by Connie Tabbert
Editor
COBDEN — Thirty-six years ago, Paul Boese arrived in Foresters Falls from Arnprior; met and married Sheryl Jack of Foresters Falls and they had two children.
And 36 years ago, he began refereeing hockey for Muskrat Minor Hockey Association. Since that time, he developed many good friendships, taught young people how to referee and play a fair game of hockey and was also referee-in-chief for the association.
Last Sunday afternoon, during his final game as a referee, he was honoured by the current executive and hockey players, when he was presented with a framed #14 Muskrat hockey jersey. While he has never played hockey for the Muskrats, Boese said his son Thomas did, and his number was 14.
Looking back to when he arrived in Foresters Falls in 1978, it was discovered he had been refereeing in Arnprior for two years. He was approached by Alvin Stone, Ted Barron and Murray Olmstead to officiate for the Muskrats. He agreed and never looked back.
For many years, he was Referee-in-Chief, although currently that position is now held by Peter Ethier.
But, the Muskrats isn’t the only hockey he has reffed. He has refereed for junior hockey and Paralympic hockey.
“I love the sport,” Boese said. “I wasn’t a very good hockey player, so, I became a referee and Muskrat Minor Hockey, as well as hockey, has been good to me.
“I’ve had lots of opportunity as an official that I would never have had as a player,” he added.
He has refereed all over the world, including junior B, junior A and university hockey, as well as Paralympic sledge hockey games. He was with the Paralympic program, and did the Paralympics in 2010 in Vancouver and 2014 in Socchi, Russia. He refereed two gold medal games as well as four world sledge hockey championships.
“Hockey has been very, very good to me,” Boese said. “Muskrat has been a huge part of that.”
Boese said at one time he was averaging four to five games a week. In the last few years, it’s slowed down to one or two games a week.
“When I was going strong, I would do in excess of 100 games a year,” Boese said. “I wouldn’t venture to guess at how many games I’ve done in the 38 years. It’s been a lot.”
Monday morning, Paul and Sheryl drove away from their Cobden-area home heading in the direction nof Halifax, Nova Scotia, where they have purchased an ocean-front home. Paul has taken a job out in Halifax and with their two adult children – Thomas and Rebecca – living out there, it just makes it that much easier for family to be together.
“We’ve talked about retiring in Nova Scotia, but this job opportunity fell into my lap and we’re going to take the opportunity to go down there and annoy a whole new group of people,” Boese said.
His son is now a referee, so the opportunity to work a few years and referee together is something he is looking forward to. Thomas was a hockey player with Muskrat Minor Hockey while Rebecca chose dance, which was also at the Astrolabe Arena, but upstairs.
Paul Boese will be general manager of a manufacturing firm that manufactures special purpose equipment for weapons optic systems, he said. As for Sheryl, she has yet to determine what she will do.
“There are a lot of friends, lots of memories,” Paul said. “This will always be home.”
When Paul moved to Foresters Falls, the two started dating when she was 16. She noted they have been married for 28 years, but were together five years before that.
“We’ve been together a lot of years,” Paul said, with Sheryl laughing as she added, “I’ve been with him longer than I was with my parents.”
Sheryl said their ocean-front home is already booked with people coming for a visit next summer.
“There’s always room for visitors,” Paul said.
Brent Gould, who is president of Muskrat Minor Hockey, said Paul has been a huge part of the association for more than 30 years.
“He trained 99 per cent of the officials who referee in the Upper Ottawa Valley,” he said. “He has been a great resource for years.”
When deciding about a gift, they thought it would be great to give him the framed jersey with his son’s number on it. A plaque at the bottom thanks him for his many years of guidance and leadership.
“We thought it would be a fitting tribute to send him east with a Muskrat jersey,” Gould said.
Also on Sunday, it was Muskrat Minor Hockey day. There was a spaghetti supper, a chance to win $100 choosing the last two numbers on the bill as well as several hockey games.
Young hockey player Brent Ready was jumping for joy when he found out he won the $100.
There are currently about 20 referees and linesmen under the leadership of Peter Ethier now. To keep up with what’s happening with Muskrat Minor Hockey, Gould encourages people to check out the website muskratminorhockey.ca to keep up with scores and find out which teams play when and where.
