Peter Duffy

Date of Birth: July 25, 1927
Place of Birth: St. John’s, Nfld.
Inducted: 2000 (Builder Category)

Regarded as one of the finest sports officials the province ever produced, Peter Duffy devoted close to 30 years to refereeing hockey. From the 1950s to the late 1970s, he called plays at every level of competition and was selected to officiate at all the important and close games and series.

An excellent indication of the high level of respect that he earned from players, coaches, fans and the media came in 1985 when, as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Herder Memorial Trophy, provincial sports media voted Duffy the all-time best referee in provincial hockey.

While he played provincial and St. John’s senior hockey in the early 1950s, Duffy’s main contribution was as an official who provided an excellent role model for young officials and generated a high level of trust and respect for hockey referees in general and himself in particular.

In addition to officiating hockey, Duffy was one of the best baseball umpires in the province.