NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Western Hockey League linesman Darren Holeha poses with his children and fellow linesman Greg Saraurer ahead of Holeha's last game in the WHL, a 2-0 Medicine Hat Tigers loss against the Calgary Hitmen on Mar. 18 at Co-op Place.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Darren Holeha was happy to have family and friends along for the ride at his final WHL game as a linesman.
The 45-year-old called it a career on March 18 after 22 years skating up and down the ice while donning the black and white stripes. While it was a bittersweet night, Holeha says he was happy to be able to work the game with some of his best friends.
“Chris Crich is a referee from Airdrie and when I started officiating in the league in Saskatoon back in my university days, Chris was in Saskatoon working and going to school as well,” Holeha said. “We became good friends and started officiating together there, so we’ve had that bond over all these years. So it was nice to be able to spend my last game with him. Austin Weisgerber’s a local fellow here, I met him when I first moved here for my work as a policeman back in 2003 and we worked lots of games over the years together.
“So it was nice to share the ice with those fellas for my last game.”
Holeha worked the lines with Greg Saraurer who was one of the first people he met when he moved and has worked one more year than him.
“We are probably the elder statesman in the Western Hockey League now and it was nice after all these years, whether it be senior hockey, Junior B University, Jr. Western League, we’ve done countless games together, it was awesome to have him out there and he did so much for my last game,” Holeha said. “Planning postgame festivities and stuff leading up to it, pictures and all that sort of stuff. He’s been in the planning stages for quite some time, so it was nice to be able to share that with him as well.”
Holeha started his linesman career in 2001 and says he’s worked 426 games over his WHL career with many of them not recorded online but in paperwork. He’s not completely stepping away from the game as he plans to still work Jr. B games, senior hockey and coach his kids.
Getting more flexibility in his life is his main reason for hanging the metaphorical skates up.
“I’ve got three young kids under 10 and they all play hockey and share the passion that I have for the game of hockey, and I coach all three of their teams as well,” Holeha said. “I want to make sure I’m there for all their practices, games and all that sort of stuff, I didn’t want to miss that. And my wife has been very good about my career over all our years together with me being on the road and being gone. So it’s time we spend more time with the family and be home more.”
Holeha is also a constable with the Medicine Hat Police Service and is remaining on the force.
He says there are too many memories from the 22-year career to pick just one but says he will always remember the atmosphere of 4,006 fans The Arena would bring on a nightly basis.
“Working in Medicine Hat I’ve been fortunate to work in the old Arena days when you had 4,006 every night and the crowds were loud and sold out all the time and the hockey was good,” Holeha said. “Those are memories I probably cherish the most is the big crowds, the sold-out Arena and all the excitement that was around all the time.”
He also cherishes the opportunity he’s had to work alongside and mentor officials like Chris Schlenker and Graham Skilliter, who have went on to work in the NHL.
At the end of his final game in the WHL, a 2-0 loss for the Medicine Hat Tigers against the Calgary Hitmen, Holeha was greeted with handshake lines from both teams and both coaching staffs. A moment he says was special because of how often he’s worked the central division in the last couple of years.
“Just to have that respect for each other and whether something happened that was good or not so good you’re able to put that aside and just reflect on all the good times you had on the ice,” Holeha said. “I’ve seen Calgary as well and know quite a few of their coaches and obviously the coaching staff with Tigers.
“With Willie Desjardins, when I was a 15-year-old for my first job I worked for his dad at Cypress Hills Park, so I’ve known Willie forever, Joey Frazer, all the guys on the bench there. You’ve been friends for a long time so it’s very special they stuck around to do that, it meant a lot.”
Frazer joked after the game they may have to twist his arm to help officiate their training camp games but was happy to be there for his final game.
“Working 22 years in the league, it’s pretty incredible to do it for that long, what a career,” Frazer said. “I just want to thank him for being a great linesman, he’s one of those guys you can always talk to on the ice or on the bench. He’s a great linesmen and we wish him the best.”
Holeha says the Tigers won’t have to bribe him to come out and help as he always enjoys being part of the game as much as he can, which is why he also mentors young officials. His main piece of advice for any young officials is learn the rules and enjoy the game.
“Just like anything in life, you’re going to have good games and bad games but try to be consistent, try to be fair, and just realize the game isn’t about you,” Holeha said. “You want to go out there and enjoy the game because you’ve got the best seat in the house. Just try to make it fair and safe for everybody that’s playing it.”
