SSHoF logoDerek Bloski

Builder (2023)

Hockey & Softball

Derek BloskiDerek Bloski has played, coached, officiated, supervised and administrated in the game of hockey for most of his life. Derek played hockey as a kid in the Eastview area and started officiating in 1975, working minor hockey games on the outdoor rink at Harold Tatler, Nutana Kiwanis, and Weaver Parks. Three years later, he was a linesman in AAA midget, junior B and senior. In 1982 he started working in the WHL and Canada West University. In 1989, he was selected as an official to Referee in the Memorial Cup. With NHL ambitions, Bloski trained from 1987-90 in the American and International Hockey Leagues.

He retired his whistle but not his stripes. He became the head supervisor of officials with the Saskatchewan Hockey Association. He has also had a couple of stints on the Saskatoon Referees Association. Since 2012, Bloski has helped develop hockey officials by mentoring, supervising and assigning. He continues to be involved in the WHL as a supervisor of officials and video goal judge.

He coached minor hockey in the Saskatoon Flyers zone from the pre novice division to pee wee and in the Saskatoon Minor Hockey Association’s city-wide program for bantam and midget. He was on the minor hockey executive for the Flyers zone and the SMHA. He also served on the Lakeridge Community Association and was on the executive in charge of maintaining the rink at St. Luke School and was instrumental in obtaining the Molson’s Local Hero Grant to upgrade and repair the facility.

Derek also was deeply involved in the sport of Fastball as a player, coach, and executive administrator. He won the provincial midget softball title and went to nationals in 1980 playing for the Rempel Brothers Midgets Club. He also played for several years in the Special Men’s Division with Dog & Suds and Will Inns in the Saskatoon Amateur Softball Association.

He was active on the executive in the Saskatoon Raiders zone and assisted the zone with clinics, tryouts and the Annual Early Bird Tournament for a number of years. He was a coach and assistant coach at all levels in the Raiders Girls Fastball program and was fortunate to have won the Western Canadian bantam girls softball championship in 2007. Derek closed out his Fastball Coaching career in the Girls Midget Selects program.

Derek’s lifelong passion for and involvement in sport has given him countless opportunities for lasting memories, and friendships.