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Three Generations of Cassidy Family Officiate Together during Quickard Edmonton Minor Hockey Week
This year’s Quickard Edmonton Minor Hockey Week holds a special significance for the Cassidy family, as they celebrate a remarkable milestone of unity and shared passion for the sport of hockey.
For the first time, three generations of Cassidys are taking to the ice as referees, officiating together in the same games. This proud moment is a dream realized for Kevin Cassidy, the patriarch of the family.
“Tonight’s a special night for me obviously,” Kevin shared, expressing his deep connection to the sport. Hailing from Fergus, Ontario, Kevin’s hockey journey began at the age of five. His commitment to the game has evolved over decades; after 25 years of playing, he transitioned to officiating when the local minor league faced a shortage of referees.
“Somebody asked me if I would officiate. ‘Yeah sure,’ I’d give it a try … Here we are 38 years later,” he recounted with a hint of pride, noting that he is now nearing his 68th birthday.
In addition to officiating, Kevin and his wife have contributed to the hockey community by serving on various executive committees for minor hockey teams in Ontario. Since relocating to the Edmonton region in 2013, Kevin has remained actively involved in the sport he loves.
His enthusiasm for officiating has inspired younger members of the family. David Cassidy, Kevin’s son, followed his father’s footsteps by becoming a referee after his playing days concluded.
“Once my playing career was done, it was a way to stay in the game. It helps stay in shape a little bit and just stay active in the game,” David remarked, highlighting how officiating has allowed him to remain connected to hockey.
Kaleb and Kohen, David’s nephews, have also embraced the refereeing role. Kaleb expressed his long-standing desire to be a referee, while Kohen felt encouraged to join in after seeing his family members officiate.
“My grandfather was like ‘Join the family business – you’re going to start refereeing.’ I’ve had a great first year. I loved it more than I thought I would,” Kohen shared, reflecting on his positive experience so far.
For Kevin, the opportunity to see all four of the Cassidy referees work a game together has been a cherished goal. His son David found it heartwarming to witness his nephews continuing the family legacy.
“Going from watching Kaleb and Kohen playing to starting to referee and watching them move up the ranks in the job that they’re doing, I look forward to being out there tonight,” David expressed with enthusiasm.
The Cassidy family dynamic extends to the learning process of officiating as well. David, Kaleb, and Kohen have all gleaned insights from Kevin’s extensive experience, though they also humorously acknowledge a few quirks picked up along the way.
“There’s been a few times where supervisors mentioned ‘Where did you learn to do that? You probably shouldn’t.’ Well, I was watching my father,” David acknowledged, while Kaleb chuckled, remarking, “Definitely some habits I need to lose from my grandfather.”
Despite these minor missteps, the family remains committed to the joy of their shared officiating experiences. “Moments like this are the things that mean the most to me. Spending time with family and doing something that we all love is a great thing,” Kohen concluded, affirming the powerful bond that hockey has created within the Cassidy family.
Source
globalnews.ca