Hockey headlined a long life of service
Jack Maddia, who was synonymous with hockey and volunteerism during a long and rich life, died Sept. 6 in Regina. He was 93.
The many accolades he received included a Saskatchewan Hockey Association life membership and the Canadian Hockey Association (now Hockey Canada) Order of Merit. Both honours were bestowed upon him in 1993.
As well, Maddia was named the SHA’S volunteer of the year (1992). He is a member of the Indian Head-based Rural Sports Hall of Fame (into which he was inducted in 1996), the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (2002) and the Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame (2013).
In addition to furthering the development of the sport provincially and nationally, he played an instrumental role in the formation of the Fort Qu’appelle Minor Hockey Association and the Qu’appelle Valley Hockey League.
Maddia’s dedication was such that, in the 1960s, he refereed seven games in succession on Minor Hockey Day in Fort Qu’appelle, without receiving compensation or much of a rest.
“We figured it had to be done, so we did it,” he said in a 2013 interview with the Regina Leader-post.
When Maddia turned 18, he enlisted in the navy and served overseas during the Second World War.
“We were torpedoed off Norway, but we made it,” he said in 2013. “I figure I’ve lived a charmed life.”
The Moose Jaw-born Maddia was an X-ray technician (at Fort San) and operated a service station in Fort Qu’appelle where he was also the postmaster from 1959 to 1973 before moving to Indian Head. He was also the mayor of Fort Qu’appelle (for eight years) and Indian Head (five years).
Maddia is survived by his wife of 67 years (Fran), his son (Richard), two daughters (Donalda and Sarah) and several children and grandchildren. A celebration of his life will be held Oct. 5, 2 p.m., at the Legion Hall in Fort Qu’appelle.