2018 Manitoba Winter Games: Hockey for Day 3 Newsletter


Two of the most important people at any hockey game are ones that mostly go without notice, much less any thanks. They’re off-ice officials; the scorekeeper and the timekeeper. They’re responsible for so much; making sure everyone gets the points they’ve earned on the ice, making sure the clock is running on time, and making sure players serving penalties get back onto the ice at the correct time. If you’ve been to a hockey game here at the 2018 Manitoba Games, the scorekeeping and timekeeping at that game was done by one man: Ian Larsen.

Larsen said that he was approached by Rob Murray back in November to scorekeep for the male hockey, saying that they needed someone with his experience to be operating the clock and filing out the official score sheet. Larsen said that he felt a bit of pressure being responsible for everything when he first started doing it for the Northstars in the mid 2000’s, but doesn’t feel it at all now.

He started off volunteering the the Norman Northstars over a decade ago as a door opener in the penalty box after answering an ad that had been placed in the paper looking for help and his role grew from there. Ian has served in other capacities with the Northstars, including as team manager from 2009 to 2011. In addition to the Northstars, Larsen has been helping out with the Norman Wild Bantam “AAA” team for the past three years. At most bantam games, he can be found doing the scorekeeping, timekeeping and announcing.

Larsen, who works as the sales manager for Armson Distrubtors here in Thompson, spends most of his free time at home with his wife, three young children, and their dog Harleigh.

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