BIRTHPLACE: Minneapolis, Minn.

BORN: August 28, 1926,

DIED: March 5, 2010

TEAMS/ASSOCIATIONS: Amateur Hockey Association of the United States, U.S. Olympic Team

When Hal Trumble took over the reigns of the Amateur Hockey Association of the United States (AHAUS), it was largely a part-time operation operating deep into the red. Thanks to Trumble, however, he turned the association into a prosperous full-time, professionally staffed organization headquartered in its own building in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The dramatic turnaround was a direct result of Trumble’s driving, professional competence, as he went on to become the organization’s first full-time executive director.

AHAUS would become the national governing body for hockey as the game’s exclusive member to the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). Under Trumble’s direction, AHAUS grew from 7,015 teams in 1972 to 11,543 in 1985. During that same time span, referee registration increased from 3,178 to 8,434, and a complete program of coaching and referee clinics, as well as hockey publications, were also developed. On the international level, the United States won the Olympic gold medal in 1980 and has iced strong teams in the ensuing Olympiads, as well as in World Tournaments.

Trumble enjoyed hockey at an early age and played through high school and senior amateur hockey in the 1950’s. When his playing days were over, he began officiating, first in high school, then at the college level, and finally internationally. His officiating career included refereeing both the gold and bronze medal games in the 1968 Olympics. Such experience led him to service as Technical Director of the International Ice Hockey Federation Referees’ Committee from 1972-82.

In addition to his officiating expertise, Trumble was active at the team management level. He managed the 1972 U.S. Olympic Team which won the silver medal in Sapporo, Japan. That team featured such NHL regulars as Henry Boucha, Robbie Ftorek, and Mark Howe. In 1983, Trumble returned to team management as the United States won the “B” Pool tournament and the right to advance to the “A” Pool for the 1984 Olympics.

A man of many interests, Trumble was also an international-caliber baseball and softball umpire. In addition, he served as President of the National Council of the Youth Sports Directors in 1981.