On Friday morning at 6:30 a.m., Dinn finally succumbed to the disease. He was 35.
Days before his death, friends and colleagues were eager to talk about Dinn and sing his praises.
"When we're not sure how to react, we turn to Michael and he puts us in a better mood," said Sean Tobin, Dinn's friend of nearly 20 years and a fellow hockey referee.
"It shouldn't be that way, but it is."
Dinn was always the type of person to put other people at ease, Tobin said. "I think that's why he's so liked and well-respected."
In September 2008, Dinn was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer. Expecting his first child with wife Mandy, he underwent surgery to remove part of his colon.
Following several more surgeries and a series of aggressive chemotherapy treatments over the months that followed, Dinn was set to return to the ice in November to referee his first game since Game 6 of the Telegram Herder Memorial Championship Series in 2008.
He didn't make it to the rink that night and when Tobin called to see why, Mandy explained the latest news. The cancer had spread to Michael's brain.
Tumours.
"Since we had made a big deal about people coming out to his comeback game," said Tobin, "his first response when we got back on the phone was, 'I hope I didn't disappoint anyone by not showing up last night.'
"That's Mike, never thinking about himself, always thinking about someone else."
Don Kelly, Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador's referee-in-chief, visited Dinn in hospital in recent months and said, "even though he was being challenged, you knew right away his spirit was still there.
"I don't know of any other person in this world who has the same spirit, positive attitude, same outlook on life and the future as Mike in the condition he's in," Kelly said before Dinn's death. "When you go in there, you're trying to uplift him, but you come away feeling that way, saying to yourself, 'I must have drained his battery because I got all the energy out of this.'"
That was Dinn in the hockey world, as well.
One of just a handful of Level VI-certified Hockey Canada officials to come out of the province, Dinn helped build a successful officials program in the Goulds, training dozens of officials during his nearly 20 years of service.
Even as he moved up the ranks and started working higher levels, the Petty Harbour native was never far from his roots.
Along the way he earned a reputation for being quiet, yet well-spoken.
"He didn't have to say a lot to get a strong message across," Kelly said.
"It's a very down-to-earth, easy going approach everyone can respect," Tobin added.
"Even in his battle with cancer, he's taken that approach."
No pity
It would have been easy to offer Michael Dinn your pity.
But no one in the hockey fraternity was giving it.
Rather, they followed his lead, rallying by his side as he championed the Hustle for a Cure campaign across the province.
The Hustle initiative was founded by Angelo D'Amico, whose father John, a longtime NHL linesman, lost his own battle with acute leukemia in 2005. In conjunction with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada, the charity was born.
Funds raised go towards research, as well as support programs and resources for patients and families.
"When he brought up the Hustle, and said he was interested in doing this, everyone was on board," said Tobin, one of several close friends he asked to help carry the movement as his own condition worsened.
"This is important for us because there's nothing we can do about the cancer. All we can do at this point is let him know we love and support him, that the kind of things he recognized as important are just as important to us."
Team Michael Dinn set a goal of $2,000 to start for the Hustle campaign.
It's been met, but the fundraising continues.
"It's something we want to continue on for him," Tobin said.
The relationship between referee and player, in the sport of hockey in particular, is viewed as dubious, and Kelly can attest to Dinn being in some precarious situations over the years.
"A few short years ago, we went out to central. I think we needed three RCMP officers to escort him out.
"But that was on the ice."
Tobin and Kelly agreed that support - not only for Hustle, but for Dinn and his young family - has been a testament to his reputation and the respect he garnered fostering the development of the game he loved.
In addition to a massive outpouring from his brethren within the Goulds and Metro Referee Associations and the communities of Petty Harbour and the Goulds, contributions have come from teams from all levels, HNL and Hockey Canada, and even from the NHL, through Dinn's friends from his days as a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League official.
"It's all a reflection on him, on how he touches people," Kelly insisted. "No matter who meets him, it is but to like him or love him."
No amount of money could have cured Dinn's cancer.
In recent weeks, the cancer had worked its way to his lungs, leaving doctors with no recourse but to send him home on oxygen.
Thursday morning, he was moved to palliative care. There's no time for pity now. Instead, there are only memories left to cherish and a life worth celebrating.
Nominate your local hockey leader
The RBC Local Hockey Leaders program is a nationwide initiative designed to discover and honour Canada’s most dedicated hockey volunteers. Our distinguished group of panellists, including representatives from Hockey Canada and the Hockey Hall of Fame, will select the winners based on their proven dedication to minor hockey in their community.
This year we are once again selecting thirteen winners -- one from each of Hockey Canada’s member branches and one RBC® employee winner.
Each of the fourteen regional winners will receive:
* special recognition in the Hockey Hall of Fame
* an autographed Team Canada jersey
* $10,000 towards a minor hockey cause in their community
Every volunteer nominated in 2010 will be included in the Hockey Hall of Fame RBC Local Hockey Leaders display.
If your local hockey leader has not won in the past, we hope you will re-submit your nomination, or nominate another outstanding volunteer in your community.
Nominate a candidate for the RBC local Hockey Leaders® program today at www.rbclocalhockeyleaders.com!
Passing of Michael Dinn
For more info click HERE
Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame to Induct Five New Members
For more info click HERE
DOUBLE OVERTIME NEEDED AT THE 2010 AAA BANTAM IRVING OIL PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Grand Falls-Windsor, NL – At almost the exact time that Sidney Crosby united Canada with his overtime heroics at the 2010 Olympic Games, Liam Hynes of Paradise, delivered the winning goal in the fifth period of the Bantam Irving Oil provincial championship game sending the Tri Com Irving Islanders to the Atlantic championships. Hynes scored his second goal of the game at the 3:27 mark of the second overtime period to defeat the St. John’s AAA team 3-2 on Sunday at the Robert French Memorial stadium in Kelligrews. The other goal scorer for Tri-Com was Cody Dwyer who forced the game to sudden victory, while Marcus Cuomo and Adam Walsh responded for St. John’s.
Tri-Com will now represent Newfoundland and Labrador at the 2010 Irving Oil Challenge Cup taking place at the Pepsi Centre in Corner Brook, NL from March 25-28, 2010.
Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador congratulates all teams and the host committee
Conception Bay Regional Minor Hockey Association for delivering a first class event that showcased the best 13 and 14 year old hockey players in the province. The provincial association also would like to acknowledge the continued support of Irving Oil for Bantam hockey in the province.
For more information contact
Craig Tulk
Executive Director
Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador
(709) 489-5512 (O)
(709) 486-0442 (C)
(709) 489-2273 (F)
ctulk@hockeynl.ca
ARBITRATORS MIDGET AAA TEAM VICTORIOUS IN PROVINCAL PLAY
Grand Falls-Windsor, NL – The Arbitrators of the AAA Midget Doug Marshall League won the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial AAA Midget Championship after edging the Misdemeanors 2-0 in the championship game on Sunday, February 21, 2010 at the Glovertown Gardens.
The Arbitrators had goals from Jeff Reid and Jordan Murphy, while their goaltender, Zach Mitchell performed brilliantly in preserving the shutout. The championship team went 3-1 in the five team round robin, losing to the Misdemeanors early in the weekend. The runner up team from St. John’s earned two wins and a tie in the round robin portion of the play downs.
The Arbitrators will now represent the province at the AAA Midget Atlantic Championship in Summerside, PEI from March 18-21, 2010.
Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador congratulates the winning team and the host committee Glovertown Minor Hockey Association for delivering a first class event that showcased midget hockey in the province.
For More information contact
Craig Tulk
Executive Director
Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador
(709) 489-5512 (O)
(709) 486-0442 (C)
ctulk@hockeynl.ca
2010 BANTAM AAA IRVING OIL PROVINCIAL PLAY-DOWNS
February 25, 2010
Beginning Friday, February 26th, the Conception Bay Regional Minor Hockey Association will be hosting the 2010 AAA Bantam Irving Oil Championships.
This event features the top 13 and 14 year old AAA Bantam players from five regions of the province. All games will be played at the newly named Robert French Memorial Stadium in Kelligrews. Teams will be playing to earn the right to represent the province at the 2010 Bantam AAA Atlantic Irving Oil Challenge Cup taking place in Corner Brook, NL from March 25-28, 2010.
Teams from, Tri-Pen, St. John's, Central, Western and the host Tri-Com will compete in a single round robin tournament with the top two teams facing off in the Championship game on Sunday.
A complete schedule is attached and for complete results visit
http://www.sport.ca/tournament/index.php?tournament=53
Shedule can be viewed HERE
St. John’s Pizza Hut Predators Claim Bell Aliant Peewee AAA Cup
Special Appreciation From Scott Forward can be viewed HERE
February 21, 2010
The St. John’s Pizza Hut Predators have won the right to represent Newfoundland and Labrador at the 2010 Bell Aliant Atlantics in Moncton by claiming the Bell Aliant Peewee AAA Cup with a 6-1 victory over the Mark’s Work Wearhouse Tri-Com Flyers at Goulds Arena on Sunday afternoon.
The capacity crowd was entertained with fast action from the opening whistle as the finest players from the Tri-Com All-Star League squared off for gold. Tight checking by both squads in the first period limited the scoring opportunities for both teams early. But eventually the stronger players for both sides began to stand out. Colin Hunt was clearly the Flyers’ star in the first period with his stellar play in the net, including a spectacular leg save on the Predators’ Nathan Noel with less than 10 seconds to play in the period. The Predators had the edge in play over the Flyers in the scoreless period, with forward Noel leading the offensive attack and defenseman Andrew Picco quarterbacking the break-out. The smooth- skating Andrew Murphy also looked impressive on the Flyers’ blueline.
Fourteen seconds into the middle frame, lanky Adam Holwell put the Predators on the board by sliding the biscuit pass Hunt while falling to the ice. Coady Barron and Adam Caines assisted on the goal which sparked the Predators attack. Four minutes later, a pass from Patrick Pilon coming off the half-wall to Matthew Smith, who one-timed it past Hunt, produced the game winner at 4:20 of the second.
The Predators continued to pressure the Flyers as their opponents started to show signs of fatigue from their late round robin match. At 9:37 Picco blasted a Noel drop pass by a screened Hunt to widen the margin to three. Before the period ended, Noel dangled a Flyer defender to create a 2-on-1 and feed Coady Barron, who sniped it by a sprawling Hunt. Picco also recorded an assist on the play.
Conor McCarthy was seldom tested in the St. John’s cage in the second period as his team mates dominated in terms of puck possession time.
Mitch Rogers replaced Hunt to begin the third period and just like the last period, the Predators scored just seventeen seconds in as Noel dangled through three defenders before scoring five-hole on Rogers. Like his cage partner, Rogers also played well. However, Noel’s display of slick stickhandling and powerful skating, with a side order of grit, left little doubt as to who would win Player of the Game honors.
Michael Broders' hustle in the game got rewarded at the expense of McCarthy’s shut-out bid, when he popped home a Grant Thompson rebound from the slot at 8:07 of the third period. With less than five minutes to go, Blake Dalton, on a set-up from Noel, completed the scoring on the day.
Congrats to both teams – wear your medals proud!
-Tim Power
BELL ALIANT PEE WEE AAA CUP
On behalf of Goulds Minor Hockey I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the following players from our Association on winning the 2010 Pee Wee AAA Provincial Championships:
Conor McCarthy
Jonas Foley
Matthew Kenny
Tyler Templeman
Patrick Pilon
Blake Dalton
All your hard work and dedication was evident at each and every game you played this past weekend. We wish you continued success at the Aliant Atlantic Pee Wee AAA Championships to be held in Moncton from March 19-21/10.
Good Luck St. John's Pee Wee AAA Pizza Hut Predators!!!
Yvonne Dalton
Secretary
GMHA
