German ice hockey mourns the loss of Josef “Jupp” Kompalla. The long-time referees and Honorary member of the DEB passed away this Sunday morning at the age of 90 after a short, serious illness.
Kompalla was one of the most influential figures in German and international ice hockey for decades. Born on March 13, 1936, in Kattowitz, Upper Silesia, he began his ice hockey career as a defenseman. In 1969, he completed a referee training course and subsequently became one of the most sought-after referees of his time. Over the course of his career, he officiated more than 2.000 games in the German ice hockey leagues and over 150 international matches.
The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) appointed him to numerous major tournaments, including eleven World Championships and the 1976, 1980, and 1984 Winter Olympic Games. To this day, the highlight of his career is considered to be officiating the decisive eighth game of the 1972 Summit Series between the USSR and Canada in Moscow.
For his services, Kompalla was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1992. In 2003, he was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame; he is also represented in the German Hockey Hall of Fame. After retiring from active refereeing in 1992, he remained closely involved in the sport as a referee observer and instructor and was honored by DEB appointed honorary member.
With Jupp Kompalla's passing, the ice hockey world loses an exceptional personality who shaped the sport in Germany for many years. Our thoughts are with his family and all his loved ones.