NHL Community Struck by Tragic News as Former Referee Sadly Passes Away

Originally posted on Blade of Steel
By Graham Montgomery | Last updated Apr 15, 2025 7:42 PM ET

The hockey community is coming together today to honor former NHL linesman Will Norris, who has tragically passed away.

The NHL community and the hockey community at large is no stranger to tragic events.

The past year has been particularly hard as we have seen multiple high-profile accidents take the lives of beloved players including former NHLers Adam Johnson and Johnny Gaudreau.

Earlier today the community was struck once again when Italian netminder Thomas Commisso passed away at the age of 41.

Now, the NHL community is saddened once again as the league revealed that former Linesman Will Norris has passed away at the age of 89.

According to the NHL officials association, Norris appeared in over 1500 regular season games between 1966 and 1985, and nearly 100 more in the playoffs during that stretch.

After a short pause from the league to join the Ontario Hockey Association, he came back to the NHL in a front-office role, helping train the league's newest officials.

'In 1966 he was hired by the NHL as a linesman full-time and would go on to officiate in over 1,500 regular season games plus another 90 or so in the playoffs. After 18 years he decided to hang up his skates to become the Referee-In-Chief of the Ontario Hockey Association for three years. He then went back to the NHL to become their Co-ordinator of Development for young officials, sharing his wealth of experience with several of the officials you see now in the NHL.'

Norris' contributions to our sport will not be forgotten. Our deepest thoughts and prayers are with him and his family in this difficult time. Rest in peace Will.

This article first appeared on Blade of Steel and was syndicated with permission.

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