Carl J. Dancek refs 2000th High School Basketball Game

Toni Lucas, Pincher Creek Voice

Referee Carl Dancek, 40 years in the game
T. Lucas photo

In 1965, a young Carl Dancek took up residence in Pincher Creek and began teaching at Saint Michael's School.  He began reffing basketball games in 1972, a pursuit he continued even after retiring from teaching in 1999 after a 33 year career at Saint Michael's. "Wow! It's exciting, I feel juiced up," he said, when asked how he felt about hitting a 40 year/2000 game milestone.  "I've been reffing a long time.  Everything, Jr. High, Men's Ball, mostly on the reserves, Blood reserve or the Piikani reserve, and then of course the High School, which is sanctioned games.  Those are the ones that I counted," he explained.  "There's 2000 High School games.  I've definitely reffed  more than 2000 games if you count the Native games and Junior High (games)."

A sign given to Carl Dancek from a young well-wisher
T. Lucas photo

In the old days the former Saint Michael's gymnasium wasn't like the relatively posh Dale Wentz Memorial Gym there now.  "First game, I had sore knees, and I was young," said Dancek.  He explained the old gym had a cement floor with only a thin covering of "little wooden tiles".  "My knees hurt then and I thought 'Holy smokes man, if it hurts know, am I going to keep refereeing?'"

T. Lucas photo

When asked what motivated him to continue for so many years he said "It's certainly not the money!  When I started it was ten bucks a game. and we're up to 40 dollars a game now, and people say that's pretty good money, well, it's pocket money.  It's not the money, it's I think getting out there with the students, the high school kids, running around with them, getting exercise... it makes you feel younger."

Dancek mentioned one of his proteges, Marc Yagos, who was a star basketball player for Livingstone School and is now a referee and advisor, climbing the ladder and reffing college games. "He reffed me (in school) and then he sponsored me to become a referee," said Yagos.  "Now I referee at the U of L, and it all started with Carl," he continued.  "Carl has competitive nature and unique style of calling game. I have enjoyed having the chance to ref with him."

What's coming up for Dancek?  "The old folks home," he said with a chuckle. In reality he is taking it one game at a time for the rest of the year,  and is scheduled to undergo surgery on his left knee early this summer.

"It's been a good experience for me," said Dancek.  "I'm glad I did it, the sad thing is to see the end in sight, when you gotta quick for medical reasons, and actually age too."  He said he remembers many of the parents in the stands from when they were student athletes themselves. "You're still a referee? You refereed in me in High School," is a quote he often hears.

"The main thing is to be fair," Dancek explained.  "The players will pick that up right away.  In my younger days I don't think I was fair all the time."  When he isn't reffing he will still be watching from the stands, and plans to help High School referees who ref Junior High games to be better at their roles.

"I'm kinda sad," said Halton Hawks' basketball player Claire Johnson.  "I've grown up with him reffing me.  He has helped me learn.   He reffed my aunts and uncles."

Succeeding generations of officials wish Carl Dancek all the best
Mike Slaavach, Stephanie Nordlee, Richard Thompson, and Marc Yagos
Toni Lucas photo