Malcolm Ashford is winding down over 35 years of service as an on and off ice official for the National Hockey League.
The longtime Ladner resident will be retiring at the end of the season, having worked the past 25 years as a video replay official in Vancouver. Ashford and Max Mestinek were recently presented watches by the league for their 25-year milestone, in addition to Canucks jerseys during a pre-game ceremony at Rogers Arena.
Ashford got his start in the NHL on the ice back in 1969, working as an referee and linesman for 10 seasons. He was assigned 947 professional games, including the 1974 Stanley Cup playoffs. Other highlights included working the very first NHL exhibition games in Japan — a series between Washington and Kansas City — played in Tokyo and Sapparo.
