Rob Brown picked up the whistle for the first time at age 14 in the former Dorset Park House League – where he also played – and joined the MTHL officiating team four years later. After putting his on-ice endeavours on hold to raise his family and coach his son in the GTHL, Brown rejoined the officiating community in 2000 when he again donned the black and white stripes.

“I love the intensity and competitiveness [of the sport] and working as a team with [my] partners,” wrote Brown in an email. “I love transferring my knowledge to younger officials and calling a fair, safe game.”

Brown, who has officiated in two OHF gold-medal games and supervised at the OHL Cup, says his most memorable hockey moment came in the third overtime of a Midget AA playoff game at Scarborough Gardens, when he called a penalty shot that led to the winning goal.

“The place was packed and my leg was actually shaking making the call, and sure enough [the player] scored on the shot to end the game,” recalled Brown, adding that recently retired NHL official Greg Kimmerly, who happened to be at the game, stopped by after the game to commend Brown on his call.

“[He said] it was good to see you had it in you to make that tough call in a tough situation.”