Lou Matura’s decades of mentorship leave lasting impact on referees and community
Lou Matura was just 12 years old when he first pulled on a referee’s jersey and stepped onto the ice, full of confidence, if not quite experience.
“I knew everything,” laughs Matura, reflecting on those early days.
“In my first game as a referee, I was doing a faceoff in the end zone and I put my butt to the boards, but it was to the boards on the far side. So, I did it totally, totally wrong. I dropped the puck and I skated backwards all the way across the ice through no man’s zone, which is where you’re not supposed to be,” he chuckles.
It’s a story he tells every new referee, whether they’re 12 or 40, because, as he puts it, everyone makes mistakes. That philosophy of learning and growth is at the core of Matura’s decades-long commitment to the game, and to the people in it.
He’s served as both Referee-in-Chief and assignor, roles he shared with his wife, Kelly. Together, they’ve built a reputation for consistency, reliability and support across the district.
“He’s out there for all the right reasons, and he’s got the experience to do it,” says Ally Vander Veen, a referee Lou Matura mentored.
Vander Veen says she always came away from games having learned something valuable.
“When we’d get off the ice, he’d say something like, you did this really well, but you need to improve on this,” she says, noting that his feedback was always constructive and never judgmental.
It’s that thoughtful and encouraging approach that’s left a lasting impression on referees across the region.
“I didn’t feel the true mentorship aspect of refereeing until I met Lou,” says Mourad Hicham, another referee who credits Lou Matura for his growth. “He’s the one who actually recommended me to be certified at a higher level.”
Lou Matura is also a passionate advocate for recruiting adult referees, a group he says, is in chronic short supply.
“Most referees start young and stick with it for a while, but by their 20s many leave because life gets in the way; school, work, family,” Matura explains. “We always have new kids coming in, but it’s the adults we really need more of.”
For Lou Matura, refereeing isn’t just about enforcing rules, it’s about building community and supporting each other.
“I always make a point of going to my linesman if I’m wearing the red armbands. I ask him or her, ‘Did you see this?’ or ‘What happened here?’” he says. “I regard referees as a team out on the ice. I always let my linesmen know I value and respect their perspective.”
That attitude has made a lasting impact, especially on referees from underrepresented backgrounds. Both Vander Veen and Hicham belong to minority groups in the officiating world, one as a woman, the other of Middle Eastern heritage. In a role where officials often face abuse from spectators and coaches, being “different” can add another layer of challenge.
“I really like Lou and Kelly, because I felt they included me,” says Hicham. “They helped and mentored me to make me feel more comfortable and part of the team.”
Standing over six-foot-four in skates, Lou Matura could easily be an intimidating presence, but that’s not his style.
“I’m not a yeller and a screamer. You can’t teach people that way,” he says. “Instead, I use specific situations, humour and stories. And if I’m talking to a young referee who’s a lot shorter, I get down to their level so I’m not standing over them, forcing them to look up.”
That kind of empathy and presence has earned him widespread respect among referees, coaches, players, and hockey associations alike.
“Lou is certainly well respected around the district,” says Terry Foley, president of Stittsville Minor Hockey, in an email. “As a parent of a young ref, I can say that the younger refs also have a lot of respect for him as well. Kelly has been bulletproof. We have not had a single cancellation since she started.”
Lou Matura’s legacy is more than the games he’s officiated. It’s in the referees he’s trained, the inclusive community he’s helped build, and the wisdom he passes along with every puck drop.
“It’s nice having people who care, who are on the ball and who actually are very thoughtful in how they approach the position. It made all of our lives easier,” adds Hicham.
And it started with a 12-year-old who thought he knew everything. And while Lou Matura may now know a whole lot more, he’s still learning, and still teaching, with heart, humour and humility.
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