Wendell Brown

Wendell Brown

Wendell was born in Brampton and began his sporting activities in 1948, when as a child he actively played both house league and representative hockey for the Brampton Minor Hockey Association.

In 1959, wanting to give something back to the game he loved, Wendell approached the game from a different perspective, namely the referee’s side. He refereed in the Ontario Minor Hockey Association from 1959 to 1992, with numerous games in Brampton, Chinguacousy and surrounding area.  From 1966 to 1981, Wendell was Referee-In-Chief for the Tri-County Minor Hockey League, where, as a youth, he played Juvenile hockey in its inaugural season in 1957-58. Wendell was the recipient of the Tri-County Honour Award in 1978. He also served as Referee-In-Chief of the newly formed Central “AAA” League from 1966-1981.

Wendell also served as Referee-In-Chief for the Brampton Minor Hockey Association from 1967 to 1988 and the Caledon Minor Hockey Association from 1988 to 1992.   He was Referee-In-Chief for the very prestigious Lions Atom Hockey Tournament held annually in Brampton from 1975 to 1988.

Wendell was an Ontario Minor Hockey League referee instructor from 1966 to 1991 and a supervisor of officials from Barrie to North Bay from 1972 to 1991.  He was also selected to referee at many prominent National and International venues including Helsinki, Finland; Prague, Czechoslovakia; Air Canada Midget Finals in Kitchener; Allan Cup Semi-Finals.

Aside from his involvement in hockey, Wendell coached Peewee house league hockey in the Brampton Minor Hockey Association from 1964 to 1970.  He also coached representative lacrosse teams in the Brampton Minor Lacrosse Association from 1966 to 1973, and in 1968 he coached the Brampton Tyke team to the Ontario Minor Lacrosse Association Provincial Championship.

Wendell’s company has sponsored numerous Brampton teams since 1964, and to this day he continues to support youth in sport through sponsorships. Hockey, lacrosse, baseball and soccer have been the benefactors of his generosity.

Inducted November 24, 1999