Binda Named as Supervisor of Officials

August 25, 2004

The Atlantic Hockey Association announced today that Eugene M. Binda will be the new supervisor of officials for the 2004-05 season. Binda replaces Dave Murphy, who served as the supervisor of officials for Atlantic Hockey and the assistant supervisor of officials for Hockey East last season. Murphy will continue to serve in his capacity as assistant supervisor of officials for Hockey East.

“We are pleased to add Gene Binda to the Atlantic Hockey staff,” said Commissioner Bob DeGregorio on the appointment. “Gene brings to our organization over 30 years of officiating experience from a variety of standpoints. He will work well with Brendan Sheehy, Supervisor of Officials for Hockey East, in the coordination of the officiating needs of our conference.”

Binda will be responsible for the coordination of officials for Atlantic Hockey, which includes the assignment of officials, continuous improvement of officiating, acting as a liasion between coaches, officials, and the league, and serving as a mentor to current and prospective Atlantic Hockey officials.

No stranger to the league, Binda worked the ice in the inaugural season of Atlantic Hockey last year. He has also acted as a referee for the ECAC at the Division-II and Division-III level since 1988, and has served as a linesman for Hockey East since 2002.

As a coordinator, Binda holds the title of Referee-in-Chief of the Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL), the Interstate Junior Hockey League, and the Metropolitan Boston Hockey League. Binda has also worked seminars in referee development for Mass. Hockey.

An employee of the Boston Globe for 25 years as a pressmen journeymen, Binda also spends time as an educator for the Graphic Communication International Union, traveling to different sites all over the country. Binda received a bachelor’s degree in labor studies from UMass Boston in 1998, and a master’s from UMass Amherst in 2002 in the union leadership program. He and his wife Debby reside in Weymouth, Mass. They have two children, son Eugene Jr., 22, who also referees at the Junior level, and daughter Dorina, 19.

The Atlantic Hockey Association arose when the nine former members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Hockey League (MAAC) joined together on June 30, 2003, to found a new Division-I men’s ice hockey conference. The league includes American International College, Bentley College, Canisius College, the University of Connecticut, the College of the Holy Cross, Mercyhurst College, Quinnipiac University, Sacred Heart University, and the United States Military Academy.