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Article: Bill Leslie championed youth hockey refs; White Bear Lake man had a lifelong dedication to making sure referees knew the game and the rules.(NEWS)(Obituary)
- Article from:
- Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN)
- Article date:
- May 8, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Star Tribune Co. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Darlene Prois; Staff Writer
A Minnesota youth hockey official for more than 40 years, Bill Leslie was considered an icon on the ice by generations of hockey kids and parents.
"He was more concerned with the development of officials than anyone I've ever known," said Steve Tatro, president of the Minnesota Hockey Officials Association (MHOA), which Leslie helped establish in 1984.
"When coaches would see Leslie headed to their games, they'd say, `Bill's on the ice, now we know we'll have a fair game,'-" said Leslie's wife, Ardis Leslie. "They didn't always agree with him, but they always knew they'd have a fair shake."
Leslie, ...