Sports Oakville Beaver By Ryan Glassman SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER 25 · Thursday, December 20, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com SPORTS EDITOR:JONKUIPERIJ Phone 905-632-0588 (ext. 294) email sports@oakvillebeaver.com Local ref hangs up skates after 20-plus years I n the 13 years he has known Mike Neill, Jason Rabjohn says his longtime friend and fellow hockey referee can be best described in one word: humble. "He's one of those guys that would do anything for you," Rabjohn said. "He always wants to make sure everybody's doing well." Friday at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex, it was Neill's family and friends' turn to show concern and appreciation for him. Many were by Neill's side as he was honoured for his 20-plus years of work as an Ontario Hockey Association official, shortly after refereeing his final game -- a 12-0 Oakville Blades victory over the Burlington Cougars in Ontario Junior Hockey League play. The evening, however, was about more than celebrating the Oakville resident's lengthy career as a referee. Neill has Huntington's disease, an inherited brain disorder that causes specific parts of the brain to die, according to the Huntington Society of Canada. Not only was awareness for the disease generated through the game, more than $1,500 was raised towards further research. "I told my girlfriend before the game this was all about friends and family," Neill said. "There were more people in the rink than I could have ever imagined. You turn a bad situation into something good, and I hope that's what we've done tonight." STEVEN DER-GARABEDIAN / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Nearly one in 10,000 Canadians has Huntington's disease. The symptoms include depression and mental and physical MAKING THE BEST OF THINGS: Mike Neill, 41, officiated his final game Friday at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex, overseeing deterioration over time, eventually resulting in death. the Oakville Blades' Ontario Junior Hockey League contest against the Burlington Cougars. Neill suffers from Huntington's disease, an "Huntington's is like having Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, inherited disorder that causes specific parts of the brain to die, but has managed to keep an upbeat attitude about his plight. schizophrenia and ALS, all in one disease," said Bev HeimMyers, CEO and executive director of the Huntington hoping (the symptoms) were going to start at a later stage cares about the kids and making sure their games go on." Bentley said he has always admired Neill's ability to mainSociety of Canada, who attended the game. "It's the worst of but unfortunately they started earlier than I anticipated. Again, you have to try to make the best of a bad situation tain control on the ice in any situation, and he's not the only the neurological diseases. one. "Huntington's disease is not well known and a lot of it is because I knew it was going to come... sooner or later." "Around 10 or 12 years ago, it was a minor midget AAA Neill's attitude about his situation doesn't surprise because a lot of people don't talk about it. For Mike to have game where Mike was the referee and after the second perithe courage to tell his story is incredible. We're a small orga- Rabjohn, who refereed alongside him in his final game. "He doesn't want people to feel sorry for od, Don Cherry came into the referees room and told him nization trying to fight a very big disease and him," Rabjohn said. "That shows you what what a great job he was doing," Bentley said. "(Cherry) said this night is incredibly helpful in getting the "My theory is I can sit type of guy he is. He doesn't want people to `Great job letting those kids play out there.' I'll never forget message out." around and be upset, or be sympathetic towards him. He wants them that." Neill always knew there was a possibility I can have the odd day Rabjohn says Neill's personality will definitely be missed to know the person he is now." he might have Huntington's disease as his One of the moments Neill was most in the dressing room. father, John, has it. A child born to a parent where I am upset and "I'm going to miss his light sense of humour," Rabjohn proud of Friday night was his father, now 62, with the disease has a 50 per cent chance of turn it into a positive. said. "He's always there to loosen us up before a game to being a part of the ceremony. getting the disease him or herself. There were a lot of "It meant a lot," Neill said. "My girlfriend make sure it's not a stressful atmosphere and he makes it a Neill learned of his own diagnosis 10 years friends and family at the Anna and the worker from the nursing home really relaxed atmosphere. Following the games, he's one of ago, but within the last year he noticed just arena Friday night, and who travelled with him talked with him the guys who says `great job' to everyone no matter if you how much the symptoms of the disease were when he arrived at the arena and he under- had a good game or bad game. I think he really enjoyed his affecting him. Now 41, Neill had always that's what gets you stood what was going on. When I talked to times refereeing with some of the guys." planned for this season to be his last as a through all this stuff." Neill intends to continue his work as a police officer as him on the ice, it seemed he had the underreferee, but considering how he was feeling, Mike Neill long as he possibly can. He and Anna love travelling and they standing of what was going on." he knew now was the time to retire. As for Neill's impact on the Oakville have no plans to stop anytime soon. Clearly, Neill is a man "The biggest issues for me right now are my memory and my speech and it was getting harder to hockey community, Minor Oaks Hockey Association presi- who intends to live life to the fullest, rather than worrying dent Mark Bentley says Neill will be sorely missed. about what the future will bring. communicate with players and coaches," Neill said. "He will do anything for minor hockey," Bentley said. "My theory is I can sit around and be upset, or I can have The symptoms have also prevented Neill, who works as a police officer in Peel Region, from being on the road any- "You've got a referee that does mainly junior hockey at a the odd day where I am upset and turn it into a positive," high level and I remember years ago, I was stuck for an offi- Neill said. "There were a lot of friends and family at the arena more. He now handles administrative duties. "I had a full career as a police officer and I had a full career cial to do 10-year-old atom blue (house league) games and Friday night, and that's what gets you through all this with hockey up until this point," Neill said. "I was kind of Mike went out and did them for me. He's very unselfish and stuff."