Andy Van Hellemond

Andy Van Hellemond is a Canadian former National Hockey League (NHL) referee renowned for his illustrious officiating career. Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1999, Van Hellemond's legacy spans nearly three decades of NHL history. His NHL officiating journey commenced in 1969 and included a remarkable 19 Stanley Cup Finals appearances. Notably, in 1984, Van Hellemond made history by becoming the first NHL on-ice official to wear a helmet, setting a safety precedent for the league. Over the course of his career, he officiated 1,557 regular season games and 227 playoff games, earning recognition as the NHL's #1 referee for 14 consecutive seasons. Beyond his contributions to hockey, Van Hellemond ventured into municipal politics, serving as a City Councillor for the City of Guelph, Ontario, from 2010 to 2018. His political career saw him elected for two terms, representing Ward Two in the Guelph municipal elections of 2010 and 2014.