Four months ago, Josef Kompalla opened the door to his memories one last time. His home was adorned with countless pins, pennants, and photos, telling the story of his participation in over 2,000 ice hockey matches around the globe. It became a museum for the legend — a man who epitomized the role of a German ice hockey referee for decades.
“I think I was active in a total of 47 countries in terms of ice hockey,” Kompalla shared with Hockey News ahead of his 90th birthday on March 13. Last Sunday, the charismatic “Jupp” — known for officiating without a helmet, with flowing dark hair, and a distinctive walrus mustache — passed away after a brief illness. Ice hockey in Germany mourns the loss of its most recognized, if not always welcomed, “zebra.”
The Controversial Referee
In 1972, during the high-stakes “Summit Series” between NHL stars and the Soviet Union’s “Red Machine,” Canadian players criticized Kompalla for being “incompetent” and “biased.” They found it troubling that he was fluent not only in English but also in Russian. Despite Canada winning the decisive game under his supervision, stars such as Ken Dryden lamented for decades about the referee they dubbed “the sausage,” who “could hardly skate.”
Fans in Germany, who adopted Kompalla as their own after his move in 1958, created legendary chants against him. They claimed it hurt “their eyes” and knew where his “car was parked.” Yet, he was also beloved, evidenced by the chants he heard in arenas across the country: “We want to see Kompalla.”
For good reason: Kompalla was frequently voted referee of the year and officiated matches in German leagues as recently as 2019. He directed over 150 international games, including 11 World Championships and three Olympic Games. He famously lived by the motto imparted to him by a Swiss colleague: “You must officiate as if you have a sparrow in your hand. If you are too strict, the sparrow dies; if you open your hand too much, the sparrow flies away.”
The End of an Era in 1992
Kompalla always sought a “middle ground” and remained consistent, treating all players equally on the ice. He stumbled into refereeing after a modest playing career in Poland and with Preußen Krefeld due to “a call from the chairman.” To his surprise, he found himself officiating in the Bundesliga after just a few games.
In 1992, as his daughter Nicole was paving the way to become the first female referee in men’s leagues, Kompalla hung up his whistle. He received Germany’s Order of Merit and was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame eleven years later.
For years thereafter, he remained actively involved in the sport as an observer and educator for referees. His farewell was monumental: in front of 78,000 fans at Schalke Arena, he officiated a legends game between Russia and Germany prior to the 2010 World Championship kickoff. And with him left the greatest legend in stripes.
