Aberdeen renovates Officials dressing room in honour of past coordinator

Aberdeen’s new officials dressing room recently had a face-lift to honour an officiating community leader.

In May 2018, long-time official and coordinator in the area, Wayne Wutzke passed away. The community rink was undergoing renovations the following season, and wanted to do something special to remember Wutzke and honour his family.

Ashley Boehm, Wutzke’s daughter, said a family friend and rink board member, Tracey Grand’Maison, came up with the idea to re-do the officials room at the Aberdeen Recreation Complex.

“(Grand’Maison) posted on our community Facebook page that the rink was upgrading, (they wanted) ways to help keep my dad’s (memory alive),” she told 650 CKOM.

After numerous donations, the possibility of the Wayne Wutzke room started to become a reality.

During this past off-season, Boehm said her family members began to renovate the room.

“We went in and started our project- ref rooms are usually pretty small, mostly an afterthought, and this was similar. It was pretty small, had a shower, toilet stall, sink, but the benches that were in there actually came from the old rink, from when I was a kid.”

She said they ripped out the old room, and put in new benches, hooks and shelving to keep equipment off the floor. They also outfitted the room with a mini-fridge and microwave.

“I know my dad would spend a tournament, long days, he didn’t always have time to get food from the concession, so we hope that the fridge and the microwave would help the refs to have a little bite to eat in between games.”

Additionally, they added a communication board to keep things organized, painted the walls and put up referee themed decorations.

This past offseason, the Official’s room at the rink in the @townofaberdeen got a facelift.

With help from local fundraisers, Wayne Wutzke’s family created a fresh-look for the room, in honour of the former official who passed away in May of 2018.

( Credit: Ashley Bohme) pic.twitter.com/uSC3a5Mgiu

— brady lang (@BradyLangSK) December 30, 2019

Another special aspect of the room was the addition of one of Wutzke’s quotes.

“My dad always said (to officials), ‘hustle hard, and start the game on time,’ so I added that quote onto (the wall).”

Boehm said officials using the room have been appreciative of the new space.

“They just feel like they’re not just an afterthought, or (not) ‘just the zebra’s’, right? I think the new room and the space makes them feel important and cared for, and that they have this nice space to be in.”

According to Boehm, the total cost of the room’s renovations came in just under $1350.

Boehm added the room feels like it encapsulates her father, and what he meant to the community.

“My dad was very organized, I know he’d really appreciate having the calendar and the organization board, and that things are neat and tidy, and you have spaces to put everything,” she said.

“It’s a good representation of him, and his dedication and hard work to officiating. It was really an important job to him, he took it seriously.”