One of the best and most respected on-ice officials in Illinois hockey history is taking his size 8.5 CCM Pro Tacks skates and moving to Arizona, leaving behind an unmatched 49 consecutive-year career that has universally drawn admiration from the hockey community, including fellow officials, AHAI executives, and coaches across the state.
John Cerza, 61, is leaving Arlington Heights and moving to Peoria, Arizona – in time to be a grandfather at the end of October. Cerza works as a key account executive for Kellanova, where he just celebrated his 13th anniversary.
“First, I’m not saying it’s over,” he said, laughing. “I have met so many wonderful people through hockey. I know you’ve heard it a million times, but there is a hockey family out there. No matter what, all hockey people come together to support each other in times of need. I was blessed with great mentors and an ability to work very high-level games that offered me a unique opportunity others did not have. My motto has always been if you’re not noticed, then you did a good job. That’s why I really don’t seek the spotlight with stuff like this.
“As an official, you should be able to walk in and out of the rink and nobody notices you. I have lifelong friends who I have met through hockey, and not just officials. I have friendships with administrators, coaches, officials, and former players who, through the game, we just connected and because we knew it was just a game, we have stayed friends over the years.
“When you’re 11 or 12 (years-old), you (officiate) it because you get a nice paycheck. As you get older and are exposed to the great mentors of our game in Illinois, you understand it’s an honor to be part of the game and how you contribute to the growth of the game in our state. When I started, we had two AAA teams and now look at that level of hockey. There were no girls’ teams when I started and now look at the talent in the girls’ divisions. I have the utmost respect for most of the high school coaches out there; they respect me, and the respect is mutual. Through your experience, you understand that when a coach you respect chirps, then you probably missed a call, and that when you’ve heard enough, just a special little look (is needed) and they know it’s time to move on.”
Cerza has mostly been officiating local high school leagues of late, with a strong presence in the Scholastic Hockey League, along with Central States Developmental Hockey League and women’s Division III college hockey. He has been averaging 55-75 games per year recently, but years ago he worked 500-plus games per season, year after year after year.
His career has included 6,500 to 7,000 games officiated, maybe more.
He long has been willing to work at any rink … well, except Addison, he said.
Other than his first AHAUS crest, Cerza has all and plans to make a collage of them, eventually, when he retires.
When’s he retiring?
When his “ancient” skates fall apart, he said, laughing.
“I smile every time I think about what I have accomplished in my career,” Cerza said. “I have been extremely lucky, having avoided any major injuries except for one a few years ago. I don’t count the many stiches as major injuries. There were several times I had to call my wife from the emergency room and tell her I’d be a bit late. She’d ask why and I would always try to figure out a way to not tell her I was on a gurney being stitched up.
“I hope others remember me as trying to do the best job I could, always. We’re human, so I miss calls or make the wrong call all the time. I worked very hard to be consistent. You may be a terrible official, but at least you’re a consistently terrible official and that’s all a coach/player can ask.
“They all know what I will call and what I’ll let go to keep the game going on a consistent basis.”
Cerza joined the black and white striped club when he was 11, an opportunity to make some money, “and I was getting beat up on the ice since I was too small, so I thought this would keep me involved in the game,” he said.
He doesn’t remember his first game as a referee but said it likely was at the now-closed Randhurst Twin Ice Center and likely assigned by Bob Updike.
Cerza’s career has blossomed into five or six Illinois State Championship games at the high school level, arguably the most by any official ever, and no doubt more than 20 when all state championship games are included.
He also worked the Mexico National High School Championship in 2007 in collaboration with USA Hockey.
“The (state championship games held at) the Chicago Stadium and United Center were thrills,” he said. “The Midget AAA National Championship in 1998 that went into three overtimes (was exciting). I was hit in the ankle by a puck in the first period and after the game, when we were finally able to take our skates off, it blew up. I couldn’t even get out of bed the next morning, but at the time, I had no idea. All the Continental League games in Danville, when I was in college with my sidekick Matt Nilles, the San Diego Chicken game stands out. (Chicago) Catholic (Hockey) League rivalry games at SIA or the Saints Spectrum, where it would get wild,” were exciting.
“One of the things that was important to me and should be to all officials is, even though it’s not considered a ‘high-profile game,’ it is a high-profile game to the players, coaches and parents involved in the game. One of my pet peeves is seeing officials mailing it in during a house league or lower-level game.”
When asked to name the officials who have helped him over the years, Cerza hesitated and did not want to answer – because he knew he likely would miss someone.
“I had so many veteran officials help me over the early years, helped mold me into the official I became,” he said. “I had some great schedulers when I first started who helped put me with older, seasoned officials, so I could learn and as I got a bit older and graduated to the higher levels was able to be scheduled by the greats of AHAI/IHOA. I was so lucky to skate and be mentored by some of Illinois’ finest officials, all of whom are in the Illinois Hall of Fame and to this day I have the utmost respect for them.”
Cerza was mentored by several former NHL officials from Illinois, and yes, Cerza also is a member of the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame.
“No matter who you are or how long you’ve been doing this, we all can learn from others who are employing the craft of officiating ice hockey,” said Cerza, who didn’t hesitate when asked for the best advice he’d give other officials:
Work every game like it’s game seven of the Stanley Cup.
“(All games) are all important to the teams involved,” he said. “Work on being consistent, which is the key to being a good official. Respect goes both ways; respect the game by respecting the coaches/players. There is a line that doesn’t need to be crossed, and you should penalize when it is, but look in the mirror sometimes and ask if you’re causing the line to be crossed.”
As Cerza skates to Arizona, he admitted the route will be tear-filled.
“I hate to leave the Illinois nest, but my days are numbered anyhow, and I look forward to being able to help the younger officials in Arizona through my experience and my many, many years of being a seminar instructor, evaluator and mentor,” he said. “I still need to come back (to Illinois) occasionally for work, so I hope to bring my gear with and work games while I’m in town, but we’ll see as being a grandpa may take precedence once that time comes.”
Family is, without question, a love of his: his wife of 32 years, LizAnn, and his two daughters, Lauren and Melissa. “They put up with a bunch of BS over the years and, to my wife’s credit, she knew what she was getting into when we were married … I love her bunches.”
In closing, Cerza said: “Thank you for all the friendships I have from 49 years of working Illinois hockey. Some great times, great people, some great memories of the many teams, coaches, administrators and fellow officials.”
John Cerza, a Hall of Fame officiating career, from others within the Illinois Hockey Community:
JOHN DUNNE, AHAI Executive Director
“John is respectful and respected in the AHAI hockey community. John is a low key, non-ego official who, when he walks into a rink, coaches, spectators, fellow officials and especially the players know that they all will get John’s best effort to manage the game in a safe, fair and impartial way. What more can a hockey community ask for? John is one of the most deserving members of the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame.”
STEVE RICKARD, former IHOA President
“John is the ultimate professional, on and off the ice. John's game management is among the best. My fondest memory was when John jumped on top of the (back of the) net during a state championship game at the United Center to locate the puck in the crease. He always put himself in a great position to make the call. We will miss John, on and off the ice.”
Jack Raslawski, longtime Illinois official
“By far, the best referee in the state of Illinois (as a) game manager. He was like an artist on the ice at managing games. We’re losing an experienced official who can manage any game, at any level. He worked more championship games than anyone in Illinois history.
“John is a great friend, someone you always look forward to working with. He’s an all-around great person.”
Brian Fisher, IHOA President
“I’ve learned so much from John, just watching how he communicates and manages every game he officiates. It has always been a pleasure to work with him. In my 25-plus years, he is one of the best who’s worn the strips.”
Brad Baumruck, IHOA Referee-in-Chief
“John is an official who cannot be replaced, substituted, or copied. Luckily, John passed on his knowledge and love of the game to the next line of protectors; we will do our best to fill his spot.”
Evan Poulakidas, Glenbrook North High School Head Coach
“There is a good reason John is in the (Illinois Hockey) Hall of Fame. When you had John as a referee, you knew the game was going to be officiated professionally. The best statement I could make about John’s work is, you knew the game was called fairly and he had nothing to do with the outcome. Illinois is losing one terrific official and a better person.”
Terry McLoughlin, longtime Illinois official
“John is known for his calm, consistent leadership. He is respected by the coaches who mattered. He has long known the difference (between) a rulebook penalty and an on-ice foul.”
Dave Ballantyne, longtime Illinois official
“I never worked a game with John that he was not excited to work. The coaches who knew him and the officials working with him always knew they were in good hands with him on the ice.”
Tim Benz, Saint Viator Head Coach
“John is a legend among Illinois hockey officials. His dedication to the growth of the game, specifically mentoring younger officials, will be hard to replace. I hope the people he trained can learn how he treated and mentored them so the cycle can repeat. As a coach, seeing John Cerza scheduled to ref your game was always refreshing because you knew you were getting a leader on the ice who takes charge. The respect between the coaching staff, players and officials when John was on the ice is always at an all-time high.”