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it’s the pits, but Willsie loves his job By Jim Cressman of The Free Press John Willsle leans back in the Clldll'. The inscription on his sweat-soaked Trshirt sums it up. “This is the pits." Willsle has just finished refereeing his 50th game this season in the Ontario Hock- ey League. The worst part is ahead - the elgrhnur drive home from Oshawa through the snow and dark of hi ht. It will be 2 am. Monday morning when e gets into London. But i a drive the six-year veteran of the major junior circuit is looking forward to. He'd left for Belleville at 9:30 a.rn. Satur- day. with wife Jean standing at the front door waving goodbye and shouting “have fun! " “This is the part that's not worth it.“ Willsie says later Saturday night as last call is announced. Hc‘d wor ed in front of a full house in Belleville. and it will he the same the next night in Oshawa. It‘s the 15th time this season he‘s been or. an overnight tri . fChris (his 10-year-old son) has a hockey game tomorrow at noon. Ishould be there. My wife and three kids are sitting at home and I‘m here. But you know. as unfair as all this a. to my family. when I‘ve sat at home and said this is going to be it. they turn out to be my biggest supporters." Linesman Jim Carmen. who was picked up on the 401 at Highway 97 earlier in the day, has a similar story. “i was getting out of bed this morning and Jamie says ‘Dad. ,do you have to go referee today'.‘ Can‘t we go play hockey. just you and me?‘ “ ' Why do these guys in the striped shirts log hundreds of miles each year for the Ontario Hockey League? . it can't be for the money. Willsic's remu- ncration worked out to about $3 an hour for the weekend trip. Carman's was half that. “l referee because I like the kids." Will- sie says. “Kids like (former Kitchener Ranger) Jeff Larmer. who sees Dave Lynch working lhe lines In the Meadow» lands. and the first thing he says is ‘Say hello to Willsic for me.‘ "You do it for the kids because they have to give up so much to play the game. The s orifices they make â€" leaving their fam- ilies. their homes. their schooling. “Hey. i don't want this to come across that I‘m feeling sorry for myself because l‘m not. There are only so many guys in Ontario that can referee in this league. sol feel quite fortunate." There are 13 referees and 38 iinesmen on staff with the OHL. Seven of the referees work a full slate of games. Willsie. rated at the top. will work close to 90 before calling It a season. That’s more than most players will play. It‘s a good day for a trip, The 401 is bare and the sun shining. Willsie wants to get away early so he can get to Belleville in time to watch the TV game that afternoon. A quick stop [or Car-man. who lives in Mount Pleasant. and it‘s back on the high- way. Local linesmen will join them for the two games. Lunch (the pregame meal) is a $3.35 carryout chicken dinner. Herb Morell, the Drills coordinator of officials. counts the nickels. Willsie splurges for a small can- tainer of potato salad. Brantford Alexanders are playing Kitch- ener Rangers on the tube. Willsie proves referees have feelings as he laments the fact he had to give Alexanders“ Mike Hoff Bruce Jones for The Free Press Referee John Willsie. left, and linesman Jim Houston relax before duty in another Ontario Hockey League game, man a match penalty for spearâ€"in two nights before. Hoffman won‘t get to p fly on TV this day. It’s 6 p.m.. 90 minutes until opening fa‘ ceoff. Time to head to the rink for the game between the BuUs and Cornwall Royals. It will be a big one as they’re jockeying for playoff positions. it’s the first trip into the rink for Wilisie and Carman and they're amazed at the size of the ice surface â€" Olympic. 200 feet by 100. “I figure if (Jim) Lever can handle it, I can.“ Willsie says. The big banner hanging on the wall at one end is an eye catcher. “Belleville McFar- lands, world amateur champions. 1959." it proclaims. Royals‘ coach Jocelyn Guevremont uses an old ploy on Willaie. “What would you call when a player skates from the blueline and really hits another into the boards?" Guevremout asks. “I’d call a major." Willsie replies. “(So-and-sn) only called a minor the oth- er night.“ Guevremont says. Willsie winks. His companions know he‘d be lucky if he got his arm up [or a penalty. Willsie goes for a walk. Carman and Pe- ter Carroll. the other linesman, don‘t fol low. Carman has learned Willsie likes to he by himself for a short time before a game. A chance to collect his thoughts. “I never try and anticipate what kind of game it's going to be. i leave it up to the kids to see what kind of game they want to play.” Willsie says. But once in. the dressing room. he‘s sing- ing and whistling and just plain raisingI a little cain. It’s a good thing for the OHL is singingisn‘t what he relies on out on theice. Willsie complains his arms are sore tonight. “How can they be sore? You never get them up." Carman says. Willsie can usual- ly get through a game with five or six penalties. "Talking about penalties." he says. “The other night in Sault Ste. Marie 1 got turned around and 1 charged right over and gave the penalty to the London bench. I was- staring Paul McIntosh right in the face. I iaid ‘Ohâ€"ch, i think I‘m on the wrong side ere.‘ “ ‘ Game time and the crew heads onto the ice. One fan leans over the boards and yells "iley ref. you dummy! " Willsie smiles. "They know me here." Another yells “Not you again.“ Fans are observant. After the first period. Carman slips off his sweater and pulls on a dry T»shirt. “The secret of my success." he says. The game continues without incident. The Bulls win and the public address sys- tem blares “Wasn‘t That A Party?" by The Rovers. it was more like a piece of cake. It‘s a quick shower and off for a few cold 01163. Time for some sleep. It's sunday morning and Willsie and Car- nan are deep in sleep. All of a sudden there‘s a car horn honking outside the mar u.m. Then a loud bang on the door. It’s referee Bob Morley of Hamilton and linesman Rick Zhucki. en route to Kingston for an after-. noon affa‘ Willsie 1‘le Morley about homing in on his story. Finally the intruders leave and the stomachs are growling. It’s off to brunch. That still leaves a couple of hours to kill before checking out and heading for Oshawa, The discussion gets around to the occupations of the various officials. Willsic is :1 foreman in the family con- struction comp-any. Carman is a production supcrnsor in a plant which makes car rulo_ . . lion do (ht-y got time off for the weekday t. lpw "i'd mthcr not not into that,“ Willsic says. “My dad might read the paper." it's Iinn In mako the short drito to U~il.l\\1l. ll‘s more than on hutti‘ until the lilit'illll): |1lt'l-ti[f.lJlll it'\ may to set‘ illis is 4 hi: llllt‘. ‘i'llt‘ iit‘ltt'ruis .mtl Polcl'bnrntigh l'v x .II'i' hauling nu- ll|’\i and the hub Itnu- Iillt-tl lltt‘ NlJIHIliIl.‘ I'tlttlll ulrcadj. .iun lliinxltm. (ml) :lu hill .1 untnnn-h Illi(‘\illllll. )nm‘ lltt'nl. '[lto first lit'l'ltlli Is mur anti tilt: l’i'lt".\ mm \vlwk Is \liilllllllL‘ Ill lilt' runnuj in» hunt on» Donut} hm. llo‘~ not null .m in JOHN WiLLSlE . â€" - - players keep him comingthack“ jury and Willsie stops to ask how he'edioyed playing for Team USA in the recent work! junior championships. .. - “I enjoyed it. it was hockey. There was no cheap stuff. But you still havetothitdt‘afi the referees." Sehek says wifl'i a ‘ It's clear Willsic has established a he mentions rapport with the players; because he never- shows themru 1-1 them like men. They go awa’ siutrkeiingviikeaup ‘ store â€" “The customer , The second cried slumps in his fall“!!! “Twenty more ' ~ , home to my good friend foe. Jenna." . ‘ . The buzzer sounds. the Generals-ham won a thriller. ll was a iestlor Willsie *4 three fights â€"- but he got it in with trouble. “1 was generous tonlght?‘ he says to Arnold. the official scorer. “i evengnve (Generals goalie) Pete Sidorkiewica an assist.“ The snow starts coming dovm on the trip home. It‘s not had compared to other win~ ters. but he hasn‘t seen much white stuff this year so it‘s a challenge. Pickering. Toronto. Mississauga. Milton. Guelph. Kitchener. Cambridge (bye to Car- mnn). \l’uudxttlck, ingersoll. Durchester . . . the highway exit signs don‘t come fast enough. li‘~ been ii good trip. Less than a kilo Illt‘ll‘e from the turnoff. sumo cloun almost ruim it u\ he uhtps by and then Cuts in from in me iicllington “mid sign looms largo, The L‘lill k on llll‘ dashboard says 2: 05 and \\'lll\lt‘ is ill llts tlrl\'L‘\\hl}. uh llis li'tliibius are just about ready in i '| lurgul m; m I II have tuttnwkunum titlul’. vnu this unit; n the pits." ‘ 116:" mm! 'l‘v